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What I Know #7. On Good Ideas.

Posted by ptadalan on April 1, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized, What I Know. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 1 comment

I’ve been realizing that living in a digital age ran by social media has correlated with a decline of independent thought. We consistently quote songs and excerpt literature that has either moved us or interpreted a feeling we couldn’t express ourselves. In turn, its perceived as justified only because its taken from a source that is either popular, or at least accessible, to the general public to be validated credible.  Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of my favorite writers, said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.” I’m not boycotting being inspired by others, but more so- Rather than fit our lives into someone else’s recycled perceptions – “Oh wow those words of (insert quote here) really represent me ,”  Why not challenge ourselves to–be–the inspiration that represents ourselves? Can we connect with each other through our own creative, independent thought?  I feel we all have ideas that are just as inspiring, moving, and -real- as that of anyone else, regardless of how many people hear it. You just have to take the step forward and let it be heard.  So  I’ve decided to start a collection of my own “isms,” the things I’ve come to learn, live, and stand by throughout the years.

We all have ideas. It may be an idea to improve the world around you or an idea to improve your own well being. Ideas are the inspiration which occurs when you’re engaged with life and you take the time to process what goes on around you and apply it to your own ideals and ways of being. “Aha!” moments which create visions of how life could be if we only acted on our urge to create change and possibly do something better. Be someone better. Create something greater.

Next time you have an idea, write it down. Whether it’s an idea for a work of art… an idea to improve something at work… an idea to be more healthy… an idea to connect with an old friend…an idea to start something you’ve never done before… Make it real. Make a commitment to it. Own it. It’s yours. Share it with someone so they can give you feedback through another perspective and hold you accountable for not letting this great piece of you go to waste. Plant the seed, make it grow, watch it evolve. Above all, don’t put it on the back burner and justify all the reasons why you shouldn’t do it which can only add another item to the long list of “What If?”s in your life. Don’t set  yourself up with a self-fulfilling prophecy that you don’t have time, might fail or that you’re incapable. Stop playing small. We all have the power to create the change we want to see in the world around us or within ourselves and once we own up to that and take responsibility for the effect of our actions or even lack of action, we will have more appreciation for our ideas and have the audacity to share them with the world. For an amazing and life-changing idea without effort and execution is only time wasted hopelessly daydreaming.

 

For the time being, until i can figure out a way to categorize and collect these “random isms,” they will be categorized under “What I know”

What I Know #6. On Fear and Taking Chances.

Posted by ptadalan on March 2, 2013
Posted in: Insight, Uncategorized, What I Know. Leave a Comment

I’ve been realizing that living in a digital age ran by social media has correlated with a decline of independent thought. We consistently quote songs and excerpt literature that has either moved us or interpreted a feeling we couldn’t express ourselves. In turn, its perceived as justified only because its taken from a source that is either popular, or at least accessible, to the general public to be validated credible. Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of my favorite writers, said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.” I’m not boycotting being inspired by others, but more so- Rather than fit our lives into someone else’s recycled perceptions – “Oh wow those words of (insert quote here) really represent me ,” Why not challenge ourselves to–be–the inspiration that represents ourselves? Can we connect with each other through our own creative, independent thought? I feel we all have ideas that are just as inspiring, moving, and -real- as that of anyone else, regardless of how many people hear it. You just have to take the step forward and let it be heard. So I’ve decided to start a collection of my own “isms,” the things I’ve come to learn, live, and stand by throughout the years.

#5. I’ve come to realize that there is a “line” bewtween not doing something and actually doing something. Far too often do we stay on the side of not taking the chance to cross it, living in our fear of what might happen once we do so; a fear based not from actual reality, but past experiences or external influences of others telling you- “maybe this isn’t a good idea.” We live in fear of being judged…being hurt… isolated… rejected… alone… wrong… different. So we stay on the side that allows us to be comfortable, not taking the risks necessary to experience more depth and meaning in our day. On the other side of this line are the promotions we deserve and demand, the truths we need tell,  the words we want someone to hear, the introductions we want to make of ourselves, the love and anger we need to express, the freedom to be ourselves.

