Yeah, if you recognize that title, then you must have grown up with Dr. Seuss! (I was a fan ever since I could pronounce sentences together)

Out of all of the books that he wrote, my favorite thus far has been “Oh The Places You’ll Go!,” mainly due to its emphasis on exploring the unknown world around you (despite the bumps).

In fact, I just bought it from the app store right now, although for the uninitiated here is it via YouTube (thanks to some brazen user, although you should buy the book).

Anyways the  reason I am writing this is because too often in my life I’ve seen so many people give up their dreams and exploring the world around them due to past disappointments, finances or some immovable obstacle.

Too many people are merely satisfied with only living out their lives day by day instead of striving what is best for them, their family, their ________ (fill in the blank folks!).

It is my firm belief that every child born is assigned a destiny by the Almighty, and the passions within the heart are hints (or indicators) of what your destiny is.

You should never stop short of pursuing that, and should strive towards that goal everyday in every way you can.

While you’ll encounter disappointment along the way (we all do), you should view obstacles as lessons instead of barriers.

To borrow a phrase from one of my favorite quotes:

“And if you keep your vision clear you will see the future. What happens in our future is our own responsibility.” ~Rem Saverem

So stop the pity party friends! The future has yet to be written, and regardless of what lies ahead you can succeed–if you really want it.

(Image and Video Credit: Dr. Seuss)

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To the shock of some of my friends, I’ll be fasting from Facebook for the next 40 days (if not indefinately).

My reason for leaving Facebook has nothing to do with the privacy fiasco, nor is it related to the inability to export my data offsite (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, rejoice! You’re not a geek).

Rather Facebook has (to put it bluntly) become a one stop vanity shop, creating no inherit value whatsoever in my life.

Unlike Twitter (which enlightens me), Tumblr (which encourages me), YouTube (which entertains me) and WordPress (which is just plain awesome!), I can not find any inherit value in Facebook that makes it worth investing time into.

So starting tomorrow (May 30th) I’ll be disconnecting my entire life from Facebook for at least 40 days (if not forever).

I’ve already turned off all notifications so if you need to contact me my Gmail is DarnellClayton and my tweet account is @Darnell (Skype is HiddenNook).

–Posted from my iPhone

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If there was one feature request I could ask Google, it would be a way to schedule important interuptions on my life (the ones where saying no makes you evil in the sight of God and man–women too!).

I’d simply turn my iPhone off (by switching to airplane mode), but then I’d miss important phone calls from friends, family and business.

Perhaps I shouldn’t be as “servant-hearted” as I would be able to get twice as much done.

But if I did that I’d become a Ferangi (from Star Trek) which would infuriate a lot of people.

I guess for now I’ll stick to simply cutting out more sleep. After all, we are in a recession, so I should simply be gracious, kill my selfish “what the frack” attitude, and help those in need.

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“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” ~King Solomon, Proverbs 25:11

Ever since I was little (I think 5 or 6) I’ve had a strong desire to communicate my thoughts visually (back then it was on a piece of paper).

I’m not sure why but for some strange reason writing has always appealed to me, despite the fact that my hand writing was atrocious (ironically though my cursive was excellent).

Later on I encountered a strang magical device called the Mac. I soon realized that my horrendous handwriting didn’t need improvement, as long as I could type with 2 fingers.

Ten typing fingers and a decade plus later I noticed many of my friends started typing out their thoughts upon a web journal service called Xanga (I didn’t know they were called blogs back then).

After joining the blog cult, and posting more times than I care to admit, I decided to migrate to Blogger after one of my Canadian friends (Chris) enlightened me on the art of blog design.

Later on I encountered two blogs that would change my perspective on writing forever.
The first was The Blog Herald which exposed me to the blogosphere, SEO, WordPress (and other platforms) and social networks in general

The second was ProBlogger which taught me the art of blogging, blog design, and (most importantantly) how you could actually earn money typing away at the keyboard.

Being the skeptical mind that I was, I decided to put ProBlogger’s advice to the test and launched a blog called Inside Orkut (slapping up Adsense ads on the side to see if this “blog earning” thing worked). Eight months later Google mailed me my first check.

Later on the Blog Herald was sold to a new company, who was looking for a few good bloggers. I signed up immediately, and although the pay wasn’t that great, the exposure was awesome (although truth be told I would have written upon it for free).

Fast forward towards today and now I’ve begun free lance writing, which has been surprisingly profitable despite the recession.

Not to mention being able to blog upon a dozen plus domains, as well as starting a few more sucessful blogs myself, the latter which have begun opening doors to the east (specifically Israel and China).

I’m not sure where this path of the digital word will eventually take me, but I’m very thankful of the opportunities of the past, as well as the upcoming ones in the future.

Although I do have other life plans (mainly dealing with agriculture and energy, which I’ll clarify later on this year–depending on whether I can secure a patent), whether it’s for passion or profit, I think I’ll be writing for the next 100 years (provided God, medicine and technology enable me to).

–Posted on my iPhone

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It looks like I may have to purchase a new pair of sneakers sometime soon (either in the next month…possibly two).

I’m not too pleased with the fact that I’ll have to break in another pair (as that can take weeks!!), but I’ve officially worn these beauties out.

–Posted on my iPhone

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“All of life’s journeys come with meetings, and partings, and reunions.” ~Meryl Stryfe

I love my friends! Whether in the past, present or the future ones I have yet to meet, I have enjoyed experiencing life with them (minus the “ones I have yet to meet” of course), and have no regrets about them being in my life (even the few that morphed into frenemies).

While I would love to spend the rest of forever with them on this side of the hemisphere, I am now slowly accepting the (scary) reality that is not going to be possible.

I have lived in America for my entire life, and while I am grateful for it’s many blessings (mainly the ability to speak my mind without the fear of death), I have never once felt at home here.

Ever since I was little (at least six), I’ve felt a huge urge/drive/desire to travel and eventually live east.

It probably explains my fascination with movies (like Aladden and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), curved swords (as opposed to the straight double bladed ones of Braveheart) and food (I equally love Falafel’s and Chinese food!).

Some of my friends have already moved east (to my jealousy), and thanks to Facebook, Twitter and Skype I can keep up with their daily adventures living eastern dream.

I hope to someday join them at the end of this year and in order to do that, I need to start getting my paper work I’m order, as well as reapply for a new passport (as mine is wearing out)–as soon as I’m done paying Uncle Sam in April.

Will I miss my friends in the US? Most definately!!! At least until I see them again.

But as for me, the future lies east, and in order to pacify this urge, I need to stop fearing the future and instead embrace it.

“Our tickets to the future are open.”

“And if you keep your vision clear you will see the future. What happens in our future is our own responsibility.”

~Rem Saverem

– Posted from my iPhone

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