The Power of The Pen (or Blog)

The digital era is a double-edged sword. On one hand, we have the power to express ourselves for all of the world to potentially see. On the other hand, there is so much to being said, we have to filter through the chaos to find what is genuine. For every writer with a talent for the pen, there are legions of those who have never outlined their thoughts before putting them down in written form, and among them are those who have no filter between their thoughts and what they broadcast.

Recently, on a Facebook post, I stated the trouble I have in finding a woman who’s as interested in me as I am in her. No derogatory remarks, no complaining about “nice guys finishing last”, just an honest, humble take on the sadness I felt at the moment. A lot of the people who are close to me, or even people who were distant but empathized, reached out in the comments to show me love and support.

Amidst the positive comments, an old classmate of mine used my comments section to post a huge rant about his disdain for American women. And when I say huge, I mean one huge, run-on paragraph stating his opinion that could have easily doubled as a C-minus freshman thesis if he had used indentation and proper spacing and grammar. His misogynistic comments caught the attention of an old friend of mine who offered a brief rebuttal to him in one sentence before turning her attention to show me support. Not one to lay down, the misogynist typed ANOTHER long paragraph insulting her and stating his whole backstory (which, while sad, didn’t justify his words or the insults that he launched at her and other American women). The rebuttals went back and forth for at least an hour, until I decided to delete my entire post to end the argument once and for all.

After I deleted my post, my misogynistic classmate decided to “explain” himself with a direct message to me, insulting my woman friend and sending me a link to a popular YouTube video that men like him use to fortify their negative opinions about women. At this point, I had enough of holding my tongue.

While I didn’t agree with his opinions at all, I felt that he had a better way of expressing it than bombarding the comments sections of people’s Facebook posts. I told him the reason I deleted my entire post, and all the comments within it. I also told him that if he genuinely wanted to get his thoughts out to the masses, he’s better off starting up a blog than bombarding comments sections and inboxes like mine.

The power of the written word can be easily mishandled and underestimated. Every day, online boards and comments sections are filled with people who post ill-thought and inflammatory comments. Nothing is gained from them, and they serve no purpose in this world but to invoke negative emotions.

Even those who take their opinions out of the Reddit boards and onto their own blogs and vlogs tend to put down their opinions with little to no research, attempting to market disorganized opinions and rants as “facts”. And more often than not, the authors of ignorant statements have little to no concern about who they alienate, believing that their own opinions are the only ones that matter, regardless how much evidence is presented on the contrary.

In times such as these, responsible habits in writing and commenting are more important than ever. Written opinions carry more weight in our current era than ever before. It’s easier to give into disinformation than to find the truth of the matter, and when enough people are swayed by a passionate lie, the results can be disastrous.

As authors, it is more important than ever for us to organize our thoughts before they are written, research our topics before they are published, and to hold ourselves accountable for every product that we put out there. We are in a unique position to educate and uplift our audiences with the works we create. We can plant the seed to help people better their lives through the written and spoken word. In the end, what is it that you want to do? Do you want to create chaos and negativity with your words, or do you want to bring progress and positivity with them?

Working At Home vs. Commuting: Which Is For You?

As cities and businesses begin to open up again, people who have become accustomed to working at home are finding their employers asking them to return to offices, and workers who have commuted throughout the pandemic have decided that they have grown tired of commuting. So, which is best suited for you?

If you’re self-employed and already have a home office set up, of course this question doesn’t apply to you as much, as you’ve already made your decision long ago. Many people who are self-employed with home offices have touted the benefits of working from home; not having as many travel expenses (gas, travel passes, etc.) saves a lot of money for other things; other bills can be paid, other business items can be bought if need be. A dollar saved is a dollar earned

For those who work under an employer, there are still plenty of benefits from working at home, including the aforementioned lack of travel expenses. In avoiding a commute, you avoid such things as unexpected travel delays, such as traffic jams or service delays on public transportation, obstacles that result in clocking in late for many employees who commute. The stress of such obstacles can affect performance and work environment negatively, as stress can potentially halt productivity.

