Author: Ryan Olejnik

Essay: Food for Thought

Essay Writing

Essay: Food for Thought

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You should have a thirst for knowledge rather than be power-hungry. They say that knowledge is power, anyway. Knowledgeable people know when and when not to use said power. There is a reason they call it food for thought — ideas are a delicacy. An idea, according to a dictionary, is a formulated thought or opinion. The operative keyword here is formula. It is important to be well-read, so we can discern and decide for ourselves if we are being bottle-fed or misled because people in positions of power often have a tendency to try and sugarcoat everything. Interestingly, the word intellect itself is defined as the power of knowing distinguished from the power to feel and to will, or a person with great intellectual powers. The capacity for intelligent thought is associated with having great power but is only absolutely achievable, while also maintaining separation from one’s feelings or will. That is why we must strive to think before we act. True understanding comes from the ability to understand others and our differences. We should all seek to obtain a diploma in diplomacy from a class on having class.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Article Writing

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

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Introduction

Let me be honest, sometimes I consider throwing in the towel, but then what would I use to dry off? There are little things in life that can make us sweat: from making deadlines at work to paying rent on time. Then there are the big things: how you are going to pay for college, what you want to do with the rest of your life, or deciding whether to quit a job or not. All of it can leave you feeling like you just ran a 5k marathon. So what are some things you can do to not sweat the small and large stuff too?

Take a Breather

Since you probably feel like you just finished running a long-distance race, try to take a moment to catch your breath. Any kind of important decision we generally have to make requires thinking, and guess what your brain needs to properly function? Oxygen. When you are calm and breathing well, your mind will then be kind to you and provide you with clear answers or solutions to your problems. If you need help accomplishing this, you can try doing tai chi, which is a perfect exercise that helps you focus on your breathing. You could try taking a walk. I know, I know… probably the last thing you want to do after running a 5K. Walking will not only relax you, but it will also help you to maintain a steady breathing pattern and rhythm in your heart.

Cool Off for a Minute

It is hard to deal with any situation when you are hot under the collar or have steam coming out of your ears. What better way to break a sweat than in a steam room? No one makes good choices when they are hot-headed. You should try putting off making any decisions in the heat of the moment. Do whatever you have to cool off. Take a cold shower, take it out on a pillow, or even take first place in the aforementioned five-kilometer race. Whatever you need to do, rid yourself of that anger. By making more rational, well-informed decisions, you will be less likely to sweat the small stuff. So always remember to keep a cool head, drink a slushy if you have to… just be careful of brain freeze.

Tell Yourself, ‘It’s No Sweat!’

There is a lot to be said about the power of positive thinking. Just telling yourself mentally that you can handle something can actually make you physically capable of dealing with it. There was a study done proving there was a link between your perceived age mentally and the actual physical age of your body. The research found that people who thought of themselves as being younger were much fitter and healthier than those who did not. The brain is the most powerful muscle in your body, but just like any other muscle, it can become overworked. Do not spend too much time thinking and worrying about things; instead, tell your brain that ‘it’s no sweat’ and it won’t.

In Conclusion

Did you notice a common theme throughout this article? No, I’m not referring to the occasional humorous analogy to running a marathon; but to what all these points had in common: your mindset. By thinking that you can’t, you probably won’t. Don’t be a dumbbell and exercise positive thought. Stinking thinking will not only smell worse than a bag of sweaty gym socks but also keep you sweating the small stuff.

Piacquadio, Andrea. “Selective Focus Close-up Photo of Woman in Gray Tank Top Using White Towel to Wipe Her Face.” Pexels, 13 July 2018, www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-close-up-photo-of-woman-in-gray-tank-top-using-white-towel-to-wipe-her-face-3757945/.

November 29th, 2020

Journal Writing

November 29th, 2020

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Often, I wish I could tap into a vein of writing gems, where every word would be polished and sparkle like a diamond. Sometimes, all I find is zirconia or worse: coal. I try not to let this discourage me because even coal can be useful if turned into a heat source or fuel. I feel as long as I can keep even the smallest spark of creativity from flickering out, or I can make it to the next stop down the line, I’ll find more gems of wisdom to keep it going. The more I have, the more rich and rewarding my writing will become. I try to let this thought be my guide. Even when there is just coal in the mine or my canary of cognizance has died.

November 24th, 2020

Journal Writing

November 24th, 2020

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There is no rest for the wicked, so if I can, I try to hit the snooze at least a couple times every morning. Although I don’t exactly resemble a sleeping angel, trust me when I say you really don’t want to see my lack-of-sleep demon, either. This devil fiends for coffee, and so help me if he doesn’t get it! I mean, if you’re quite fond of having a head, you better hope there’s cream and sugar in it too. Lest you want to see eyes turn as black as said coffee. All kidding aside, does anyone know of a good exorcist?

November 23rd, 2020

Journal Writing

November 23rd, 2020

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I was born to write but unfortunately, the written word seems to be dying. Every year, more and more print is being killed off in favor of the digital. Letters have been discarded largely in favor of the quick e-mail, or worse yet: The even quicker text message. Even text itself is swiftly being replaced by image and video. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, nearly a quarter of adult Americans reported they hadn’t read a book in the previous year. So, if this figure shows promise for continuous annual growth, I may need to start eating my words in order to survive doing what I believe I was born to do.

April 2nd, 2020

Journal Writing

April 2nd, 2020

Brainstorm

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Sometimes my mind is cloudy even when skies are clear. It’s on these kinds of days, even my name is mud and I question whether the grass is green at all on the other side. It also makes me wonder if my muse only cares to visit when all is gloom and doom, only allowing inspiration to strike me like lighting in a brainstorm. The words seem then to come out of me about 100 mph like a tongue twister.

March 25th, 2020

Journal Writing

March 25th, 2020

Limited Time Only

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After a long day, when you are winding down, the day seems shorter as the clock winds away. Each tick of the second hand draws ever nearer to the stroke of midnight when all is black and still. It is at this hour, I neither wish to be asleep or awake for fear of what I shall miss. Tomorrow is but a modest promise that one today will break. We know that time is of the essence but what exactly is the essence of time? Is it to serve only as a reminder of how limited we are by it when time itself seems limitless? What would be the purpose of that but to create a culture of incredible impatience? An impatience that leads to rash decisions, rashes can result in sores that leave you looking not unlike Job, and crying out to God asking why, to which God will just look at his pocket watch and sigh.