More pictures to come soon, but the Lady Gaga concert was amazing (these were taken from Jenny, all credit goes to her! Arigato.) When I left Miami in January, one of my biggest regrets was the fact that I was going to miss the Lady Gaga concert. As I've told some of you already, I don't think I've been this crazed over an artist since the Backstreet Boys. In any case, I went to Miami for the concert, to file my taxes, and to visit my friends, and had a fantastic time!
Lady Gaga is a really talented artist/performer, regardless of what anyone says. I was in section 105, which was really close to the stage, and I have no regrets about the lengths I went through in order to get there. This was not the first time that I traveled internationally for a concert (and I'm really hoping it won't be the last: all of you know that I'm a passionate music lover!) The good news is that I do have my tourist visa now, which means that I can travel to the United States freely while I wait for my residency to come through. I also got a chance to make even more unforgettable memories with my lovely friends. All in all, I had a great time in Miami this past week and I have come back to Honduras determined to continue working on my weight loss goal, amongst other things.
Anyways, this was just a mini-update. I'll be writing more soon!
Another one of those songs that just speaks to my heart.
Robyn - Be Mine
It's a good thing tears never show in the pouring rain As if a good thing ever could make up for all the pain There'll be no last chance to promise to never mess it up again Just the sweet pain of watching your back as you walk As I'm watching you walk away And now you're gone, there's like an echo in my head And I remember every word you said
It's a cruel thing you'll never know all the ways I tried It's a hard thing, faking a smile when I feel like I'm falling apart inside And now you're gone, there's like an echo in my head And I remember every word you said
And you never were, and you never will be mine No, you never were, and you never will be mine
For the first time, there is no mercy in your eyes And the cold wind is hitting my face and you're gone And you're walking away (away) And now I'm helpless sometimes Wishing's just no good 'Cause you don't see me like I wish you would
'Cause you never were, and you never will be mine No, you never were, and you never will be mine
There's a moment to seize everytime that we meet But you always keep passing me by No, you never were, and you never will be mine
(If you can find it, play the song “Floating,” by Katherine Liner while reading this.)
We are constantly bombarded by choices everyday. In fact, I’m even tempted to say that our entire life is one big choice in itself. What should I have for breakfast? Do I go out tonight or do I stay in? Should I go to college or start working immediately after high school? I’m not going to talk about the consequences of the choices we make. I’m sure that most of us are aware of this already. Many of us have had to learn how to cope with the consequences of the decisions we’d made, whether positive or negative. What I’ve become fascinated with recently is the possibility that for every choice we make, there is an alternate reality where we’ve chosen the opposite. According to the field of quantum physics, these alternate realities are not only possible, but they are real. Quantum physics argues, amongst it many precepts, that it is possible for things to be in two places at once. I’m currently sitting at my desk, typing away, but is it possible that there is another me who’s chosen to go out tonight and is drinking a Mojito as we speak? Being curious about these sorts of things may seem pointless to many. They’d argue that we’ll never know the truth, so it is futile to waste time and energy thinking about them. However, it is my belief that it’s essential for us as cognitive beings to spend some time pondering these matters. To me, choosing not to spend time dwelling on these issues is almost the same as being brain dead.
Did you know that the human brain processes 4 billion bits of information every second, but that on average we’re only aware of 2,000 of these? Meditation techniques are supposed to teach us how to become more aware of our world. In the Buddhist tradition, if we ever reach nirvana, we would be able to be in a state of complete awareness, even if it were to only last for a few seconds. I’m not going to pretend that I’ve ever reached nirvana, or that I’ve made significant strides in becoming more aware of reality. In fact, I’m still not even sure what reality really entails. If our brains only process 2,000 bits of information every second, what happens to the rest? Does it remain lodged in our brains – accessible to those who have the right tools and techniques? Or is it lost forever? Maybe I’m just rambling on and should be trying to meditate instead. Perhaps then I’d have something more concrete to relate.
Another exercise that is supposed to help us increase our awareness, at least about ourselves, is trying to see yourself through someone else’s eyes. Try to disengage yourself from your reality and the things you know and pretend for a second that you’re a total stranger and suddenly bumped into yourself at a crowded train station. How would you react? Would you care about trying to get to know you more? What would your thoughts be?
All of this is just food for thought. I truly think that one of the worst things that plagues society these days is the inability of human beings to disconnect from the world and give importance to the self. To some this may just be a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, but I truly think that if we individually spent more time trying to be at peace with ourselves (which is only possible if we truly know and accept who we are), the world would be a much better place.
