polaroids of paul

a digital representation of the world inside my head

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As I continue to look for a job, this kind of marketing is always a thought. 

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The Right Note

When I was in 4th grade, I sat down to a piano over Christmas break, and I learned something very important about myself: I know how to play piano by ear. 

I could pick out the melody of nearly any song. And, after a little bit of work, I could arrange the song in a key that I wanted it to be in, and easily transpose it to another key. 

I always took pride in the fact that I taught myself how to do this, and particularly, when I found a new song I wanted to learn. Specifically, there was something cool about finding exactly the right note to blend with the other notes to create the type of consonance or dissonance that let me put my own emotion into the music I played. And, sometimes, this took longer than others. In some situations, I had to read sheet music to get on the right track…to know where to begin. Other times, I gave up on the song, and would come back to it another day.

I also started to learn classical music. But, to give the true treatment that classical music deserved, I would read the music intently, noticing each and every grace note. I’d follow each decrescendo, every Italian tempo marking, to breathe life into the music of the ages. This taught me the beauty of old in music…and allowed me to create my own interpretation of the music of today, using my special skill.

And, in every song, there are triumphant moments, and moments that can create lingering desire. Others you replay over, and over, and over again, dancing when no one is looking, or tapping your feet to the beat. Some songs, the longer you listen to them, you more you hope that they never end. They become familiar to your heart. Maybe you don’t play them on the piano, or any other instrument, but you hear them and know each part of the song as it flows through your body. For me…these songs are written in my heart, and can read them in my head. The connection between those two, when it came to making music, was so strong, that the music was able to speak for my emotions…and for me. 

So, even though are were some songs that I wish wouldn’t end, I know that most do, at some point. Even if I’m not playing the music, I always wait for resolution of some sort. At the end of the day, that doesn’t always happen. But, each song, and each sound, has a unique way of speaking to us, telling us more about ourselves, our tastes, and who we are. Some music wraps you in an embrace that you can’t explain, but sends chills up and down your vertebrae. 

There’s just something special about music that ends on the right note. Because, if something has to end, it ought to end the right way.

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Books

You know that feeling when you are reading a book, and can’t wait to finish it? You know you only have like 2 hours of reading left, but you know you’re almost there? Whether it’s a biography, or a funny book, or a horror story, those last two hours of reading are brutal. (Unless it’s a children’s picture book, which in that case, if it takes you two hours to read that book, you might not be reading my blog.)

Leaving Greek Affairs in two hours after a great year! Thanks for the experience, all!

Filed under K-State Wildcats EMAW Purple pride learning education philosophy thoughts

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Dinner at Harry's

Mom:
There's something your Dad and I wanted to talk to you about.
Dad:
We want to tell you the secret to enjoying the people you're around. It's what's worked for us in marriage, work, relationships, and with our children.
Mom:
We never fought. We argued sometimes. But we didn't fight. You kids never saw that.
Dad:
And, it's because sometimes you say things that you can never take back. Even if you apologize, the other person will always wonder: "Did they mean that?"
Mom:
You have one thing that you can do to build the strong positive relationships that you're wanting, Paul.
Dad:
Build trust. When you build trust with people, there's no doubt in your mind about people's motivations. Honesty is great...but trust is better.
Mom:
Building a world based on trust with the people around you enriches your life.
Dad:
And remember...if you can't build trust with someone, it may not be worth your time. Do right by others, but care deeply about those you trust.

Filed under learning education philosophy thoughts

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Not only have I grown as a student in college, but K-State and my K-State family have helped me grow to be a better person. I have been blessed by the people who took time to invest in my success and saw potential in me.
Me, April 23, 2010. Amidst 2 years of change, at least one thing has been constant: A BIG THANK YOU to the wonderful people in my life who have invested in me as I graduate.

