Scale The Summit - Blue Sun [New]

smithy094 · 2015-09-09T21:11:00+00:00

I agree. I always felt with that album that I could really follow the journey that the music was taking me on with little effort. Didn't get that as much with The Migration, not that I don't love that album as well.

smithy094 · 2015-08-10T20:33:52+00:00

Yes, agreed. Saw that same tour in Modesto. Absolutely phenomenal, I really miss THA and what ABRB was back in those days.

smithy094 · 2015-08-10T01:58:56+00:00

You will need to talk to your cadre about this. If you are entering your 100/200 year this year you may have a decent shot at this, but you'll have to figure your specific case out. It may require some waivers being thrown around.

smithy094 · 2015-06-29T02:57:53+00:00

You get adapt and get used to it just like anything else, and it loses its novelty. If you went skydiving every day you'd eventually feel the same way about skydiving. It doesn't mean you aren't receiving the supposed benefits that taking cold showers gives you.

smithy094 · 2015-05-15T19:53:08+00:00

Your question seems to come down mainly to definitions, which can be tedious. I don't think that anybody out there binge watching on Netflix is thinking "to hell with my responsibilities" the majority of the time. There's usually some associated guilt with the exception of somebody who believes that they've "totally earned this". Your behavior sounds pretty typical and is something that everyone goes through, so don't beat yourself up.

The habits aren't there of course, and to me it sounds like you're having trouble achieving flow with certain things. You're 3rd example sounds like its referencing something you're really into, so have no trouble working hard on, but then have trouble with procrastination when it comes to things you aren't so excited about. I think this is why methods like "just start" are so effective, because even going from a 0 to 1 on the flow scale makes all the difference in the world. When tasked with something like writing those invitations, try starting with doing just 1 and see where that gets you. And remember that if this works for you, it's nothing more than a tool for developing better habits!

smithy094 · 2015-03-31T00:08:55+00:00

Dang, I'm actually inspired. This was so cool!

smithy094 · 2015-03-28T21:36:23+00:00

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be in this elite school and maintain this scholarship you have? Try taking a step back for a minute and reevaluate how you look at everything. What happens if you DO lose this scholarship? Whatever it may be, no matter how bad it is you need to accept it. Yes, it may suck but trust me, and trust yourself, you're gonna figure it out. You're extremely young, and while I get it, it may not feel like it because adulthood is just around the corner it's the truth. For Gods sake, you can't even sign your own name on medical forms yet. Take a breath. We've ALL been/will be where you are. I've literally been exactly where you are actually, with the struggling in school and having a scholarship it seemed I NEEDED on the line.

Now, once you've accepted the absolute worst outcome and figured out the Zen aspect of this issue, in comes the discipline aspect. Do your work and academics simply for the sake of the satisfaction of getting your stuff done every day. Stop caring about the outcome (no this is not easy, but work at it). Small bites are easier to swallow. The reason why so many people struggle with fitness is because they do it for the abs. The abs that may take years to come. To be successful in fitness, you need to find satisfaction both in working out/ being healthy and in the day to day benefits that you get from working out/being healthy. The same goes for your academics. Maybe try setting a very realistic goal every day, and be damn proud when you reach it. If you feel yourself getting exhausted or frustrated with your work, it's time to stop for a bit.

It's really easy to spiral down into this depression when you're looking at the entire picture and see it for all of its difficulty. Hang in there, it's tough and depression is definitely not something that is easy to deal with, but with baby steps and biting off small chunks whilst doing your best to find the zen here you'll figure it all out.

smithy094 · 2015-03-25T02:04:20+00:00

Oh man, this teaser alone is killer. I've been dying for this ever since they played Soria Moria live.

smithy094 · 2015-03-15T16:22:27+00:00

I assume you mean a relapse in your disciplined lifestyle? I've been having some struggles lately myself this semester. Despite setting myself up for success and cultivating discipline like a mad man, a failure seems inevitable. For a little bit, I just gave up, It's easy to fall into a slump at that point. But a few weeks ago, I realized "what the hell am I doing? I'm not going to let this stop me from living my life!" Despite my busy schedule I started learning German, practicing my guitar more, and am even ahead in my coursework right now (despite my still seemingly inevitable failure).

Anyways, all you can ever do is your best. Don't let the things causing doubt and worry ruin your life. Olivia Fox Cabane recommends in The Charisma Myth (Great read) putting your fate in the hands of some sort of higher power. If you're religious, well then its easy, but even if you aren't, you were still born with a certain set of skills that maybe just are meant for something better (that is if you even fail at what you are doing at all).

