Can You Kick It?

I went for a run the other day on the same trails of the metro park I ran through in high school. Listening to my workout mix, a random song, Can I Kick It? by A Tribe Called Quest, came on my iPod as I was struggling to run up a steeper hill than the last. The beat of the music became steady as I approached the flat and fell back into control. The 2.6 mile red trail, was known to be long and difficult back when we conditioned in high school sports because after running up one hill, you would effortlessly run all the way down just to find an even steeper hill waiting ahead. Clearly, I was motivated for a good workout that day and this red trail in particular had the most beautiful views. I loved looking around only to see nature staring back at me, and the sun reflecting off the water in the valley.

In this metro park there are different trails to choose from. Anyone can choose which trail to take, from green, (the flat, shady horseshoe trail) to orange (trail through a burnt tall grassy field) to red, (hills in the midst of woods). The red trail reminds me of living a more full-filled life compared to choosing the green trial. It’s not about physically being in shape (because I most certainly started out on the green trail at one point), but it is about how hard you are willing to work to get to a more difficult level.

I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full. [John 10:10] As I was listening to Can I Kick It? on my iPod, I wanted to tell God right there, Yes I Can! Especially if it means living life to the fullest, trying to be the best version of me God created me to be.

Living life is like running on a trail, listening to your iPod while looking around you. Running up a hill is much more demanding that running down one. On the other hand, the top of the hill always leads to a view and the higher the peak, the more spectacular of the view. I have noticed how God always creates a challenge before succeeding in life. He challenges our patience, perseverance, self-control and most of all, the abundance of faith we have in Him. These thoughts rushing through my head overlooking the valley and glorious hills throughout my run led God to answering a question. How do I become the best version of myself, the person God created me to be?

He simply said, "run up more hills instead of being content running the steady flats".

I think God wanted me to understand what aspects of my life slow down the growth in my relationship with Christ. I realize coasting through life is like running down a hill, whereas running up a hill is challenging yet more gratifying because it only leads to a more spectacular view that keeps us flourishing until we reach the peak.

Next time you go for a run, bike ride or hike in the woods—remember To Kick It.

Under Construction.

I have learned to live in the moment and do what is easy, effortless and enjoyable. This doesn't mean to live life with ease, effortlessness and enjoyment but I should be in love with what I do on a day-to-day bases. Part of loving what I do includes the people who surround me. Relationships are important in my life, I enjoy meeting and getting to know the people who surround me. Furthermore, it is essential not to take my time and energy for granted and fill the moments I could be recharging my battery, with browsing on Facebook, Twitter or texting on my phone longer than I should be. I'm not saying I should give up these "time-fillers" but instead change my routine to only updating social life at certain periods of the day-Morning, afternoon and early evening and before bed. As a college student, this seems impossible but I should have the "just do it" attitude and create value to my work instead of my Blackberry. Since I have utilized this new strategy of mine to be more productive in less time, I have found that I care more about the people around me and life becomes more exciting. During the week, if you think about the amount of words you could type on your paper instead of the amount of letters you text on your phone, you are not only wasting time but also energy and focus on the work you are doing costing productivity. Productivity is one outcome of changing my routine but the ultimate goal of my project is to stimulate Creativity.

Creating value in the things I love to do. According to a Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Univertsity,Teresa Amabile describes how "employees are most creative when they are intrinsically motivated --in other words, when the work itself is motivating." By fractionating my time and dividing my day into independent parts can make reconstructing my routine easier. For instance, instead of multitasking and trying to text while doing something else, I should make checking my phone/email/Faceboook etc. an activity I do throughout the day instead of making it a symptom of having the need to do something every time I have free time. It is important that I create a 20 minute time slot just for me so I can do nothing but recharge myself and think about whatever I want to think about. The other day, I had the "just do it" mentality where I walked in the door after a long day, dropped my bags and went straight to my room to lay down for 20 minutes. Afterwards, I made "breakfast for dinner" and went to the library refreshed and recharged. I completed my work twice as efficiently and effectively.

To conclude my experience of enhancing my creativity by getting rid of 'time-fillers' I have written and signed a contact to with the witness of Francesca M that I will dramatically decrease the amount of multitasking I do by fractionating my day into a collection of independent parts including at least 20 minutes to myself to do nothing. Francesca would also like me to pledge myself not to text or use my phone while driving- which benefits everyone else on the road, not only my creativity skills.

New Routine

In order to think more creatively, changing my routine is necessary while being conscious of the change. Over the past two days, I have been twice as productive by allowing myself to relax for 20 minutes and sitting down to watch t.v. or take a nap. By doing taking a break, I have allowed my brain reenergize and be more focused when I do sit down to do work. Another change I have made is to "just do it" even when I don't feel like switching up my routine. For instance, every Wednesday I wake up at 6am, shower and go to 7am prayer breakfast and afterwards I do work. But I switched up my routine by putting on my workout clothes and working out afterwards. After dropping off my friend, I pushed myself to go to the rec after eating my usual "yogurt fruit parfait,". It was a positive experience after doing cardio on the elliptical for 40 minutes without headphones. I thoroughly read 3 articles in a January issue of the People magazine. It was nice to be able to read out of pleasure instead of listening to music or studying a review guide.

Throughout the day, I have been trying my best to live in the present to do the things that will benefit me in the future instead of worrying about making the most of my time. A lesson learned over the past two days is to have the "just do it" mentality even when it is something out of the ordinary. I have also learned to stop worrying about the little things and to be holistic about relationships I have with people. To not look into text messages too seriously and to let looking at my blackberry take up too much time and energy. I learned to remember that texting is a symptom of filling my time whereas it should be an activity I do 5 times a day.

No Interruptions Please.