Working from home can also allow you to create your own optimal workspace. If you want your office to have a certain decor, it’s all in your hands. Looking to create a soothing, therapeutic atmosphere? Set your home office up with plants and incense burners if you want. Looking to unleash your inner techie? Install LED strips on your walls and get yourself that PC setup that you’ve wanted for so long. Whatever helps you get into the zone and helps keep you focused, it’s all up to you.

Others may actually prefer the commute. If they work in a bustling area with restaurants, shops, and get together spots, they may actually enjoy traveling to the office if it means lunch breaks at their favorite eatery and fun after-work activities. This mostly applies to people whose offices are in big cities. I know of people who stomach traveling in packed subways just to work in a hip area like Williamsburg or Chelsea. (Both are hip neighborhoods; the former in Brooklyn, the latter in Manhattan.) For some people, that commute helps them get away from a home life that makes them want to pull their hair out. For others, that commute gets them to a job that’s worth traveling to. It’s not the norm, but not a far-fetched idea.

Then there’s the physical aspect. For many of us, we see working at home as “sedentary”, with the assumption that all there is to do is sit around for roughly 8 hours a day. However, for those who work jobs where most of the day is standing up and walking around for 8 hours a day, give or take, being constantly on your feet takes its toll on the body; knees get stiff, back muscles get tight, and the body gets tired, taking so much energy away that doing anything after work is out of the question. Personally, I have found myself so physically exhausted from working on my feet, it took energy away from productive activities outside of work. I was too tired to exercise, even at home, and writing projects that I had started were being neglected because I needed to rest after a long physical work day. For someone like me, a sedentary job potentially frees up more energy for me after I clock out from work for more productivity, which affects not just my work in a positive way, but my life as well.

There are business personalities out there who actively discourage people from choosing to work at home. They’re the ones who claim that employees who remote commute are more prone to”steal time”, even when productivity has been shown to increase. Some have said that it is a matter of employers getting their money’s worth from leasing an office building; with less employees showing up to a company office, what’s the need for an expensive lease? It becomes a debate of what employers believe is good for the company versus what employees believe is better for their own lives.

In the end, results speak better than any particular trend. If a company sees its productivity increase as employees are allowed to work from home, why stifle progress? If an employer can afford to put the option of remote commuting on the table, then they should do so, as long as the job is getting done right.

As for whether or not you should work in person or work at home, that’s entirely up to you. If a daily commute gets you mentally ready for the day, then keep that commute up. But if you feel that you can get more done by creating your own optimal work environment in the comfort of your own home, go for it. In the end, it should be about what brings out the best in you.

Book Update

Two years ago, I started work on my first book, a book on stress relief. I had finished the first draft within 4 months, thinking that the rest of the process would be smooth sailing. As any writer can tell you, the first draft is usually the easier part of the book writing process.

Over the next two years, I spent periods of time proofreading my work, updating information, and mulling over how to distribute the ebook. (Most people would say, “Just publish on Kindle”. I wanted to weigh my options instead of flying blind.) Every time I thought I was at the home stretch, the process became a bit longer and drawn out, especially trying to set time for myself outside of work.

Once the pandemic hit, the situation was a catch-22. The issue of stress and stress management were as relevant as ever, with people suffering emotional burnout at an all-time high. Yet my own situation was stretching me thin as well, pushing me to rely heavily on the very remedies and solutions I had put into my book. On the downside, work, travel, and the restrictions because of the pandemic had pulled me away from making progress with my book. On the upside, I found myself confidently able to tell people that the stress relief methods in every chapter work, because I relied on almost every single one to hold myself together.

As I’m finally able to finish up my final draft, I’m closer to publishing this labor of love. It’s a subject that was relevant when I first wrote the outline and thumbed through my research material, and it’s is more relevant than ever now.

Thoughts On Gun Control And Gun Violence

Image courtesy of Britanica

A week ago, while I was at work, a group of young high school students and their teacher approached me and asked if I would be interested in answering a survey for them regarding gun violence. I was glad to answer any questions they had for me.

The survey that they had for me held high significance, because the high school they were from is in one of the high crime areas of the South Bronx. Gun violence, among other things, run rampant in that area. During this past summer, only nine blocks away from their school, there was a shooting at a bodega on a Sunday afternoon, during peak business traffic. With circumstances such as that, only a fool could stand idly by.

