Where I Stand: Robert's Blog

Is anyone else feeling this year is already flying by? In a about a month I’ll be finished my second semester of school. And in about a month too I’m going to be 22. Wow. Funny enough it wasn’t really those two things that made me think about the passing of time. I was driving, about a week ago, thinking about what should be the topic of my next post and as I was reflecting on my recent experiences and thoughts and putting all those things together, it became clear that the message I was receiving was that I needed to sit down and just set a timeline for myself. I have been wanting to do that for a while but, man, is it easy to procrastinate on that. Setting a time commitment is the stepping stone from dreams to reality and I think it is the weight of that fact that often causes me to hesitate. It puts you in a place where your integrity is then in the balance; does your word really mean something? A specific thought helped me to finally start: Life has already begun to set deadlines f...

From the greatest of men to the most evil, there is something that has linked every human being that has ever lived and will live: Every person begins as a baby. This simple fact is incredible to think because, in a way, we all have the same starting point. Yet, who we end up becoming can be dramatically different. How can it be that some people, who were once just carefree children, have risen to be the people with accomplishments that have changed the world, while there are others who are responsible for some of history’s greatest tragedies? I know there are some bratty kids out there- I would know, I was one of them-but could you ever imagine that even those kids would become a murderer? Of course not. This is where the study of nurture versus nature plays in. Some would say that perhaps people are just born inherently good or bad. Some say we can’t put the cause of how people turn out on their environment because some people have begun their life in the most lowly of places yet h...

What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep every night? Is there some sort of routine you follow? Maybe you like to take a bath and listen to your favorite music. Or you drink a glass of milk or a cup of tea while reading a book. Maybe for you going to bed is just falling asleep wherever you happen to crash. A common routine might be to brush your teeth, check your alarm, climb into bed and...go on your phone for another hour or so? That may not apply to all of you but that was definitely me for a long time. Since I first got a phone really- well since I got a smartphone. It was an unwavering part of my daily routine; many times I did it irrespective to the importance of the next day. It was in November of last year where I really took a look at this habit of mine and decided it needed to be challenged and changed. At first I began with a two week trial of leaving my phone at my desk, but now for nearly 4 solid months I have abstained from this habit and I don’t miss it. Fi...

This week I went out on a limb. I had signed myself up a while back to attend a seminar called Innovating with Impact. It had sounded very interesting at the time but come Monday I was contemplating whether to go or not. This week was an especially busy one with our first midterm and multiple assignments due, so I was thinking this may not be worth my time. But I decided I’d still go, at the least just to hear something different. And I’m glad I did! It was a really refreshing and eye-opening experience. The speaker went through several points and had us do a couple of activities that really made me consider the possibilities that are out there when you “think differently, think positively and focus on goals, not challenges”. One simple activity he had us do was make a to-do list for the week and a to-do list for the next 2-3 years. You should give it a try. You’ll probably find, as I did, that it is much easier to come up with the weekly list. He then had us consider children who lo...

Maybe some of you recognize the title from the song Come to Light by the Arkells. Or, more likely, this line brings to mind a common lesson we all heard at some point growing up. “The truth will eventually come out.” “Lies and deceit will only temporarily solve the problem, and most likely will make matters worse.” The common connotation that comes with this message is one of warning. However, I’d also like to delve into how it can be taken as a hopeful message. Either way, the fact of the matter is that the things you do when no one is watching is what counts. When I was 6 I had a problem with hiding my lunch. My mom would often pack for me and my siblings leftovers from dinner. I can’t remember if I had some people poke fun of me for my lunch or if I simply didn’t want to be seen with it, but I decided I’d hide my leftovers. My hiding spot was a closet near our backdoor, an easy drop-off for me upon leaving or arriving home. It was a great plan in my 6-year-old mind, but you can ...

Like many people, I was looking towards the new year with hope and expectation. Especially after the tumultuous year we had, 2018 has got to be better. I often try to take an optimistic perspective on life, however, in the past, that hasn’t always been coupled with realism. What I mean to say is that I have been guilty of making many new year resolutions that don’t last beyond the first couple weeks. No doubt you know what I am talking about. Over the years though, through many failed attempts and from receiving lessons from others, I have better learned how to effectively set new changes in my life, at any point in my life. I’ll admit there is a lot more that I could still learn! But, hey, that’s what life is about. At the end of 2017 I came across a quote from a book I was reading called Wild At Heart by John Eldredge. “ Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, because what the world needs are men who have come alive.” It wasn’t necessar...