You can either live in fear, or act in fear. You can choose to only exist in your imagination and contemplate all the negative things that might happen so greatly to the point where your mind makes you feel like it actually happened already…or you can  exist in reality– and experience the excitement of leaning into your fears and facing the actual outcome of a situation when you go for what you want and act in a way that is authentic to you. For that is the adventure of life, and that is the adventure that can be found in every single moment around you presenting all the lines between not doing something, and just doing it. So rather than feeling unsatisfied just playing the story in your head, you can choose to act…and have a great story you’ll be able to learn from and share.

For the time being, until i can figure out a way to categorize and collect these “random isms,” they will be categorized under “What I know”

I’m Back.

Posted by ptadalan on February 28, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

6:00 p.m.

So I just bee-lined it straight home from the office, telling myself while driving, ” Today it’s going to happen. Today I’m going to write. And won’t do anything else until I finish.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve told myself this. But maybe this time I won’t have to deal with the guilt of another failed attempt.  The length of time between now and my last post which cna’t help but keep getting longer is intimidating. So is the blank screen staring me back in the face for about ten minutes telling me to make it more interesting.

I sure am hungry…okay… lets make a steak. No one can write hungry. 

Steak

And its a special occasion happening here! It’s been months since I last took some time for myself to write something. I actually have an ongoing list of drafts–a collection of failed attempts– from occasionally trying to write a few sentences out, only to close my laptop in frustration. For the months I’ve been on hiatus from personal writing, I’ve been asked numerous times, “Why did you stop writing?” But I never really have an answer. I could make any excuse revolving around time and being too busy. We all use that one. I most likely use it the most. And its true, I AM busy. But too busy? Truth of the matter is, regardless of how busy a person is, If you want something bad enough, you’ll make it happen.

So I had to figure out, why haven’t I wanted it THAT much? I love writing. And I’ve done great things with it. Shared some great stories. I even had the pleasure of receiving great amounts of positive feedback for which I’m grateful for. I write as part of my job. And I’ve been told I’m a great writer. One of my coworkers and closest friends, Justin Lopez (Check out his new blog), came across my writing and, knowing that I used to write for myself but now stopped, challenged me and said,

“If you don’t go back to writing and share all these awesome stories you have, you’re a God Damn Waste of God Given Talent.“

Thanks, Justin. I needed that. And it’s been lingering on my mind for a while. Sort of haunting me. So here I am.

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Justin Lopez, Wright Business Sales Manager

And its not like I haven’t been inspired.

I work one of the greatest jobs imaginable. And a Job I never even imagined I would be doing.  I’m currently a marketing coordinator and Lead media Developer for a company downtown- Wright Business, Inc– a company that offers trainings, products, coaching and seminars which focuses on Social Emotional Intelligence. Consciousness. Self Awareness. Success.  Developed by my two CEOs, Drs. Bob and Judith Wright–Best Selling authors. Executive Coaches. Educators. Motivational Speakers. Researchers and Psychologists. Experts in Human Development.– They based their programs on the research proven fact that we limit ourselves by the beliefs we have about ourselves and the world around us developed by the environment in which we were raised. We help people accurately see themselves and the way we’re scientifically programmed-why we think what we think when we think it– and constantly and consistently live outside of their comfort zones in pursuit of what they want out of their lives…until it becomes a habit. And a way of being.

And it’s not any type of—You’re great! And you can do what ever you want!– type of fantastical bullshit. It’s not glamorous. It’s nitty, gritty and painful when you have to face the things you don’t want to face in your life and sweep under the rug. But when you choose to see yourself for who you are and consciously make decisions in your life to become who you want to become, you begin to see the results in ALL areas of your life. your family. Friendships. Relationships. Career. And it’s grounded, psychological research and proven through the results I feel fortunate enough to see every day.

