Till we meet again, Global Empire of Love

I can't believe that our class is over. I think the people of our class are amazing. We had an energy that just flowed between us. I have heard from a few people that they feared our IDS not because of what the class entailed, but for the people in the class. I am not exactly sure what they meant by that, but I am glad that they didn't join the class because our class perfect the way it was. From Greg's comedic performances to Matt's firebuilding skills, to Amy/Jane's Ukulele playing, everyone brought their own thing and shared it with the Global Empire of Love. Some of our classmates I had never really known too well before the class started, minus a smile and a hi. But we are now a community. I love and appreciate everyone in this class. For obvious reasons, this class solidified a bond that only one or two of my classes maybe had. I will always remember this class. While we learned a lot in terms of the readings and whatnot, the best things I learned in this class were human relationships and that it will be okay after college. I feel bad for everyone who doesn't take this class, because I think that the discussions we had everyday were important for every college student to have openly. We never masked what is happening after graduation with Ancient Greece, Paris, etc.

Global Empire of Love, I shall always remember you and till our reunion whenever it may be.

"And what it all boils down to is that no one's really got it figured out just yet"

So Sam Morton was amazing. He was probably my favorite speaker that we have had so far. He had such a passion for life and what he does. You could instantly tell that he discovered at a very young age what he wanted to do with his life and that he was able to take advantage of what fell in his lap at any given time.

For the second week in a row, we have had a speaker who had job opportunities fall in their lap and jump at them. I have to hope for job opportunities fall in my lap. It really scares me as I apply for jobs and try figuring out what is next. One of my favorite parts of these trips, is the chance to really talk to my peers about what is next. Some of us are moving to somewhere new and taking a random job while figuring out what is next, others are possibly going to graduate school, while others are moving to follow their dreams in one way or another.

I live in anxiety at the moment, trying to figure out where I will be. I guess I figure that in terms of jobs, I will be okay but I want to know where I am going to be. I have recently found a job that I love to have but the location is less than ideal. So I am starting to be comfortable with the idea of moving somewhere unexpected for a job. I am also becoming comfortable with the idea that life will just be ok. I just got to have faith in how things will turn out.

Tom Risser was a pretty interesting fellow. When watching the video, I saw that he was willing to have fun, but also was just a goofy fellow. I was pleasantly surprised by how he has taken his goofy side and made it productive in the work place. I mean if you just look at his desk, that thing is a serious piece of art. So he could have this boring job of working at a juicer making plant or whatever it actually is, but no, he finds a way to make it exciting and he has a lot of passion for. That is what we all need is passion. A movie I quite enjoyed posed this statement. "You know the Greeks didn't write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: "Did he have passion?".

I think that we all have to make sure that the answer to this question is yes for our lives. Without passion for what we do, then we just become drudges in the belly of the machine, instead of emperors in the global empire of love. There is a reason why Aaron Fetrow walked away from $90,000 a year, to whatever his pay is now. He didn't have the passion. I am working to find jobs that I have somewhat passion for, because while I know I have to make money, I want to feel accomplish and that sense that I did something for me today. Tom Risser, he defintely does that in the machines he helps create and the artwork he creates. No denying, that he is maybe one of the most creative and passionate speakers we have to date. So I have to give him props for that.

To end, I will share an Alanis Morissette song that reminds me of some of the stuff that are class is dealing with. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGjaaQAvSTA

The Joys of being an Adult Child

My inner child was screaming out at the top of his little lungs last class. I really enjoyed talking about our papers, because I think that having these dialogues are wonderful. Only in a few classes have I been able to discuss the papers and the guidelines and flexibility like this class. It makes it really unique.

I loved the setting that our class had before the edible schoolyard. The second meadows provided a beautiful fog that made me really excited inside. I loved sharing some wonderful quotes with the class. I loved quotes so much and I was really interested in what my classmates had to say and thought about them in terms of the class. I think that we focused a little too much on the "ecstasy of grief" though it is an important thing to discuss.

I loved discussing the food stuff. I know that some of my peers care a lot about the food that they eat while others less so. I am willing to admit that I am in the middle. I am getting more aware and observant about what I am putting in my body. These readings and videos have made me even more aware of what I am putting in. I know that money shouldn't be as a big of a factor according to the readings but for me it is. I don't have as much access to the farmer's market as I would like at the moment. But when I move on from this place, it is part of my goal to eat healthier. So I am starting to make movements, it will be a process but one of my most important goals.

I loved the edible schoolyard. I wish I had that learned about what they taught this during my elementary school years. I am really interested now to grow and eat my own products. While I did have a garden growing up, but Katrina did a great job engaging us and teaching us in the same way that she teaches her kids. I loved learning how a seed became a plant. I loved learning that pea greens are DELICIOUS and ADDICTING! I could learn so much from being a little kid there. But I am an almost 23 year old man. :( Maybe I can find a way to learn all these things in wherever I live after Guilford.

I loved and I know that many (if not all) of my classmates did too the fact that we could run around the museum and play like children. We escaped all the stress that existed just a mere two or three hours ago, when we discussed the final paper. Who would have thought that? We ran around pretending to be police officers, firemen, postmen, etc. And it was wonderful and engaging. We became creative in the ways that we played with the toys. We took our adult consciences and our child intuition of play and combined them. That was an amazing realization to me. It isn't very often that as 21-23 year olds that we are able to have this combination of mindsets. I know now that my youngest cousin is 10, I can not play with him on the same level. He is trying to become more mature. So I have to wait till I am father, uncle or have friends with young children until I can combine my wisdom with my inclination to play.

I loved Kat's path to where she got to where she is. Being a recent college graduate, it was really refreshing. I am applying all over the country but I am also realizing that something may fall in my lap and I should seriously consider it. If a friend suggested a job, like Gabriela did to Kat, I would be dumb not to consider it. I also am planning to buy a board to turn into a vision board after college. I would buy one now, but I can't afford to get more stuff when I am strapped for space but its on my list of things.

After every class, I fall more and more in love with the class and what we do. I can't wait for this weekend.