Filed under K-State Wildcats EMAW Purple pride

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As many people know, I have a real interest in positive psychology and especially Strengths-based leadership. Today, I’ve decided to share my Strengths, in order, in conjunction with the explanation that Gallup uses to describe the theme that ranks for me. Likewise, I have highlighted areas that specifically bring meaning to how my themes work, and bolded, underlined, and italicized ideas that show how my strengths holistically interact. Developer: Driven by your talents, you might be aware of the emotions that individuals experience when they participate in activities or contests. Perhaps you sense who is likely to have fun whether they win or lose. Maybe you can predict who will be disappointed by defeat or overjoyed by victory. Chances are good that you affirm others for who they are. You celebrate their unique gifts. Your encouraging words inspire and embolden people to be their real and true selves. Instinctively, you crave information, so reading is a pleasurable activity for you. It is not a burden. You accumulate new ideas from books, publications, documents, or correspondence. Few things delight you as much as being able to talk with others about your latest discoveries. Listeners’ questions and comments probably pique — that is, excite or inspire — your curiosity. This motivates you to read even more. It’s very likely that you understand there is more to life than the acquisition of material possessions. Typically you find purpose and meaning in the simple things money cannot buy. By nature, you may help people understand that life is funny. Perhaps you hope people see the humor in messes, mix-ups, or problems and help them do so. Laughter might be one way you reduce your own and others’ stress. Sometimes it is also an antidote — that is, a remedy — for people who become upset when things go wrong. Restorative: Chances are good that you automatically set out to do things right. As a result, you usually invent better ways to tackle assignments, studies, or chores. You are apt to make small yet necessary upgrades to enhance the efficiency and overall performance of various processes or individuals. Driven by your talents, you are highly sensitive to what others think of you. This sensitivity continually motivates you to do things better than you have in the past. Instinctively, you often ponder what you must do better. You find new ways to deliver on the commitments you have made. Keeping promises is just one way you enhance the quality of your work. Because of your strengths, you frequently think about ways you can to do a better job of underscoring the good things people do. You intentionally downplay the bad habits, mistakes, or shortcomings of others. You prefer to help individuals realize what they have done accurately, properly, brilliantly, or right. It’s very likely that you usually offer people useful suggestions about what needs to be fixed, upgraded, renovated, or done better. Connectedness: Instinctively, you may be fascinated by news reports that promise to improve the quality of life for the entire human family. Perhaps this information makes you feel a bit more optimistic about the world’s future. It’s very likely that you underscore what people have in common even though their backgrounds, experiences, languages, cultures, or interests vary greatly. You facilitate dialogue between individuals. You create peace within groups and between people by linking them to one another. Chances are good that you choose to associate with people whose philosophical perspective gives them both balance and courage in the face of adversity. Because of your strengths, you rely on your awareness of others’ feelings, thoughts, and needs to guide you into and through partnerships. You consider various ways to initiate, nurture, and sustain the linkages between individuals and groups. You bring people together. You help them discover reasons to cooperate and support one another. Driven by your talents, you sometimes experience an unexplainable yet natural link with some people. Perhaps this is a common occurrence with certain individuals, particularly those whose talents, limitations, interests, goals, needs, or fears are known to you. Belief: Driven by your talents, you are determined to push for changes that will benefit humankind or Earth itself. Your desire to have an impact motivates you to enter into conversations with intelligent people. Drawing on their wealth of knowledge and ideas as well as sharing your treasure trove of wisdom is exciting. These discussions frequently cause you to think in new ways and to reexamine your purpose in life. It’s very likely that you often argue that people should be held to the highest moral standards. You insist that those who break the law be required to accept the consequences of their deeds. You have little sympathy for people who are caught in the act of taking things that do not belong to them. By nature, you probably collect books, publications, correspondence, or public records. You seek to fully understand the fundamentals of the causes you support. You yearn to know about the circumstances that can enhance or erode your quality of life. When you feel strongly about something, you gather as much information as you possibly can. Then you pore over these materials — that is, read them very carefully. Chances are good that you definitely want to benefit humankind and the environment. You seek to bring about major and minor changes that are needed. You identify what you can do as a person to make life better for others. Your values are expressed through your words and deeds. Your sense of mission — whatever it happens to be — fills your life with meaning and purpose. Instinctively, you are compelled to help people. You yearn to leave the world in better shape for those who will follow you years, decades, and centuries from now. Input: Because of your strengths, you thirst for new ideas and knowledge. Often you lose yourself in a book. You pore over the ideas contained on its pages for long stretches of time. Why? You want to absorb as much information as you can. Instinctively, you fill your mind with new ideas by asking questions, reading, studying, observing, or listening. Normally, you accumulate facts, data, stories, examples, or background information from the people you meet. Determining what they want to accomplish in the coming weeks, months, or years generally satisfies your curiosity. These insights also allow you to understand why individuals behave they way they do in different situations. It’s very likely that you may want certain people to know you can take charge of situations or people. Sometimes you rely on highly technical, academic, or professional words to state your demands or establish your authority. Perhaps you challenge some listeners’ abilities to understand. You might prefer to associate with individuals whose vocabularies are as broad and deep as yours is. By nature, you desire to take in additional facts, data, or background information. These insights probably permit you to assist others whenever the opportunity presents itself. Driven by your talents, you are an avid reader. Collecting information, insights, and facts is your forte — that is, your strong point. You are quick to tell people about ideas or theories that strike you as correct.

As many people know, I have a real interest in positive psychology and especially Strengths-based leadership. Today, I’ve decided to share my Strengths, in order, in conjunction with the explanation that Gallup uses to describe the theme that ranks for me. Likewise, I have highlighted areas that specifically bring meaning to how my themes work, and bolded, underlined, and italicized ideas that show how my strengths holistically interact.