We partner with entrepeneurships to non-profits to Fortune 50 companies.  …and serve clients from a wide range of demographics with careers as artists, techies, stylists, accountants, writers…. helping people to get more out of their day and be more successful in their careers and at home. I never planned on it, but here I am, wearing a suit and tie, and to my surprise-happy. I never thought I’d ever be content with a job after the military. I always thought I’d go back overseas, in a war or outward bound somewhere in some third-world country. I’ll always miss the military. And wonder what it would be like if I stayed in. But post-war-life had me constantly striving for something to fill the void. The next big thing. Leaving me never satisfied with anything I was doing.  Loss of purpose. Not feeling like I mattered.

Then this job found me But doing this work has provided evidence that–it’s not what you do, it’s who you are…I see this on the non-coincidental common ground of a multi millionaire executive unsatisfied with how his life played out, the baby-boomer senior trying to find excitement and purpose in the final 1/3 of existence, the young entrepeneur looking to make large moves in his his career, or even the 27 year old military veteran seeking adventure and  meaning in every day life ( and finds joy in writing blogs in the evening), it’s a fact– everyone wants more out of their life.

And not only do I have a hand in helping others find that direction. I’m on the path myself. And have had one of the most eventful, craziest  and positive years of my life. Coming from a post-war vet, I think that says a lot. Bottom line- I feel blessed.   And now I hold a vision for society and humanity which encompasses the possibility of what the world would look like if every person asked themselves the question, “How can I bring out my best self which in turn, brings out the best in others?”

We just released a new book. TRANSFORMED! THE SCIENCE OF SPECTACULAR LIVING. It’s a damn good book and from someone that holds sacred the value of reading meaningful literature, I highly recommend it. Here’s a video of my two CEO’s, best selling authors, research specialists and psychologists, and just two amazing people in my life who has impacted me in ways I’ve never even considered possible, speaking about their new book at our recent book launch party.

If you want to check out the book and download Two Chapters of it FREE, go here. 

So I’m back on the writing. I’ve been through some crazy adventures these past few months. Great adventures with greater lessons. Adventures worth writing about. For whatever reason I stopped, it no longer matters. I just have to remember ‘m better off doing it than not. Cause it would be  some sort of selfishness to not share the amazing things I’ve seen.

Best Steak Ever.

Broken Glass.

Posted by ptadalan on June 5, 2012
Posted in: Insight, Uncategorized. Tagged: , . Leave a Comment

It’s 2:30 in the morning and I’m walking to my car after a nice birthday celebration and this is what I come back to. The front passenger side window smashed and shards of glass covering the inside of my car. But not just my car, the whole row of cars down the block.

And it’s not even my car. It’s a rental. My truck is sitting in a shop after being in an accident (one out of my own control) just a few days before. The same truck that was also broken into last fall. Talk about bad luck. Maybe someone is hinting to me the benefits of public transportation.

But here’s what’s most interesting about this incident; The very reason I’ve taken the time to write about it. You see, I haven’t had a lot of free time lately to do any personal writing due to consistent news coverage with the NATO summit and everything else going on in my life, but sometimes you have to take a moment to reflect on the certain things you experience within yourself when life throws you curveballs and you see for whatever reason you adjust, adapt, and change. Simply put:

My reaction last year the first time this happened:

“What the $*(@#(&$))#*@! “

As I cursed up a storm at the top of my lungs, blood boiling, looking to get back at whoever smashed my window, stole my ipod, and would then force me to pay for the broken window. I even irrationally got into a confrontation with some guy in the middle of the street that told me to “quiet down.”

But…my reaction this time around:

“Well, what are you going to do? At least its not too cold out.”

I just couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. Maybe it was the de ja vu that made me recall how angry I was last year, and realizing that negativity doesn’t provide progress. I don’t know, but something just clicked. For whatever reason, regardless of how life changes–and I could definitely say life is very much different than that of last year– it doesn’t excuse you from the inevitable bullshit you come face to face with. Even if, as in my case, when it’s the same exact identical bullshit,  a new chapter in your life no longer presents the same exact person.