Under their teacher’s guidance, they asked me question after question, and each question I not only answered, but elaborated on every answer I gave, so these students could show that there are people in their community who understand the gun control and gun violence debate.

Funny enough, not every question was easy to answer. When they asked about gun laws, I had to consider the gun laws in various states. New York has strict gun laws, but other states are much looser in regards to gun control. And in spite of New York’s gun laws, guns are still smuggled into the state, resulting in criminals getting their hands on firearms. I kept this in mind when I answered their question on whether or not retailers are at fault. Yes, retailers such as Wal-Mart should enforce background checks on people looking to purchase a firearm from them, as should any mom & pop retailer as well. However, in major cities, it’s more common than not for street-level criminals to get their guns on the black market. And while New York has shown its efforts to curb illegal gun sales, uphill as the battle may seem, gun control elsewhere varies from state to state.

And while gun crimes in urban communities may be the most broadcast on news stations, those aren’t the only communities affected by gun violence. According to Reuters, at least 2,000 people have been killed or injured in mass shootings since 1999. These include the Columbine High School Massacre of 1999, the Virginia Tech Massacre of 2007, the Fort Hood Massacre of 2009, the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting and the Aurora Theater Shooting, both in 2012, the San Bernardino Mass Shooting of 2015, and the Las Vegas Strip Massacre of 2017, with numerous other mass shootings that have taken place in that time span.

The difficult side of the gun control argument is that while there are criminals and psychopaths of every type with access to firearms, many legally-owned guns are used by responsible adults for home protection and self-defense. One particular case made headlines in 2012, when an off-duty FBI agent fended off three car thieves who were breaking into his car in Queens, NY. The agent fired one shot, wounding one of the thieves. There are other cases such as this that don’t grab the front page of newspapers as frequently, but it isn’t hard to find people who have relied on a firearm for defending themselves.

So while the 2nd amendment right has saved lives, the drastic increase in gun violence in America can’t be ignored. And while pundits continue to look at the inner cities as the frontline, it’s evident that the rest of the country is affected just as severely. On the podcast Reveal, the episode, “When Abusers Keep Their Guns”, highlighted the problem with ex-convicts being able to purchase firearms in Florida because of gun control laws not being enforced. The particular episode interviewed a survivor of gun violence, when she and her sister were both shot by her sister’s abusive ex-boyfriend, an ex-convict. The survivor’s sister died from a gunshot wound to her head. Legally, he shouldn’t have had the gun in his possession.

There is no clear cut solution to end gun violence once and for all. What it would take would be a cooperative effort from politicians, law enforcement, gun manufacturers, gun retailers, and the people of the communities affected, to curb the surge of gun violence in the U.S. Such a collective effort would take everyone willing to work on the same page, which has been historically difficult. It’s sad to say that 2,000 collective lives isn’t enough to convince the naysayers that something needs to be done, even if the message is delivered by teenagers with clipboards.

The Triumph of Shang-Chi

Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Four years ago, when this blog had more of a mass media focus, I published an entry regarding the Marvel Comics character, Iron Fist, and how it reflected the lack of Asian representation in on-screen superhero mediums. While most vocal fans sought to recast Danny Rand/Iron Fist as an Asian character rather than as a White martial artist, I suggested something else entirely: to bring one of Marvel’s cult favorite characters, Shang-Chi, to either the small screen or the big screen. I had mentioned this for two reasons: 1. Bringing an existing Asian hero would keep naysayers from claiming that the studio was “pandering” to its audience, and 2. I’ve been a fan of Shang-Chi since I was 11 years old, so I had a semi-personal stake in that recommendation.

Fast forward to the summer of 2021. Amidst a global pandemic, the theatrical release of Shang-Chi’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut is rearing to make its way to theaters on Labor Day weekend. The naysayers were everywhere. Many anticipated that in spite of praise from movie critics, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings would flop at the box office, due to movie theaters opening and closing at such a turbulent time. Marvel’s Black Widow divided it’s release between theaters and the subscription streaming service, Disney+. James Gunn’s beloved DC movie, The Suicide Squad, under-performed at the box office, despite a #1 debut on its opening weekend, recouping its losses by streaming on HBO Max. With Shang-Chi being announced as a theatrical release only, the odds were stacked against it. Then again, even in the comics, Shang-Chi always had a thing for fighting the odds.

