man, it’s been 4 years. Crazy how things change. It gets easier, but never going to forget

Bring walls down.

Here all my sound.

Let me back in.

Love me again.

Spring time reminds me of the beginning of new and wonderful things, but also reminds me of the past.

“Someday, everything ends

Can we begin?

Finding our way back before we’re too late

and lost in between

the truth and the dream

I’ve never been more ready to move on”

Just. YES (in a happy way)

Wherever you are in the world at the moment, just wanted to say Happy Birthday, and that I miss you. I’m still sending an email to you, even though your e mail address doesn’t exist anymore

Really questioning if what I’m doing in my life is making me reach some higher meaning- my thesis, being a captain of the squash team, being a professional fellow, dancing, choreographing, kung fu, music, behavioral economics, my classes, and so much more. This is probably just a random phase, but I feel like i’m starting to lose sight of what I knew so clearly coming back from Australia. Maybe it is just the lack of sleep…

In an effort to keep up my mentality of Inspire, Motivate, and Energize, I thought I’d actually write about what it means. I often say it now so an explanation is well deserved. I feel that if everyone had this mentality, they would be a happier person and have a better outlook on life. First up: Inspire

Inspire- “fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative”

How does one become inspired? I believe it is seeking the outside world for inspiration. Whether it is dance, music, art, math, a sport, etc. there is something out there for all of us. Having a talk about simple things about a particular activity always inspires me to be better than I was before. It’s hard to describe the feeling unless you’ve experienced it, but to me it excites me and I think of all the possibilities in the particular field. It’s almost as if I know I can do anything as long I follow through with it.

So what are your Inspirations- what keeps you hyped about the things you do? Take a minute to find out or take the time to start seeking it out. I refuse to believe people don’t have inspiration and to people who say they don’t- then I feel sorry for you. Know that there is always inspiration around you and it’s just a matter of knowing it and taking ownership of it. Be Inspired, it’s the first step.

Quest Crew, Poreotics, IaMmE, Movement Lifestyle, my Sifus from kung fu, my coaches and teammates in squash, my friends back home, my advisor- they all inspire me and feed my hunger for it. I’m already getting hyped just thinking about it all which is a perfect segway into the next part: Motivation.

These past 2 days have been awful. I would list all the things that have annoyed me or all the negative things that have happened to me but that would let my emotions get the better of me, and I know that I’m a better person than that. There is so much other positive things I have in my life and I know things could have turned out much much worse in the end.

Must stay Positive, must stay Grateful, and must stay Inspired, Motivated, and Energized.

Damn.

This Summer has been AMAZING. I guess I should start with my progression of my other summers. 

Freshman-Sophomore year: Jive Records- Really started to becoming inspired and opening my mind to the world. Taking things in, really become aware of my surrounding

Sophomore- Junior year: After blowing my brains out at school at the end and wanting to get away from everything, I really found myself in Australia. Positive attitude towards the max, and living with no regrets which has definitely carried over. Do everything you want and don’t listen to anyone who tells you no. Being away from what I was familiar with really opened my eyes

Now onto this summer…

This summer I honestly didn’t know what to expect. My dream of interning at another record label on the west coast fell through, and I kind of felt like I got punched in the stomach. Luckily I found Karmaloop though, which brought me back to my hometown, Boston.

Working at Karmaloop was a great experience. The group dynamic was awesome, on par with Jive, but since I was prepared, I felt like I could of done more for the company. My willingness to work was off the charts but I wish they used me more so I could learn and contribute to their company. Nevertheless, got a TON of free things, got a lot of connections, met awesome people and got to utilize my behavioral economics which is exactly what I was looking for. I love Karmaloop and I can definitely imagine myself working there.

As for the other activities this summer. AMAZING. Got to play squash, worked out, did kung fu, and danced. I wish I played more squash but it was awesome to be back where at the place where I started learning to play and become an official member at the club. I even on a weekend got to travel with people to play and had an awesome barbecue and drinks. I love how whenever I go back, I’m always welcomed. I’m so grateful and I’m glad to get back to my roots in squash.

Kung Fu. WOW. I always forget I do kung fu but whenever I come home, I make sure to go and train for a bit and say hi to everyone. It is literally a whole other family I have. something about kung fu makes my mind at ease because it’s literally me just fighting against myself to become better than before. Everyone is amazing and it’s great to see my Sifu. I love seeing everyone grow and see the people that I trained with when I was younger. Also I got to perform and help out which makes me feel great as well. I had so many laughs with everyone and it’s great. I’ll miss this family, but I’m so looking forward to coming back and training again.

Workout/dance. As a co-captain of the squash team, we sent out e mails to the team saying to run and keep somewhat fit. I couldn’t go back on my word so I ran on Monday and Tuesday and did push ups and sit ups. On others days, I was playing squash or doing kung fu which was a crazy schedule after work for me, but it always worked out. But then after that, I danced. I can’t say that I improved that much but my mind is always flowing with ideas now. I got to practice and choreograph new things, as well as make a video with my friends for a contest (we won!). Nevertheless, I have still so much to learn in dance, and I hope the hip hop club will just do that-provide me an outlet for my creativity and peace in my mind when dancing

FRIENDS. oh my god. the best part about being home though, was hanging out with home friends. damn, I miss you guys already. I got to see them a couple times every week and then I went to London with them to see my other home friend. London was AMAZING and hanging out with my great friends made it so much better. Coming back, I was lucky enough to hang out even more and then once my great friend came back from london, literally all hell broke loose. We went to Montreal and had a fantastic time, and then the constant hang out with everyone after was great. Literally yet ANOTHER family I’m so grateful I’m a part of. I was so glad I had 2 get togethers at my house and that most of them came. I love hanging out and seeing each and everyone of my friends. I’m going to miss you guys the most and I’m coming home a lot this year to make sure I hang out with all of you as much as I can. I’m already missing all of you, words can’t even describe all the times we’ve had….gahhh

Which brings me to this summer. What did I get out of it? Back to familiarity I think. I was experiencing so much outside of Boston, that I sort of lost sight what amazing things I still have back home. I’m so grateful everyone accepted me with open arms again- squash, kung fu, and friends. I really needed this reminder and I’m so glad I had the time to do so. I feel at ease and “complete” in a way now. I’ve been somewhere out of my comfort zone (NY and Australia), found myself and really developed at the same time (Australia), and now to bring that back home and remember where I came from as a child while adding everything I’ve learned these past years? I feel amazing. I’m so Inspired, Motivated and Energize. And although is sucks for me to say it, I really don’t want to go back to school. Besides learning more about Behavioral Economics for when I get a job or whatever business thing I do in the future, I really just want to hang with my friends back home forever. I seriously love you guys.

My yearning for not going back to school is so strong right now that I haven’t even started packing… It’s 10:32pm…all I can do is just suck it up and hope for the best. I’m going to miss all of this, especially my friends…I just hope school will become fun again and that I don’t fall into the mentality of just hating everyone again haha. But I really am Inspired, Motivated and Energized to really go all out Senior year and prove to myself I can do everything that I have planned out-while having fun. I’m excited for a couple of my friends to come visit me, and for me visit them as well. I’m going to be busy, but I’m going to make this all work. 

Here’s to Boston. You’ve been awesome and you’ve brought me something no other city could have brought me. I’ll miss you, and I’ll be back soon.