Maybe there’s nothing too profound about getting your window broken and I’m thinking too deep on the subject. But I kind of compare it to  the struggles we face in many aspects of our everyday lives, right? We get our windows–our hearts–our confidence–our personal pride– broken all the time. Not only in love and romantic relationships, but in our personal goals for accomplishment and everything else in between.

But it’s not about the material things in your life that can be broken or stolen from you. Everything can be replaced. It’s not about how much everything costs, or trying to do something about the people in this world who thrive upon looking out for their own best interests and add misfortune into the lives of others. It’s about appreciating the things  no one can break or take from your posession. No matter how many times someone or some type of bad luck comes into your life and starts smashing up everything.

It’s about sticking to your original plans and  sweeping the glass off the seat for your passenger and welcoming the breeze as you can’t do anything but smile and eventually forget why the window is down in the first place, because no one should ever stop you from enjoying yourself and doing what you want to do with who you want to be with. It’s about sharing old traditions with new friends of your late night eating spots, laughing while sharing stories between one another, because nothing and no one should stop you from appreciating the value in the relationships you make with others.  It’s about the 5 a.m. drive home with one of your closest friends as the sun rises and you both joke that you’ve both seen the same sunrise together plenty of times  before –(you’re just missing a window this time)– because one bad incident is overshadowed by the plenty of great memories you’ve had along the way.

We, as people, will experience a lot of broken windows in the inevitable ups and downs of life. Death, loss, stress, heartbreak… literally getting your window broken… but sometimes you just have to realize you can’t do anything about what you can’t control nor feel the need to understand the reasons for the unexplainable actions of others. I think the greater satisfaction and lessons learned in the end will be found when you were able to maintain positivity and appreciate the worth of what really matters. It’s not about the car. It’s the people in the car with you, the places you’ve been and the destinations you’re heading.

So clean up the glass and fix the window already. We got places to be.


Occupy Chicago echoes through the Loop

Posted by ptadalan on May 3, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 comment

You can view the published version of this article on the DePaulia’s Website.

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Occupy Chicago echoes through the Loop

 May Day kicks off a series of protests against the approaching NATO Summit

Tuesday’s rain didn’t stop more than 1,000 Occupy Chicago protestors from marching down Jackson into the Loop as part of their International Worker’s Day demonstration.  Led by a red, dump truck-sized pick-up truck and a set of loudspeakers, police lined the streets as protestors wearing masks and wielding signs linked arms and yelled in cadence; their presence resonating through the South Loop.

“You say cut back? We say fight back!”

“What’s disgusting? Union busting!”

Once the group arrived at the Federal Plaza, Andy Manos, lead-organizer of Occupy Chicago and the May Day demonstration, stood on the pre-staged podium and opened up the day’s events. He reminded his audience of current issues within Chicago, such as how schools are being handed over to private property and the closing of six mental health clinics in the city just this week.

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“We ask ourselves on this May Day why we are here. But to me, it seems very simple,” Manos Said.  “We make this city run. And the 1%, they don’t do anything. They’re unnecessary and we don’t need them. “

“Welcome to NATO,” he added. The crowd was in uproar.

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While people danced in circles of percussion bands and brass horns playing music in the streets, members of labor unions, health care clinics and the immigrant working force spoke on behalf of their organizations regarding issues such as wages, tax reform, military funding, and the demand for a nuclear-free world.

Speaking on behalf of immigrant rights was conscious hip-hop artist Rebel Diaz, who has played a major role in raising awareness of immigrant issues within the academic community by speaking at universities across the country about the need for social change.

“This is where May 1 started. Chicago is a city that was built on the back of immigrants and on the back of workers,” Diaz said. “As a community, we can’t sit here and be content with receiving crumbs, we want a seat at the dinner table so we can eat with the whole community.”

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Another key speaker was Joe Iosbaker, Chicago spokesperson for the United Antiwar Coalition.  Iosbaker emphasized to the crowd that the NATO Summit meets only on behalf of the 1% to cut needed social spending in order to maintain profitability from war efforts in overseas.

