The Loudest Silence

When most people commute to work they most likely do so in the privacy of their own car. They have their radio on with music or talk gurgling out from the speakers, maybe they curse a little at the guy who cut them off or sing along to their tunes, but probably they’re the only person in the car.

In New York when you commute, either by foot or by train, the experience is really odd. Often as I’m walking to work from the subway, or riding on the subway, I notice how very, very loud the city is: the train on it’s tracks, the overspill of someone’s headphones pouring from their ears, car horns honking as cabs whoosh by, but if you listen really closely, particularly on the subway or a crowded sidewalk something becomes apparent; the people are silent.

If you live here or the next time you visit, do yourself a favor and hop on the subway during the hours just before or after work and listen to all of the nothing and how LOUD it is. It truly is something to behold. People call New York a “noisy city” but I don’t think they realize just how accurate that is. The city is noisy. The people are not.

Action vs. Inaction

A while ago I read a book that I’ve since recommended to most people I know…well, most people I know that I think would be interested. The book is called Power vs. Force and in case you’ve never used the internets before, you can click the title to check it out online. This book teaches some powerful lessons (hi-yo!) that really force home (zing!) some pretty cool concepts and just recently they’ve been jogged up in the ol’ thinkin’ can.

I read Tim Ferriss’ 4-Hour Workweek (gettin’ a hang-a this here clicky-system webternet?) and something was switched on in my brain. A synapse connected and now with both of these books under my belt, well, I feel awake. It’s just noticeable. Everywhere. It’s made a huge impact in my life and as I reflect on day to day decisions and actions of myself and others I notice it everywhere: action vs. inaction. And I can’t help notice now all the distractions, excuses, and habits that I’ve fallen victim to, and that others don’t even realize.

The distractions in life are simply astounding. Things that would cause us to be inactive – not “procrastinate,” not “lazy,” just distractions that cause inaction – this is anything from TV, movies, the internet (including blogging – I’m looking at you tumblrverse (and as a recently departed member))…to the foods we eat, the thoughts we think, the things we say. It is incredible. And granted, it’s definitely cool to relax and say “for the next X amount of time, I’m doing nothing,” but how often do we let that time drift into time we could be using to get better at an instrument, start a company, pursue a dream of any kind?

And now, well, now I can’t sit on it anymore. I can’t watch TV for more than 30 minutes before thinking to myself “what the hell am I doing this for?” – especially when I’ve got goals that have literally NOTHING to do with TV! Even at work, I spend the minimal amount of time on the internet, checking e-mails (even work related ones) and I STILL feel overwhelmed by distractions. Because when it comes right down to it, when you think of what you want to accomplish, and how or if what you’re doing currently helps you achieve that goal, the answer is more often than not “No.”

My switch is ON to action. I’m not saying I’m good at it yet. I definitely still waste LOADS of time, but I’m getting better and now that I seem to be incapable of being unaware of all the useless wastes in my life, well, watch out.