In the face of every doubter, Shang-Chi debuted at #1 at the box office, breaking Labor Day weekend records, from its midnight screenings, all the way to the end of its four-day weekend. The underdog Marvel movie kept fighting to stay at the top, holding the top spot at the box office for 3 weeks straight and counting (at the time of this entry) , quickly approaching the $200 million mark, the first U.S. movie of 2021 to do that without an on-demand streaming release during its theatrical run.

So, why did Shang-Chi succeed when most predicted it would fail? One could mention numerous reasons; dazzling martial arts scenes envoking everything from Jackie Chan-styled fights to wuxia duels that evoke classic Jet Li movies, a charming performance from Simu Liu balanced with comedic timing from Awkwafina, even the monumental presence of famed Hong Kong acting legend Tony Leung as the warlord Wenwu, aka “The Mandarin”, a character that Marvel fans had been aching to see onscreen since the first Iron Man movie was released in 2008, elevated and even humanized by Leung’s presence and performance.

One could go on and on about how awesome Shang-Chi was, but that doesn’t explain how such a movie became a box office champion. So, how did the “Master Of Kung Fu” do so well at the movies? A simple answer: because he was a hero who was needed.

Much like Black Panther became a symbol of heroism for not only Black Americans, but for people of African descent across the globe, Shang-Chi was seen as a hero for the Asian community; an easily relatable character with the prowess of a champion, a humble soul finding his way, seeking balance in his seemingly chaotic life, torn between his allegiance to his father, and his yearning to stand for the good in his world as his mother did. And much like King T’Challa had fans everywhere shouting “YIBAMBE!” and “WAKANDA FOREVER!”, Shang-Chi had fans rooting for him with every punch, every kick, every leap and wave of his hands. In a time where Asians in the U.S., Canada, and UK have been in the crosshairs of racism and bigotry, Shang-Chi is the champion that emerged to remind them that they can be champions too.

Four years ago, I expressed my belief that bringing Shang-Chi to the big screen would be just what the world needed. Even then, I had no idea how much of a difference bringing him to the big screen would make.

Your Energy, Your Life

3 days ago, I got a vid call from one of my old co-workers while he was on shift. After we shot the breeze for a bit, he pretty much showed me all of my old co-workers and clients that I had once worked with, smiling and laughing with me through the video call. One thing that he kept saying, however, stuck with me: “We need you back. We need your energy.”

I could easily understand where he was coming from. When it comes to work environments, I’m a pretty lively and animated individual. I’m the type to make random movie quotes to get a laugh, or dance to whatever cheesy pop song comes on the radio or P.A. system to get a chuckle. I’m also a persistent worker, focused on getting the job done and doing it right, no matter what the job may be. I’m the type to get my hands dirty when others are reluctant to, the type to lead by example. Some would consider a lot of my habits to be those of an ideal employee. I’m simply a man who believes in giving my best, no matter what I’m doing.

Still, regarding the issue of “energy”, while I was at my old job, it felt as if my energy was being drained from me, day by day. Whether it was the frustrating commute, on-site incidents I was called frequently to resolve or prevent, or even errors in documentation that resulted from having to multitask on a regular basis, it felt as if I was losing my energy, no matter how often I brought levity to my work environment. I felt as if my energy was being used to push me into a loop going nowhere, that the glass ceiling of the organization was going to continue to hold me back unless I did something about it. So, I took what little energy I had left for myself and took the opportunity for a career and company change.

Leaving my old job was bittersweet, but even though I had put so much of my energy into bettering the lives of the people there, it was time for me to put my energy to bettering myself and renewing myself.