  1. Developer: Driven by your talents, you might be aware of the emotions that individuals experience when they participate in activities or contests. Perhaps you sense who is likely to have fun whether they win or lose. Maybe you can predict who will be disappointed by defeat or overjoyed by victory. Chances are good that you affirm others for who they are. You celebrate their unique gifts. Your encouraging words inspire and embolden people to be their real and true selves. Instinctively, you crave information, so reading is a pleasurable activity for you. It is not a burden. You accumulate new ideas from books, publications, documents, or correspondence. Few things delight you as much as being able to talk with others about your latest discoveries. Listeners’ questions and comments probably pique — that is, excite or inspire — your curiosity. This motivates you to read even more. It’s very likely that you understand there is more to life than the acquisition of material possessions. Typically you find purpose and meaning in the simple things money cannot buy. By nature, you may help people understand that life is funny. Perhaps you hope people see the humor in messes, mix-ups, or problems and help them do so. Laughter might be one way you reduce your own and others’ stress. Sometimes it is also an antidote — that is, a remedy — for people who become upset when things go wrong.
  2. Restorative: Chances are good that you automatically set out to do things right. As a result, you usually invent better ways to tackle assignments, studies, or chores. You are apt to make small yet necessary upgrades to enhance the efficiency and overall performance of various processes or individuals. Driven by your talents, you are highly sensitive to what others think of you. This sensitivity continually motivates you to do things better than you have in the past. Instinctively, you often ponder what you must do better. You find new ways to deliver on the commitments you have made. Keeping promises is just one way you enhance the quality of your work. Because of your strengths, you frequently think about ways you can to do a better job of underscoring the good things people do. You intentionally downplay the bad habits, mistakes, or shortcomings of others. You prefer to help individuals realize what they have done accurately, properly, brilliantly, or right. It’s very likely that you usually offer people useful suggestions about what needs to be fixed, upgraded, renovated, or done better.
  3. Connectedness: Instinctively, you may be fascinated by news reports that promise to improve the quality of life for the entire human family. Perhaps this information makes you feel a bit more optimistic about the world’s future. It’s very likely that you underscore what people have in common even though their backgrounds, experiences, languages, cultures, or interests vary greatly. You facilitate dialogue between individuals. You create peace within groups and between people by linking them to one another. Chances are good that you choose to associate with people whose philosophical perspective gives them both balance and courage in the face of adversity. Because of your strengths, you rely on your awareness of others’ feelings, thoughts, and needs to guide you into and through partnerships. You consider various ways to initiate, nurture, and sustain the linkages between individuals and groups. You bring people together. You help them discover reasons to cooperate and support one another. Driven by your talents, you sometimes experience an unexplainable yet natural link with some people. Perhaps this is a common occurrence with certain individuals, particularly those whose talents, limitations, interests, goals, needs, or fears are known to you.
  4. Belief: Driven by your talents, you are determined to push for changes that will benefit humankind or Earth itself. Your desire to have an impact motivates you to enter into conversations with intelligent people. Drawing on their wealth of knowledge and ideas as well as sharing your treasure trove of wisdom is exciting. These discussions frequently cause you to think in new ways and to reexamine your purpose in life. It’s very likely that you often argue that people should be held to the highest moral standards. You insist that those who break the law be required to accept the consequences of their deeds. You have little sympathy for people who are caught in the act of taking things that do not belong to them. By nature, you probably collect books, publications, correspondence, or public records. You seek to fully understand the fundamentals of the causes you support. You yearn to know about the circumstances that can enhance or erode your quality of life. When you feel strongly about something, you gather as much information as you possibly can. Then you pore over these materials — that is, read them very carefully. Chances are good that you definitely want to benefit humankind and the environment. You seek to bring about major and minor changes that are needed. You identify what you can do as a person to make life better for others. Your values are expressed through your words and deeds. Your sense of mission — whatever it happens to be — fills your life with meaning and purpose. Instinctively, you are compelled to help people. You yearn to leave the world in better shape for those who will follow you years, decades, and centuries from now.
  5. Input: Because of your strengths, you thirst for new ideas and knowledge. Often you lose yourself in a book. You pore over the ideas contained on its pages for long stretches of time. Why? You want to absorb as much information as you can. Instinctively, you fill your mind with new ideas by asking questions, reading, studying, observing, or listening. Normally, you accumulate facts, data, stories, examples, or background information from the people you meet. Determining what they want to accomplish in the coming weeks, months, or years generally satisfies your curiosity. These insights also allow you to understand why individuals behave they way they do in different situations. It’s very likely that you may want certain people to know you can take charge of situations or people. Sometimes you rely on highly technical, academic, or professional words to state your demands or establish your authority. Perhaps you challenge some listeners’ abilities to understand. You might prefer to associate with individuals whose vocabularies are as broad and deep as yours is. By nature, you desire to take in additional facts, data, or background information. These insights probably permit you to assist others whenever the opportunity presents itself. Driven by your talents, you are an avid reader. Collecting information, insights, and facts is your forte — that is, your strong point. You are quick to tell people about ideas or theories that strike you as correct.

Filed under learning education philosophy thoughts