Memories Made in the Coldest Winter aka Nemo: The Aftermath #NoFilter

So about a week ago, The Northeast was hit with a little snow.  Where most people did the smart thing and stayed warm at home, I was at a point where nothing was going to stop me from what I wanted to do.  Perhaps it was because I was sick and tired of people telling me what I could or couldnt do, or because I was sick of being that guy and wanted to be the guy who took initiative and take life by the balls, or maybe Drake's The Motto was just playing at a weird hour where I connected with it.  But really, I think it was that I was in a place where I felt like this was an opportunity for me to make the BEST with what was given, instead of being lazy.

Where Most people will remember it as Nemo (or just a day with a bit of snow), for me?  It was my YOLO day.

 The first thing I noticed was the solitude.  Also, I've told many people about enjoying watching movies in a completely empty theater, but this was that on a much larger scale!

Then after a bit of geeking around (comic book, board game, vinyl figure shopping).  I wondered what Manhattan looks like during a blizzard.  So, I went to the most famous office building in NYC.

Empire State Building fun fact!  On days like the particular day I went, they will tell you multiple times that there is zero visibility.  Thus, no line.  but they are still open.  

Although, Zero Visibility apparently doesnt mean what it used to.

After all of this, I met with some lovely folk to have dinner, and went our separate ways wishing each other safe travels.  

So already out of power on my phone, I get to the GWB to find that the bus I would normally take to get home had stopped running due to precautionary measures.  However, luckily there was one bus left that ran a different route, but still was going to cross the bridge.  So I took that and crossed the bridge.

Remember how earlier I mentioned solitude?  I've never seen Fort Lee like this before.  It felt like a ghost town (no pictures due to dead cell phone at this point).  So in the full force of the blizzard (as full as it was going to be in the New York Metropolitan Area any way), I treked home.  After I got home about an hour later, I found out that the trek was only really 1.5 miles of climbing through a foot and a half of snow, but I have to admit, this was exactly what I needed at this point in time.  Knowing that I had put myself in the situation I found myself in, and the best solution to my problem was just putting my head down and doing what needed to be done.  Learning that when push comes to shove, I can do what needs to be done?  I believe there are very few self realizations that can trump that.  

I was ecstatic enough, that once my phone charged, I went back out to take more pictures. 

Side note:  Another reality check for me was the fact that constantly through the day, I was reminded that there is ALWAYS some one who is hustling harder than me to do what they need to do.  All I felt after seeing those examples was that there is no substitute for hard work, and more so than motivation, discipline is key.

So cheers to taking advantage of opportunities coming your way, and to working harder than the guy next to you.  Because for me, that's how I'm going to make my own memories, regardless of what any body throws my way.

A change is gonna come.

A declaration. 

We dont live in a society where we can sit back, complain, and hope to get more out of it.  For that matter, self pity has no place in this world.  Life is too damn short for it, and there are too many people who are taking advantage of the opportunities that you are creating, afforded by your apathy.

Remember that every day is a privilege.  Dont take it for granted. 

If I am not happy with the world around me, I will recognize it as an opportunity for myself to make better, whether it is to make myself a better man, or if it is an opportunity to make the world around me better. 

I have been so afraid of failure that I haven't allowed myself to succeed.   If the circumstances aren't right, do what you can, move on.  You dont know what tomorrow brings, so there's no reason to beat yourself up over one missed opportunity.  All I can do is that when an opportunity presents itself, be ready to take it, rather than be caught with my pants down.

So what if I've failed?  Remember that there is nothing that better demonstrates your value than your ability to pick yourself back up and move on to be successful.  Nothing.

I am done wondering why shit happens to me.
Shit happens to everybody.  What use is there complaining, or wondering why things go wrong?  There are too many variables in the big picture of life for you to wonder why life is not going perfectly.

Aspire to Inspire.
This should be the fuel that feeds your fire.  If not to inspire anyone else, inspire yourself to be better.  Be the person you desire to be.  Success should soon follow.