Coffee and cigarettes. These are drugs. And boy, are they wonderful.
I find myself enjoying these things more and more. To the point where I am becoming a snob about them. To the point where if I am not careful, they will become a crutch.
"Virtue consists, no in the abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it."
What am I really desiring? Do I want to feel like an old man, weathered and tempered in the difficulties of the world, using these classical drugs to shrug off the contemporary stress of the world? Do I want to stroke the side of my personality that needs to strike at the tenets of "Classical Manliness".
I suppose that the answer is in the question. One may say that desire is the root of all evil, and when someone does anything and everything to fulfill that desire, they are truly evil. One may also say that without desire, and the fulfillment therein, no one will truly feel the complete satisfaction of obtaining something.
In the concrete world, coffee and cigarettes are merely stimulants that do wonderful things to the human brain. In the abstract, they are devices through which an individual can facilitate their desires. In and of themselves, they are nothing more than tools through which to seek a desire. Or a virtue.
In the end, it all boils down to control. Do I control my desires? Do I control the tools that are placed in front of me? Do I control my own mind, and mastery of my own body? I don't know. I'm gonna drink some coffee and smoke a cigarette, and think about it a bit.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Oh, 13E5
Today, I found out that I made the rank of Staff Sergeant, which is E-5 in the United States Airforce.
I have no idea how I feel about this. Am I happy that I've achieved the next rank in my Air Force career? Am I excited by the pay raise in my future? Do I really care at all?
Fuck, I don't know.
I don't know if I'm ready for the responsibility. I don't know if I'm ready to be a role model. I do not know if I'm ready to take the lives and careers of young Airmen into my hands, and mentor them to become good at their jobs, and in life.
Will I have the courage to do what is right, even if it's difficult? Will I have the courage to say what is needed, when it is needed to be said?
I've known many non-commissioned officers in my military career, some good and some bad. Most just mediocre. I especially do not want to fall into the last category.
My main mantra in life is "Fuck mediocrity". So with this new chapter in my life, I will be either the best fucking NCO in the United States Airforce, or I will crash and burn. Either way, it's going to be one hell of a ride.
I have no idea how I feel about this. Am I happy that I've achieved the next rank in my Air Force career? Am I excited by the pay raise in my future? Do I really care at all?
Fuck, I don't know.
I don't know if I'm ready for the responsibility. I don't know if I'm ready to be a role model. I do not know if I'm ready to take the lives and careers of young Airmen into my hands, and mentor them to become good at their jobs, and in life.
Will I have the courage to do what is right, even if it's difficult? Will I have the courage to say what is needed, when it is needed to be said?
I've known many non-commissioned officers in my military career, some good and some bad. Most just mediocre. I especially do not want to fall into the last category.
My main mantra in life is "Fuck mediocrity". So with this new chapter in my life, I will be either the best fucking NCO in the United States Airforce, or I will crash and burn. Either way, it's going to be one hell of a ride.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Shut the Fuck Up!
**WARNING** This is a rant. Read at your own risk **WARNING**
"I don't want to get bulky."
"There are too many people in the gym."
"I don't want to be a gym bro, bro."
"I'm trying to lose weight so I'll just run."
"I'm a girl and I don't want to lift weights."
"I don't want my cardio to go down."
"I don't want to get too much muscle."
Fuck you all, and your excuses.
These are real excuses from people I know. And every time I hear them, I hold my tongue. Or at least, I try.
In reality, these are fucking fallacies that people use to excuse their laziness, and inability to work hard to improve themselves. Lifting weights and getting strong is the most misunderstood form of exercise there is.
Ladies, you are not going to get "bulky". Are you fucking kidding me? Do you really think that you're gonna magically produce the amount of testosterone needed to look like an NFL linebacker, just by doing heavy barbell back squats? Shut the fuck up, you retarded, skinny-fat whiners.
Lifting weights does not make a man a "Gym Bro." Yes, there are douche bags (they usually hang out by the dumbbell racks and the curl bars), who "totally blow up their biceps" every time they go to the gym, and they might even be the majority, but don't call me a fucking bro when squat 3 times as often as I bench press. Stop being fucking lazy and go lift something heavy.
The masses do not seem to understand the benefits of simply lifting something heavy on a regular basis. What is more important to you, as a human being, than being able to pick up something heavy, off the floor, without hurting yourself? Do you really think that running 3 miles a day is going to help you carry your own groceries when you're 75? Fat fucking chance.
So keep running miles upon miles, and maintaining 20% body fat while doing so. Keep hopping on the elliptical for 3 hours, and keeping those flabby legs. I'll be over here, squatting, deadlifting, pushing and pulling. When you are soft and hurt at 65, I'll still be over here, doing the same thing.
"I don't want to get bulky."
"There are too many people in the gym."
"I don't want to be a gym bro, bro."
"I'm trying to lose weight so I'll just run."
"I'm a girl and I don't want to lift weights."
"I don't want my cardio to go down."
"I don't want to get too much muscle."
Fuck you all, and your excuses.
These are real excuses from people I know. And every time I hear them, I hold my tongue. Or at least, I try.
In reality, these are fucking fallacies that people use to excuse their laziness, and inability to work hard to improve themselves. Lifting weights and getting strong is the most misunderstood form of exercise there is.
Ladies, you are not going to get "bulky". Are you fucking kidding me? Do you really think that you're gonna magically produce the amount of testosterone needed to look like an NFL linebacker, just by doing heavy barbell back squats? Shut the fuck up, you retarded, skinny-fat whiners.
Lifting weights does not make a man a "Gym Bro." Yes, there are douche bags (they usually hang out by the dumbbell racks and the curl bars), who "totally blow up their biceps" every time they go to the gym, and they might even be the majority, but don't call me a fucking bro when squat 3 times as often as I bench press. Stop being fucking lazy and go lift something heavy.
The masses do not seem to understand the benefits of simply lifting something heavy on a regular basis. What is more important to you, as a human being, than being able to pick up something heavy, off the floor, without hurting yourself? Do you really think that running 3 miles a day is going to help you carry your own groceries when you're 75? Fat fucking chance.
So keep running miles upon miles, and maintaining 20% body fat while doing so. Keep hopping on the elliptical for 3 hours, and keeping those flabby legs. I'll be over here, squatting, deadlifting, pushing and pulling. When you are soft and hurt at 65, I'll still be over here, doing the same thing.
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