Speak your mind

Passivity annoys me more than anything else. I know that may be hypocritical to say, because I've felt myself slip into such a state before. When I do, I find that life begins to lack its usual vibrancy. I really appreciate it when people speak their mind, even if I don't agree with them. Not that I appreciate constant verbal vomit from a loudmouth. In fact, I try hard not to confuse shyness for passivity. Some of the best, most articulate opinions come from the softspoken. I guess that's maybe why I like quiet, shy guys. Because when they usually start talking, it's not the same annoying smalltalk I've heard over and over again or the cliched jokes/pickup lines that were old ten years ago. I guess I wish more people with intelligent opinions would speak up. It would help a chatterbox like me expand my horizons and learn more about the world. (And help me practice my listening skills!)

And then my muse went into a coma

Before I left for California (for a wedding, not a move), I was bursting with inspiration. Things were a bit hectic there. I definitely had a lot of fun and was exposed to a level of fashion that is not often seen on the streets of Texas. Then, I went to a basketball tournament, which was also really enjoyable. But when I finally arrived home, I found that my inspiration had been sapped completely. I recall that my senior design professor said that college students (particularly seniors) have achieved a delicate balance. This balance is such: the students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to design and implement at a near-professional level; however since they have not been sheltered from the real world, their creativity has not yet been diminished. I was often afraid that as soon as I walked through the Sallyport (a Rice tradition), some part of me would be blocked off, and the creative flow would just stop. Even now, I find it harder to delve into my imagination the way I used to in middle school and high school, when writing ideas came without a second thought. This summer, the creativity has peaked and ebbed, depending on my mood. I find that the more time I spend in nature, the clearer I can concoct. However, this past week and half has shown that a quick plunge into the real world results in a snoozing muse. I'm lucky because I have four more years of schooling before I am truly finished. In the mean time, I'm hoping to find the secret to sustaining creativity while dealing with a conformist society.

It really is all about the climb

Every time I hear Miley Cyrus's song, "The Climb", I cringe a little. Part of me wants to like the message just because I enjoy climbing so much. The other part of me remembers that it's Miley Cyrus singing. But that's besides the point. When I first learned to climb, it was a lot about finishing as fast as possible in order to appease a certain pushy friend of mine who wouldn't let me down from the wall until I had completed the route to his satisfaction. But I think I've come closer in the past few months to understanding the spirit of climbing. It's about much more than getting to the top (though topping out is really fun in bouldering). I have learned to welcome and even enjoy the challenge. Before, I used to pick routes I knew I could easily climb. Now, I like to work on routes for days, even weeks (sometimes not even completing them before the gym switches out the route). I think my favorite part is when people in the gym come over and start contributing to my efforts. Only at a climbing gym could a bunch of strangers feel comfortable coming up to a random person and giving him or her pointers on how to do something. In fact, the veterans will regularly stand there and advise me on my next move. Sometimes, they will even get on the wall themselves and show me how to approach something.

But I digress. I found something truly inspiring, referred to me by Devon, a climber from Canada. It's called Cobra Crack. Evidently this guy, Sonnie Trotter, worked on this climb over and over again (30-40 times) for several years (sometimes he was only able to do 1 or 2 tries a day because of the way the crack would tear at his fingers). Despite the difficulties and the falls, he finally managed to be the first person to ascend Cobra Crack. But he didn't do it alone. People supported him, helped him, and watched him. This is a 5.14 lead climb. And it's a ridiculously awesome video. I think my favorite part is the fact that his friend is with him, cheering him to finish. I hope that someday, I can find such a project route (rated MUCH lower than a 5.14!). The kind of route that I can work on over and over again for weeks, maybe even years...until I finally achieve mastery. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McHosr_98r0