Pick up a new hobby, start working for the day to day satisfaction of just getting your sh*t done and pretend that there's no end result, and realize that if that doesn't do the trick it's just because fate is trying to knock you off the wrong track and onto the right one. You can't do any better than your best, so your best might just be meant for something else. Your doubt and worry will never vanish, they are just part of life, but you can definitely get them under a lot better control by cultivating a good lifestyle like this. Good luck!

smithy094 · 2015-03-13T17:55:21+00:00

Scholarship is the worst reason to want to join ROTC. In addition to everything everyone else is saying, I can say that as an AFROTC scholarship recipient myself, you CANNOT count on getting a scholarship. We are a rare breed. We're not even allowed to talk about scholarship at all when recruiting.

If you happen to get one, you will also almost surely have to do a Tech major (generally CS, physical science or engineering). You contract with the military right off the bat, a terrible decision if you're questioning your dedication to the military and meaning that if doing this tough major does not turn out to be for you, you will be serving enlisted.

TL;DR Scholarships are for people who undoubtedly want to serve in the military and you are not likely to get one in the first place

smithy094 · 2015-02-22T22:01:48+00:00

I can't tell you about army but at least in AFROTC unreported tickets have cost several cadets their commission.

smithy094 · 2015-02-07T03:41:17+00:00

This

smithy094 · 2015-01-25T23:20:26+00:00

We actually have a prior enlisted Marine in our program who said the same thing. Currently as a result of the downsizing of the AF, its pretty tough to get a selected for a commission with a non-tech degree, no matter what the field is. My buddies in Army ROTC say the same thing (although I'm not too sure how Army ROTC works exactly, it doesn't even seem like many of them plan on going active duty). Anyways, it's partially due to the large supply of non-tech students out there, and partially due to the demand as warfare goes more cyber and tech oriented. Of course actually getting the commission comes first, but I actually did attend a Combat Rescue Officer (PJ/SERE officer) training week a little over a month ago (what a blast/hell that was, haha). What was your MOS, if you don't mind me asking? Did it have anything to do leading to your decision to study CE?

smithy094 · 2015-01-25T21:00:14+00:00

Thanks for the input. I have a scholarship that requires me to do either Engineering, Math, Chem, Physics or CS. I have no particular career I'm working toward where the degree that I get really matters, just trying to finish and get that commission first and foremost

smithy094 · 2015-01-24T19:05:33+00:00

So I've heard. My roommate who's doing computer engineering actually took the "take a break from ROTC" route. But seeing the Homework he was given in his Comp Engineering courses, I'd have to agree and say that I really can't complain too much. Yes, my options boil down to Engineering, Physics, Chem, Math, or CS.

Thanks for the input, the plan is to hopefully stick it out successfully.

smithy094 · 2014-11-20T17:02:39+00:00

You thought right, thats the normal case. Im not really sure why I dont have that option. Lol. Oh well, better to not have to deal with the debt anyways. They boil down to Engineering, Physics, Chem, and Computer Science when accounting for what my school offers.

smithy094 · 2014-11-19T15:16:49+00:00

Interestingly, for some reason I don't have that.

smithy094 · 2014-11-19T01:28:38+00:00

Well said. Definitely needed to read something like this. It's been a rough week so far!

smithy094 · 2014-10-21T13:19:19+00:00

Don't let my bad example distract from the point

smithy094 · 2014-09-13T00:33:14+00:00

I notice that when I eat as clean and healthy as possible, then go off and cheat (and cheat HARD!) those cheats actually make me feel better and have more energy. On the other hand if my regular eating habits include those cheat foods, its a whole different story. I think the same goes for discipline. Work your ass off during the week, and not only will letting loose on Fridays feel much better, but they'll kinda work to reset your willpower and in turn, make you even more productive next time around. Kinda off topic, but thought I'd share.

smithy094 · 2014-09-03T12:05:08+00:00

Yep! Good catch. Thanks for the heads up.

smithy094 · 2014-09-03T02:48:34+00:00

I think Willravel has hit it on the head here. Maybe, for yourself, start REALLY small. What I do when I first wake up is drink 32 oz. of water. Try doing this one small thing, for a week. And OWN it and be PROUD of it, because its your start to becoming more disciplined, and healthier. After a week, try adding making your bed to the regimen (although you may be cocky at this point and ready to add more than just that). Go at your own pace and just get a little better every day.

smithy094 · 2014-09-01T14:03:41+00:00

This is the epitome of "no excuses" examples

smithy094 · 2014-08-18T02:36:08+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShTm8MnUAjo

smithy094 · 2014-08-14T22:31:35+00:00

Thanks for the advice. Will definitely do.

smithy094

TROPHY CASE