“On May 20, we’re going to march in our tens of thousands and deliver them a message,” Iosbaker said. “They cannot carry on these wars in our name and spend money on wars while our clinics are closing, our schools are closing and while our neighborhoods are in crisis. Join with me and say money for jobs, and not for war!”

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The protest concluded without conflict, injury or arrest. Winding down from the day,  Manos took a moment to discuss the impact he believes the demonstration will have on the issues the movement wishes to change.  He explained how on May 1 2006, when more than 30,000 people marched through the streets to fight for immigrant civil rights, it inspired multiple worker’s occupations, and gave people the confidence to stand for what they believe in. Since then, May Day has been an annual milestone for undocumented workers to fight for equal treatment and access to public services.

“Every time we have a mass-march, we hope to inspire more militant actions in the workplace, in the schools, or at the point of production,” he said. “It always feels awesome when workers come together and demonstrate their collective power.”

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According to Manos, the next step between now and the NATO summit is the “10 Day’s of Action,” beginning with the “People’s Summit” the weekend of May 11 when key members in the Occupy movement will speak on issues and struggles with austerity both internationally and locally in Chicago. Between May 14 and 21, each “day of action” will be centered on a certain theme such as education and transportation.

“The thing that will tie all of these days together, and not only NATO, Is that we need more money for these issues and not war,” he said, emphasizing the message he wants to send as the summit approaches.

“They can’t scare us,” he added. “And they can’t take what’s right fully ours. “

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Chalk The Block Hits The Streets

Posted by ptadalan on May 1, 2012
Posted in: Journalism, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

In a society with accumulating ills and hopeless troubles, every once in a while you meet someone (or people) that really make you appreciate what really matters and find the good in life. This is my just-recently published article on “Chalk the Block.” For more photos, you can take a look at a preview in one of my earlier posts,  or take a look at the published online version

“Meet at 8 p.m. at El Norte restaurant in Edgewater,” the tweet said.

Its sender was Spencer Hall, under Twitter alias @ChalktheBlockCH, the group responsible for the inspirational chalk messages appearing along the Red Line such as “Live Boldly” and “Today may be the day you’ve been waiting for.” A month ago the group decided to put a #chalktheblock hash tag on the pieces, and now pictures taken by Chicagoans have been appearing all over Instagram and Twitter.

Waiting at the designated rendezvous point with four shopping bags of colored chalk, Hall is met by Josh Hurley and MichelleCannariato. All three are in their early to mid-twenties and are members of the Community Christian Church in Edgewater, which is engaged in various community activities such as tutoring, gardening projects and volunteering at the All American Nursing Home.

But every other Tuesday night, they chalk.

“It feels good to know that we’re encouraging others,” Hall said. “When you put others before yourself, you see that life is better that way.”

There are usually six or seven members from both inside and outside of the church that participate – sometimes up to 12 – but on this cold Tuesday evening, it was just the three of them. Once the night’s plans are finalized, they immediately split up to different corners of the cross-street, drop their bags of chalk and pull a printout of at least 50 predetermined messages they have chosen as a group. After selecting a message, they get down and start drawing.

“Today may be the day you’ve been waiting for,” Hall’s message read, and just as he’s finishing, two Edgewater residents – RogerVanHoughon and Chris Benbenek – approach Hall and give thanks for the impact the messages have had on the community.

“It shows that someone is speaking for you,” VanHoughon said. “You could have a bad day, but the messages help keep you going.”

“It’s like they know what you’re thinking,” Benbenek added. “It’s inspiring because it’s true and straight from the heart.”

Underneath the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop, Cannariato wrote “Change is Possible.” A mother of one, she finds joy in being able to find time in her week to do good in the community.

“Our goal is to encourage people who live in darkness,” Cannariato said. “We hope our messages will help bring them to the light.”

Walking home from work, Edgewater resident Glenna Kendrick noticed Cannariato and rushed over. After expressing her excitement of finally meeting the people responsible for the messages, she’s given a piece of chalk and invited to draw the #ChalkTheBlock hash tag. Enthused, she got down on her knees and started drawing.