In the past 6 months since I had left and started my new job, I feel that my energy has actually been returning to me. I’m working less hours, and some days can be more frustrating than others, but overall, I feel more renewed than I have in the past decade. I’m eating healthier and losing weight, I’m sleeping better, even on days when I only manage 5 to 6 hours of sleep, and I’m refocusing my spare time on endeavors outside of my job, including this blog. While my old co-workers may think that they need my energy in their environment, in truth, I needed to renew my energy for my own life.

The bottom line is that your energy should be utilized for yourself and by yourself. If you feel that there are people or circumstances that are draining your energy constantly, it’s time that you did something about it. Change your social circle. Change your daily diet. Change your activities. Change your job if you can. Take small steps. Meditate. Drink water. Read more and educate yourself. Indulge in a passion project. Do what needs to be done to renew yourself.

In the end, your energy belongs to YOU, and no one else.

Revisiting Meditation

It has been a while since I touched upon the topic of meditation and its benefits. With so much going on, it’s a topic that’s worth revisiting.

For the past 6 months, my life has been overwhelmed by work, social distancing protocols to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, and numerous other current events that affect my daily life. I tend to find myself constantly exhausted lately, between work and work commutes and trying to keep up with personal aspects of my life. In fact, the book that I had been working on almost got lost in the mix of my daily grind, and just recently, I have gotten back into finishing up my final draft of it. In short, I had lost focus in my life.

It was a co-worker who reminded me of the benefits of meditation. This particular co-worker happens to be a wellness enthusiast, in ways that make me almost look like an amateur. She is a yoga enthusiast, an active vegetarian, and, like myself, a firm believer in meditation. She encouraged me to take time to meditate on a daily basis, and thankfully, I was no stranger to meditating.

Starting two weeks ago, during my 15 minute breaks, I’d use 10 of those minutes meditating to my favorite instrumental track for relaxing. Breathing in and out, slowly, focusing my energy on my diaphragm, sometimes closing my eyes, other times focusing on a single spot in the room, like an empty chair, or a tile on the floor. At the end of these meditations, I’d feel balanced and renewed, as if I had just taken a 1-hour rest.

Coincidentally, I had started blending fruit smoothies at work, consisting of basic ingredients, such as bananas or crushed pineapple, adding a fruit nectar such as guava or soursop. The increased plant-based nutrition seems to have a positive effect on my body, which makes the meditation more effective.

Meditation is meant as a way to rejuvenate the mind and body, and if the nutrition intake is healthy, the body is able to benefit more from the rejuvenation.

If mental and emotional stress have been taking a toll on you in this time, take my experience into mind and get into meditation. And don’t forget to take positive steps in your nutrition as well.

In Case Doubt Kicks In…

When you’re at the start of something new and promising, doubts can start to flood your mind. Sometimes, you miss the perceived comfort of what used to be, the routine life that you had built up before this big change, whatever it may be. Other times, you may be stretched a bit thinner financially than you used to be, finding that your bank account is a bit thinner than it used to be. Before you second guess yourself, ask yourself this question: were you truly happy before this endeavor?

Chances are, you started on this new path because your life before this needed a change, whether it was finanically, emotionally, or otherwise. If you can say without hesitiation that you were unhappy before this new path, then that’s a sure sign for you to stay your course.

The next question you should ask yourself is, is the end goal worth the sacrifices you’ve made? Think about this well and good. If the end goal results in a better life, a better income, a better mental and emotional outlook, or even better health, then you should focus on the respective goal that you’re fighting for.

Sometimes, the things we want the most in life require the most struggle. Think of your favorite singer or rapper, or your favorite actor’s best performance, or your favorite modern author, or a particular business mogul that you look up to. How much did they give up in order to achieve that success? Read their biographies or autobiographies. Read the chapters that cover the beginnings of their careers. I guarantee you that each of them went through something similar to what you’re going through now. Some of them have had loved ones turn their back on them, others have went hungry between jobs or gigs. More than one of them have had to sell their belongings to make ends meet, all for that life-changing break or eureka moment.

That being said, there’s one more question you should ask yourself: how will your end goal impact your world? If you can visualize whatever your doing having an impact and being something that will impact people’s lives, including your own life, in a constant way, then keep pushing for your goals. Don’t let your own doubts stop you from achieving great change in your life.