Similar to a verbal fillers, I have recently discovered there a new concept called 'time' fillers. At first, I thought my Blackberry was keeping me from being productive as I would sit at the Library typing a paper with my phone next to my laptop as I would glance at the green light to see if it was red, I realized the 20 minutes I spent texting, could have been an entire page on my paper. I thought about it for a week with my good friend who would make a point that I was concentrating on replying to my messages and emails more than my work I was there to do.
In ESP Imagination 366, I began to think about how I can change my perspective on life to think more creatively. Did you know the entrepreneurs have thought of their most profound ideas while doing absolutely NOTHING.
Being a naturally productive person, there is usually not one part of my day where I can spend 20 minutes without doing something. Thinking about what is really the 'time' filler is not only my blackberry or electronic devices. I multitask 27/4 and that is an issue when it comes to thinking creatively. Texting on my way to class, in class, at King or while having lunch is a symptom taking control of my time. I am in the habit of residing to my phone when it comes to doing nothing.
The point is that I just need to take control instead of putting myself on autopilot and responding to a text within the minute it is sent. Texting and emailing is an activity, not a filler. It is an activity that I do everyday and I should set time aside to do what I have to do to communicate with the people around me.
As a result, this means I need to change my routine in terms thinking about what I am doing before I do it. If I want to change this habit then I need to be conscious of my new routine. Once I am conscious of the fact I am doing nothing I will feel a difference in my behavior and in my productiveness when I do my work.
I am going to do an experiment with my daily routine by being conscious of my Blackberry, Facebooking in between unfinished work or surfing online instead of just laying in my bed for 20 minutes to rest around 4pm.
I will keep a log at the end of the day of the times I use 'time' fillers. I will take note of how I feel through out my day how much more effective I am when sitting down to do work. By being conscious of my change in routine, I will be able to cherish my actual "do nothing" moments, charge my battery before doing something that involves energy.
In the end I will have a more productive day, not in terms of how many actions I take, but how effective and more creative my actions are.

Enjoy the Adventure

A well-beaten path does not always make the right road so stop worrying about your Sperry’s getting dirty and create your own road to success. If you believe in yourself and have a passion then there is nothing to be afraid of. Some people think there is only one path to success but the most successful people have a unique perspective that sparks creativity and generates ideas. Those lateral thinkers are the ones who are not afraid to color outside of the lines.

In other words, there are multiple directions to take in life depending on your dream. The relationships that prosper with the people you cross paths with, the knowledge you soak in from the rain that falls and achievements gained from running up the hills are the experiences that add value to your journey. So pick the direction you want to take without worrying about it not being beaten down because walking down a flat will be like driving down I-70 W in Kansas; you do nothing but pop a Dramamine and sleep until you reach the Rocky Mountains.

Food for Thought

In order to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, simply allow yourself to fall in love with the world. Live in the moment, laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live to result motivation to be great. I am going to personally share with you my perspective on how I view the world in the midst of branding Danielle.

I am a person who delights in life’s simple pleasures and recognizing them comes from being spontaneous especially on Saturday afternoons. To give you a dose of Danielle, over the past month Saturday’s have consisted of waking up to 10 inches of snow on the ground after a blizzard from the night before. Then going out to take pictures while playing in fresh powder like it was for the first time. One Saturday, my housemates and I went to see Valentine’s Day at Princess and for dinner dipped crab legs into warm butter, scrapped the flesh from mussels and the tender bits from artichoke leaves with a side of authentic Parmesan risotto. I visited home in Toledo for my 21^st birthday celebration with the family, that morning I woke up to the smell of my dad’s notorious banana pancakes and freshly brewed Starbucks coffee. I took a long walk in the park with my parents and sister then came home to baked brie melting in brown sugar topped with toasted almond slices. Warming up by the fire with a gla

ss of red wine, we enjoyed a dramatic ‘blue ray’ movie. Now those are what you call simple pleasures.

Simple pleasures allow you to fall in love with the world, to notice details and to appreciate the people around you. Turn the ordinary into extraordinary. Try looking at life in a different angle. Have precision in your goals and what you want to get out of your day. Living in the Miami bubble is what you make of it. Think of capturing the moment in a photograph. Focus in with the camera lens; compose the image in your mind’s eye, focus and set the shot clearly, then snap the shutter. With precision, you get the results you want by accomplishing fewer things at a higher level. You won’t accomplish your goal maybe the first time around or the second; it does not take one shot, but multiple, countless tries until you find the right one. So the question is, which angle of life are you willing to take? Is your angle the ordinary shot picture from afar or are you going to break up the pattern to capture the extraordinary?

BRAND YOURSELF.

"It's this simple: You are a brand. You are in charge of your brand. There is no single path to success. And there is no one right way to create the brand called You. Except this: Start today. Or else." -Tom Peters (Fast Company: A Brand Called You)

As college students, we are still young, impressionable, and we have more to offer than we think. If we are open-minded, we will meet more people, gain more insights and more opportunities will arise. As simple as taking a picture, the photo won’t take unless we snap the shutter ourselves. We have the power to be in charge of our Brand and we have the power to create our Brand using our own imagination.

There is no right way to create the Brand called You. In order to be irreplaceable, we must find our market niche, determine how we are different or better or more accessible than the competition. We should use our imagination to develop our Brand to make it the BEST it can be. Walt Disney, coined the term ‘plussing’ as a way of making an idea even better. He would say, “even when you think you have nailed it, you can always plus it.”

Think of Apple’s iPad, a small device with the ability to read emails, surf the web, watch videos and take pictures. We all know the iPad will be ‘plussed’ numerously in its lifespan, which is why many consumers will wait for the better version to come out. Never settle, but thirst learning something new each day. Reach out to get to know the people within the organizations we’re involved in.

Don’t wait any longer to create your Brand, create it now!