“It changes how I feel every time I read what they write,” Kendrick said. “I’m really honored that they would let me participate in what has been a life-changing experience for me every morning.”

Kendrick’s enthusiasm is not uncommon to the Chalk The Block movement, as residents, local businesses and law enforcement constantly show their support.

“It’s what it’s all about,” Hurley said. “She thinks we’re making her night, but she’s really making ours.”

After the three finish their messages, they get into Hall’s car and go up and down the Red Line between Loyola and Argyle, tagging street corners, bus stops and train entrances, anywhere the messages can be seen to help break people from the monotony of their daily commutes.

“The overall message is to just take a moment to think about what you could do to make yourself happy,” Hurley said. “What would be required of you today that would make you excited about living?”

The movement began several months ago when their pastor, Rich Gorman, couldn’t help but feel a sense of hopelessness within the community. He explained how residents were scared of losing jobs and carrying heavy loads of grief upon their shoulders.

“I wanted people to no longer feel defeated,” he said. “But I had to ask myself, ‘How can we encourage people in a place where people aren’t encouraged?’” One day while Gorman was walking to the L, observing the people around him, he noticed something.

Everyone was looking down.

Joined by his church members, Gorman came up with the idea for the messages that continues to raise spirits today. He explained how inspiring people through chalk is just a smaller piece of the puzzle of what happens when people take the initiative to help others, creating a ripple effect that may occur when you instill hope into even just one person.

“You can’t give what you don’t have,” Gorman said. “What a difference could be made if everyone in the city wanted to help others. Great things could happen.”

Now that word is out, inspirational chalk message groups have been appearing all over the country in major areas such as Los Angeles, Oakland and Florida. Here in Chicago, the group welcomes everybody in the city to come join them on their bi-weekly outings and see how a little chalk can go a long way.

The messages usually last between three to five days, but on this occasion it rained the next day, washing away the chalk. One of the many downfalls of working with such a fragile medium, explained Hall. But he knows it was worth the effort, remembering the people the group encountered the night before and how they made their days just a little bit better.

“I could have been at home doing nothing except watching TV,” Hall said. “But that’s boring. It’s all about living a good story. Chalking beats TV even if it does rain.”

Poll: The message of Occupy protestors during the 2012 NATO Summit

Posted by ptadalan on April 30, 2012
Posted in: Journalism, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Beginning Tuesday May 1st, Occupy Protestors  will begin their “31 magical days,”  a month-long movement  taking effect in cities around the world as the 2012 NATO summit approaches.  50,000 protestors are expected to assemble in Chicago’s Grant Park, and according to a  blog post titled, “The May 2012 Insurrection,”  the Occupy movement will be armed with the following message:

“[We will tell] the military elites there to stop their saber rattling against Iran, halt the global arms race and get behind what the majority of the people on Earth want: a nuclear-free world starting with a nuclear-free Middle East that includes both Iran and Israel.”

For the next month, this blog will conduct a series of articles and videos chronicling the event, hearing the voice of the movement planning to stand strong and  fight for “a world run by the people, not corporations.”

But your own voice is just as important. Do  you feel the message sent by Occupy has a chance of not only reaching the ears of world leaders, but influencing the decisions which impact our future? Or are they wasting their efforts towards a goal that can’t be reached? Do you even fully understand the message Occupy sends out?

Please take a moment to listen to the audio instructions and answer the poll below. Feel free to leave a comment and let your own voice be heard.

What I know # 5- On Women.

Posted by ptadalan on April 30, 2012
Posted in: Insight, Uncategorized, What I Know. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

I’ve been realizing that living in a digital age ran by social media has correlated with a decline of independent thought. We consistently quote songs and excerpt literature that has either moved us or interpreted a feeling we couldn’t express ourselves. In turn, its perceived as justified only because its taken from a source that is either popular, or at least accessible, to the general public to be validated credible. Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of my favorite writers, said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.” I’m not boycotting being inspired by others, but more so- Rather than fit our lives into someone else’s recycled perceptions – “Oh wow those words of (insert quote here) really represent me ,” Why not challenge ourselves to–be–the inspiration that represents ourselves? Can we connect with each other through our own creative, independent thought? I feel we all have ideas that are just as inspiring, moving, and -real- as that of anyone else, regardless of how many people hear it. You just have to take the step forward and let it be heard. So I’ve decided to start a collection of my own “isms,” the things I’ve come to learn, live, and stand by throughout the years.