The First Step…

It’s been said that the hardest step is the first step. Every step after that becomes easier. In recent events, I’ve found that not only is the first step the hardest to take, but the most rewarding when it’s in the right direction.

I had formally resigned from my last job this past Valentine’s Day, working my last day after I handed in my two-week notice. The goodbyes were a lot harder than I had anticipated. They say that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone, and I think that went both ways. In spite of all the stress, frustration, and the feeling of my life and career going nowhere, I had forged some strong bonds with the people I worked with daily. It was the familiarity and the small appreciations I realized I was going to miss. My career may have been at a stand-still while I was there, but they weren’t hesitant to tell me that their lives were a bit better because I was there. Talk about a hard first step.

Still, after my goodbyes, I had the advantage of taking my first step rather quickly, as the orientation to my new job was the next morning. I had only gotten 5 hours of sleep, but I was more eager than tired. The train ride on the Metro North to White Plains was so peaceful. I used to ride this train back when I was studying for my Associate Degree in the early 2000’s, but I had forgotten about how calm the morning train rides to White Plains were. Compared to the frustration of riding the Bx12 to my old job, this was a polar opposite. I even started reading on my tablet, a luxury I never had on any work commute before. I had arrived at my destination 10 minutes early, a comforting feeling, especially considering how certain old co-workers had doubted I’d be able to get to my new job on time with a longer commute.

The orientation pretty much affirmed what I had believed: I was finally in a position to build a new career in a less stressful environment. Everything about this new place was what I needed mentally and emotionally. Even as tired as I was, I was in no rush to leave; everything about this place was so welcoming and encouraging. This place was the epitome of a stress-free environment.

Last night, I had the best sleep I’ve had in the past 10 years. Not just because my body was catching up on the rest I had missed out on by getting up so early, but because for the first time, I had clocked in and out of a place that wasn’t so emotionally draining and demanding. If I had never taken that first step, I’d have missed out on so much in just the first day.

I’m sharing this not just as a personal reflection, but to show you how much small things such as a workday commute or your work environment can impact your overall wellness. So many employers equate productivity with work output, but so few employers realize that employee wellness is part of the productivity equation. So many people I’ve worked with and spoken with have shared with me their workplace frustrations, and so many of them work in medical fields and in social services, fields that are meant to better human lives. I hope that employers in these fields come to realize that treating their employees better will result in better overall outcomes.

And for the people who are in a postion of change such as I was, don’t be afraid to take that first step that will change your life. You might be missing out on the change that you need in your life if you hesitate. Take that first step.

One Month In…

One month into 2020, and I can say I’ve kept my resolutions so far to make this new year a new start and to try new things. Started off with that trip to a bar & grill for when the ball dropped. From then forward, it’s been the beginning of one big change after another.

One of my closest friends advised me to go to a hiring event for the company he works for. I was reluctant, but he insisted that I go, again and again telling me of the opportunities and room for growth. I decided to take a chance and apply. By the time of the hiring event, I had found out more about the company to see why he wanted me onboard. The interview went great (especially great, considering how I had a few navigation issues on the way there). I ended up late for my current job, but all was (unexpectedly) forgiven. Funny enough, not even 3 hours after the interview, I was called with a job offer. I called back the next day and accepted. My last day at my current job will be, appropriately enough, Valentine’s Day, February 14th.

Not long after that, I made a choice to go to Chinatown for Chinese New Year. I had been to NYC Chinatown’s Mott Street so many times, but never had I been there for the New Year. One downside is that the early part of that particulary Saturday was especially rainy, as in major downpour in my area. Thankfully, the rain stopped long enough for me to get down to Chinatown for the tail end of the festivities, and it was pretty cool. Most of my favorite locales had closed for the holiday, but my favorite martial arts supplies store had remained open, and I went in without hesitation. I walked out with a practice karambit (an Indonesian blade) and a pair of marble baoding medicine balls. A brief trip, but I felt awesome.

I’ve said this before, but sometimes, when you want to make a change in your life, you have to step outside your comfort zone. Sometimes, the change is gradual, but once in a while, the change is just waiting right around the corner for you, and it’s waiting for you to make the first move. Go for it.