Usually I cringe.

The old work seems elementary and naive. It almost seems like it was written by a different person.

I’m always tempted to improve it or rewrite it. I know so much more now, I’m so much better.

But I always realize that the past is the past. I’m done with that project, I’m done with the old me.

So who gives a shit? I move on to something greater.

But we’re still far behind even in this day and age.

It’s incredible:   racism is frowned upon universally, yet obvious bigotry is still upheld.

I needn’t name the malignant. It’s obvious and there’s no use.

They will be shamed in the future as were the racists of the past.

It’s frankly sickening, and I won’t stand for it. I won’t merely stick the issue under the rug for fear of offending bigots.

I will speak up.

I make changes slowly.
I focus on the essential.
I believe in questioning things.
I read constantly.
I am a teenager.
I simplify when it makes sense to.
I love listening to albums.
I play soccer.
I spread free information.

But there are also times when ignoring the moment is great.

Not thinking about the future or stressing. Imagining, philosophizing. Enjoying consciousness and the mind.

I have found that sometimes I want to think. I want to imagine different scenarios, different worlds, different perspectives. Or I think of life.

Other times, my mind tires, so I rest. I focus only on the task at hand.

Both are great.

Thinking challenges and strengthens the brain. It can be taxing sometimes yet very rewarding. And it can be invigorating.

And living in the present brings peace and contentment, and joy.

I believe that we need to both think and live; not just one or the other. When balanced I find there is a greater peace than if one only focuses on the present or always thinks.

We have consciousness and that’s a great think about humanity. But some of us think too much. So we are told to live in the present, but just living isn’t using or consciousness to its full ability.

So try both.

Say what you want about occupy wall street. Yes, they don’t have any specific goals. But there is one unifying principle: they know things are wrong; things should be different.

Of course, all of us have our own opinions of what should be different. But if most of us can agree that we need to change, to get off this horrible path, this is the only way to create real change.

I will admit, I’m like the protesters. I don’t truly know what’s the source of our problems or how to fix them, but I know that there is something wrong. I know that we are fat, our education system is a joke, we aren’t anywhere near a path of sustainability, and that corporations have too much power in politics.

But now it’s time to stop talking. And even to stop protesting. It’s time to get out there and really make a difference. Time to force the men in power to make changes. It may not be too late.

Many consumers rely on the Internet to get information. I know that If I want to see if something is worthwhile, I will type in “(product’s name review).

This is why affiliate programs are horrible. The top spots in search engines are usually dominated by websites promoting the product – saying it’s good. Thing is, they say it’s good because they make commission when you buy using their link.

So it’s hard to accurately determine the value of a product. And people will go out of there way to promote a decent product over a better one just to receive commission.

The mindset of receiving commission seems good in theory, and often it’s relatively harmless. Often affiliate marketers promote products that they use or are good.

So the promoter and the company both receive money.

But this seemingly transaction isn’t benign. Even well meaning promoters will promote more (even subconsciously when there’s money involved).

The promoter of a product doesn’t love the product so much that he has to tell you about it. He/she often thinks the product is good, but the monetary reinforcement creates the promotion where without an affiliate program, the good product wouldn’t get as much promotion.

Instead of all this uncertainty and overpromotion of products, there should be natural excitement. The blogger who writes about a product will do it only when he loves it. Accurate (meaning sometimes negative) reviews will be more prevalent.

When a free alternative is available, that will be promoted. Motives of promoting a product won’t be questioned. There won’t be a need to contribute to the need to buy a product.

If your a blogger, you can start write now. Stop using your affiliate links. Instead you will find yourself promoting a product accurately.

If you have an affiliate program, end it. Let others only promote your product if it’s great. Tweak it and make it great.

Leo from Zenhabits did. I am.

I should point on one exception. Amazon is a good affiliate program considering the products have real reviews, and the reader has a huge choice of products. I will continue to use there program until I feel otherwise.

Inspired by The Minimalists, here is my list of things I must do:

• I must make waking early a habit
• I must eat healthy and natural
• I must exercise and become stronger
• I must live in the present moment.
• I must write.
• I must single-task.
• I must recover from injury and play soccer.

It should be an interesting experience.

This book is simply powerful. Malcolm X tells his captivating story, and in doing so claims his rightful place as a hero. While I don’t agree with his tactics, his extreme devotion to his people and to spreading what he believed is commendable.

His story is full of many twists and turns. First he is at the top of his mostly white high school. Then he digress to crime and drugs. After being arrested, he takes on Islam and eventually spreads it across the country. But he breaks from militant Islam after a trip to Meca, and is killed by the very Muslims he trains.

Whatever he did, he did it with full vigor, something we all can learn from. And he devoted his life to learning and to fighting the wrongs of racists. This is a book that everyone – white or black – should read and can learn from.

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I’ve read A Separate Peace 5 times, and am still floored by the drama and brilliance of it. Phineas is of course the star of the book. An athletic person without trying to be, and who thinks anything that he likes will like him back. Gene is a introverted person who’s obsession and jealousy leads him to tragedy.

It’s a story of war, but more than anything, the coming of age. I believe you will enjoy it.

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