#5. Let it be said first–there is no universal rule to fully understanding women. There’s a certain perspective held by women and their experiences which are specific solely to them,  a man can never fully understand. Believing there is a characteristic–a key– shared by all women easily grasped is a path walked foolishly without a destination, as ignorance makes you miss out on something more valuable than your own agenda. You realize it’s not about “understanding all women,” but accepting “a woman” as an individual with a story behind them filled with their own passions and goals which make them unique.  So it begins with listening…  Setting aside  your own needs, desires, beliefs and past experiences that form your perceptions of women to pass judgement. Followed by responding in empathy because you’ve found the worth in learning more. Then, through remembering, you piece together the complexity that makes up the individual persona of a woman you can’t help but be amazed by and respect.

Now this pertains to romance, friendship, and even your own mother. It’s not about interpreting women, it’s about interpreting yourself. The way you treat, communicate to, and perceive women exemplifies the type of man you actually are. Once you face that reality, you then ask yourself the question if that’s really the type of person you want to be.

(Note to Women: I think It pretty much works both ways? A respectful guy should care if you listen to the interesting things he has behind him too.)

(Note to Men: I apologize if this wasn’t enough. That’s really all I got.)

For the time being, until i can figure out a way to categorize and collect these “random isms,” they will be categorized under “What I know”

Chalk The Block

Posted by ptadalan on April 27, 2012
Posted in: Journalism, Photos, Uncategorized, Videos. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 comments

I was reading the Red Eye one day and I saw an article about a series of inspirational messages written in chalk along Chicago’s Red Line. Interested in this, I did some research and set out to find the group responsible for the messages receiving such high positive feedback from Chicago commuters posting the pictures on Twitter and Instagram with a #ChalkTheBlock hash tag. Little did I expect I’d have a night of chalking with some of the most genuinely inspirational people I’ve ever encountered.

I just submitted an article thats soon to be published for print, so I don’t want to spoil it. But I did make a quick video preview as well as some raw pictures I took the evening I took part in the Chalk movement.

What I Know #4. On Finding Yourself.

Posted by ptadalan on April 27, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized, What I Know. Tagged: , , . 1 comment

I’ve been realizing that living in a digital age ran by social media has correlated with a decline of independent thought. We consistently quote songs and excerpt literature that has either moved us or interpreted a feeling we couldn’t express ourselves. In turn, its perceived as justified only because its taken from a source that is either popular, or at least accessible, to the general public to be validated credible. Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of my favorite writers, said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.” I’m not boycotting being inspired by others, but more so- Rather than fit our lives into someone else’s recycled perceptions – “Oh wow those words of (insert quote here) really represent me ,” Why not challenge ourselves to–be–the inspiration that represents ourselves? Can we connect with each other through our own creative, independent thought? I feel we all have ideas that are just as inspiring, moving, and -real- as that of anyone else, regardless of how many people hear it. You just have to take the step forward and let it be heard. So I’ve decided to start a collection of my own “isms,” the things I’ve come to learn, live, and stand by throughout the years.

#4. We always  ask ourselves if what we are doing in our lives was the right choice to make, doubting our decisions because we still have yet to reach the results from our efforts that are successful in the eyes of others. But as long as we know we’re putting forth our time to the things that truly make us happy, there is– no end result– as you continue to achieve and grow with the accomplishments that are successful to your own standards; rather than be constrained by regret for settling to form your life into the way you felt others would accept.

Being lost to know that one day you’ll find yourself is worth more than knowing exactly where you’re going as someone you don’t want to be.

For the time being, until i can figure out a way to categorize and collect these “random isms,” they will be categorized under “What I know”