CURRENT MISSION

Explore the world in an infinite, futile quest to know why I'm here.

ABOUT ME

My best friends are the people in my life who are routinely exposed to my restless energy. There's three or four of them in the whole wide world, and the group includes my brother, a former high school band mate, and a crazy guy I've known forever. My relationship with each one is different of course, but on the whole I try to inspire the people around me, and I hope that they find my words and actions uplifting. In all likelihood, however; they probably think I'm a crazy person. I have this innate need to question everything about life, and my best friends all put up with this ruthless assault. They would probably say that I need to "Chill Out" sometimes, and that I don't appreciate the "Little Things". That being said, the whole group understands my drive to explore the world and to experience people and places far removed from Connecticut society. If they didn't get that, I wouldn't hang out with them. I guess they'd also call me brutally honest, but to be honest at all in a superficial culture is considered a social taboo. Because I feel their desire to connect with me, I place my best friends on a pedestal. They would call me fiercely loyal, and it's true. A man needs unique, interesting people he can trust, and my best friends fit the bill.

PHILOSOPHY

My philosophy is a weird mix of existential and eastern thought. Basically, I view the universe as a shade of reality created by the perceptions of my consciousness. Without the mind to piece together all the infinite swirling of energy, nothing would exist. Reality, therefore, is merely that which stands out against nothing. I don't believe in any sort of higher meaning which can be applied to life as a whole, however; the individual has the power to imbue his or her life with a lasting, personal type of meaning. I value honesty with the self and then with others as the route to a fulfilling life.

Interests

Throughout my life I've been wrapped up in two passions: writing and music. I suppose it's because I'm obsessed with all the ways in which people communicate with one another. The written word and the organized sound of music both have the ability to express the internal experiences of the self to an external audience. These pursuits represent a human need on par with our thirst for water. For me, writing and music turn the world into a playground of inspiration. Every second of existence becomes an idea, and every interaction has the ability to inspire me. I use these mediums to explore the universe and synthesize my experiences into new conceptions.

• culture
• writing
• books
• literature
• reading
• painting
• music
• guitar
• piano
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: I don't watch a whole lot of movies but I'm trying to get into them. I enjoy Tarantino a great deal. I find Monty Python to be hilarious, as well as British comedy in general.

Books: I appreciate all literature, with my favorites being Hemingway, Marquez, Steinbeck, Kerouac, Ginsberg, Cummings, and Hunter S. Thompson. I also read a hell of a lot of non fiction about education and sociology and stuff like that.

Music: There's not a genre of music I don't enjoy. I was raised on stuff like the Beatles and the Doors, but I've since branched out into the infinite nature of the stuff. I love Wilco, Bright Eyes, Death Cab, M. Ward, Nirvana, Nick Drake, Neil Young, Yo La Tengo, Miles Davis, Coltrane, and classical music. The band that influenced me most was probably the Velvet Underground. Also the Violent Femmes. And the Smiths. And the Talking Heads. I could talk for days about music. I play the piano real well and the guitar passably.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I was fifteen, I read The World According to Garp by John Irving in two days. By the end, I had a new appreciation for the incredible ability of literature to imbue the human experience with meaning. Every page of that book speaks to the endless combinations of life. After I finished reading, I found myself in a scrambled mush. I was unable to comprehend that a collection of written words had so influenced my emotions and the workings of my mind.
The latest awe inspiring moment came at the end of my senior year in high school. Throughout my adolescent experience, insecurity limited my enjoyment of life. High school is systematically designed to make a kid hate himself if he can't fit in, and for some reason I wasn't drawn to the inane chatter and senseless exclusion prominent in teenage behavior. I looked for a way out. I played music, experimented with drugs, and read wildly, but nothing helped. This year, in May, I realized that nobody has the answers. No single person out there, no matter how wise, can show you the path to a fulfilling life. I realized that truth comes from within, and that the individual defines his or her experiences. After you have this realization, the only thing to do is sit back and laugh at it all. I developed a concrete foundation of identity upon which I can build a life. In other words, I'm ready.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know a hell of a lot about music, and can teach anyone to play the piano. I can even teach simple guitar. I urge everyone to learn an instrument; it enriches every aspect of life. I also know a lot of stuff about history and books. I have a real zeal for learning, but I really would like to know how to paint and speak other languages.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States