I know that it’s hard. Unfortunately, society has placed too much importance on material and physical things. In the old days, people respected those who belonged to the class of intellectuals; nowadays, they call us bums/good-for-nothings/hippies, etc. Oh well, c’est la vie. I’m sure there are still a few of us left who believe in “cogito, ergo sum.”
Adele, thank you for this. THIS is how I feel (still.) Nothing more, nothing less.
I heard that you're settled down. That you found a girl and you're married now. I heard that your dreams came true. Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.
Old friend, why are you so shy? It ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light
I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it. I'd hoped you'd see my face & that you'd be reminded, That for me, it isn't over.
Nevermind, I'll find someone like you. I wish nothing but the best for you too. Don't forget me, I beg, I'll remember you said: "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead" Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.
You'd know how the time flies. Only yesterday was the time of our lives. We were born and raised in a summer haze. Bound by the surprise of our glory days.
I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it. I'd hoped you'd see my face & that you'd be reminded, That for me, it isn't over yet.
Nevermind, I'll find someone like you. I wish nothing but the best for you too. Don't forget me, I beg, I'll remember you said: "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead".
Nothing compares, no worries or cares. Regret's and mistakes they're memories made. Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?
Nevermind, I'll find someone like you. I wish nothing but the best for you too. Don't forget me, I beg, I'll remember you said: "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"
Nevermind, I'll find someone like you. I wish nothing but the best for you too. Don't forget me, I beg, I'll remember you said: "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead" Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.
It is in this grave hour that our humanitarian side must really shine through. Though I have been following the events in Japan closely, I am still appalled and mesmerized with the images that I see. Images of complete towns being swept away by ocean waves, of huge flames consuming entire buildings. It’s so hard to believe that this is happening in my dear Japan, a country that opened its heart and soul to me. The magnitude of the devastation has yet to be assessed and I truly fear the effects of this catastrophe. With that said however, I trust that people around the world feel for Japan and will quickly rush to help. My heart goes out to you, Nihon. Stay strong my brothers and sisters, but above all, stay safe.
Maybe most of you have realized this already, but there is a reason behind every single one of my actions. Even if people don't see the why of something I've done, I can assure you that the reason is there. However, I've adopted a very honest stance to life. I don't do or say things unless I truly feel like doing/saying them. That said, it doesn't mean that I have completely let go of my diplomatic ways. Oh, no. The charmer is still here. I've always liked and will probably always like being on top. So, I decided to share some of my commandments with regards to power, taken from the book "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene.
Law 3: Conceal your intentions Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.
Law 4: Always say less than necessary When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear; and the less you are in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinx-like. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.
Law 5: So much depends on reputation – Guard it with your life Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.
Law 9: Win through your actions, never through argument Any momentary triumph you think you have gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.
Law 14: Pose as a friend, work as a spy Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.
Law 20: Do not commit to anyone It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.
Law 24: Play the perfect courtier The perfect courtiers thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the most oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.
Law 34: Be royal in your own fashion: Act like a king to be treated like one The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated: in the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself, and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.
Law 36: Disdain things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best revenge By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem.
Law 44: Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: when you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of the Mirror Effect.
So, I got this in the mail today... I got in to NYU. Wow!
I was checking my mail right after lunch, which consisted of a cup of vegetable broth and a bunch of vegetables since I'm on a liquid cleanse, and I see an email whose subject line read: "NYU GSAS Application Decision." I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting the best of news, but when I read the line: "I'm very pleased to tell you that..." my heart started racing and I knew I'd done it!!! NYU's Master in Politics (Specialization in International Affairs) is listed as the 10th best in the entire country. They accept only about 24% of applicants, and yours truly was one of them. I don't know whether I'll get the same news for Columbia, but this on its own is a huge achievement. My confidence had been dwindling the last couple of months, and somewhere it was written that on March 1, 2011, I was to find out that I STILL GOT IT! Today, I felt much more alive than I've felt in a long time, and I have to say, it feels great! This one moment was worth absolutely everything I went through last year. Watch out bitches, Ms. KB is back...
Oh, and now that I'm revealing information - I might be headed to Miami in April. My plan is to be there for a week, specifically for the Lady Gaga concert, so hit me up if you want to celebrate! Friends and haters alike, I owe my strength to all of you! Friends: you give me the strength to get up in the morning with all the faith you've got in me. Haters: getting to prove that I'm so much more fabulous than you'd ever imagined is just a wonderful perk! Peace out!
