"Gosh, it is so hot!"
"Ugh, this internet is SOO slow!"
"Man, these people can't drive!"

I will spare you from any more. But seriously, do people that complain irritate you? Why do people have to constantly state their discontentment with a specific situation?

I tend to think people that complain either are not aware that they are doing it or they are just miserable (or close too it) and would like to let everyone else know how miserable they are. Whichever the answer to the question may be, I believe complaints are very unnecessary. I welcome criticism any day (as long as it is in good taste); but there is a line between the two.

I will break it down into two "levels." A complaint is something a person states...that is not significant to any other human being, but it is a declaration of one's discontentment with a specific happening within their life. To be honest, complaints most of the time do nothing to help solve a problem.

Criticism is when a person makes an observation and offers helpful suggestions in order that one person become better at a specific task or situation. I am a big problem solver. I love brainstorming to find resolutions for a given scenario, but when someone comes over and is upset and starts rambling on about how discontent they are, that is unnecessary.

Come to me with a legitimate problem and your best solution for it, I will be more than happy to help you in solving that, come to me with an annoying complaint...I am sorry but that does not do anything for me.

You know yourself best. If you are forgetful, make reminders. If you are naturally cold, bring more clothes. For every problem there is a solution. People will respect you more if you are mature enough to learn from your own mistakes.

Complaints do not get you very far in this world. I am sure that what you find worthy of a complaint, does not compare to anything that someone within ten feet of you are going through. Thank you for reading. I tried to not "complain" too much. This is just an observation that I have made the last couple of weeks...and thought that someone could benefit from it.

Thanks for reading. I would like to hear your feedback on what you think!

-Ken

Labels: annoying, beliefs, Change in my Life, common sense, complaints, growth, immaturity, Jesus, maturity, observations, others, over reacting, politics, relationships, trends, tweet, twitter, YOU

I posted to Twitter the other day...Why are we as Americans still dealing with racial issues? Everywhere you go, you can see people smirking towards people of other races, other races appearing to be dominant over another, people being chosen over another because of their race...people disagreeing with one another because a conflict of race...and even the dreaded race card being pulled. Ex: "He said I was (insert race here.) I'm offended!" All of these and many others can commonly be found through websites, Twitter, blogs, media and any other form of communication that we as humans interact on.

I ask why?

In my opinion...generally speaking, think that we as humans are raised or programmed somehow to have out race or a specific race dominant over others. Why can we not just get over ourselves and realize that we are different, have one GOD and love others as Jesus would? Why do we have to place racial discrepancies on everything? Why are we still fighting something that should have been settled years ago? Let's forgive each other and move on. It is what God would desire us to do.

-Ken

Labels: arguments, error, forgiveness, growth, human, Jesus, love, maturity, politics, race, racism, relationships

When I redesigned my website and started blogging in the spring of this year, I set a goal of 100 posts by the end of the year. I picked 100 because I thought that would be a do-able goal...would require a specific amount of commitment, but not an over-commitment in order to reach the goal I had set forth. With that being said, this blog marks my half way point. The goal is still 100, but I am hoping to exceed that.

Yesterday was an emotional roller coaster of an day. It was marking the first official live lab that we had in the main hall at Full Sail University. That was a memorable experience. I was elected to to the simulcast mix on the DigiDesign VENUE (D-Show) digital console. That was a great experience. In addition to that, I made a big mistake in "jumping the gun" in a specific situation at school. That could have drastically effected a relationship with a friend on both a personal a professional level, but luckily it did not. It was a learning experience for both of us. Live and learn. Each day has new adventures for us. Nothing is wrong with doing wrong . . . as long as you learn from your mistake(s).

All in all, it has been fun blogging and connecting with you all through the first 50 posts. Hoping that the next 50 will be just a good if not better!

Labels: Blog anniversary, digidesign, friendships, goal, life lessons, Live lab, microblogging, mistakes, relationships, venue

A teacher I had for a Bible class in high school always taught me "You must learn to agree to disagree agreeably." If we could make an amendment to the golden rule, I think this would be great to add on along side of the existing rule of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Labels: abortion, agree, America, beliefs, conservative, controversial, different, disagree, experiences, firearms, forgiveness, relationships

This week, I had the amazing opportunity to connect with some people that I have been in conversation with over Twitter in the last couple of months. I must say, it was a great experience, just knowing and getting to physically know the people you have been interacting with. I told them that it seems to go against everything that your parents have taught you about "meeting people online." You do have to use discretion though. I know a few people if they every brought up the idea of meeting I would "come up with an excuse not too."

-Ken

Labels: friendships, internet growth, microblogging, relationships, social networking, twitter

I have always struggled with them. The go great...then for no reason, always seem to come to a screeching halt. Why? Is it that I give up to soon? Have "tunnel vision" and only want thing to go my way...then they don't and I give up?

I believe the correct answer lies as a combination of the two above. I have a set way that I want things to be...and if someone does not agree with that, I take it personal. I have come to the realization that not everyone is going to be marching at the beat of my own drum and that differences is what makes us all unique.

In the fall of 2008, I had a friend that I was getting close to. A young lad that is an amazing guy. One night, we were chatting on the phone and although it was not the best of conversation topics, (meaning something dear to me) he mistakenly said something that did not settle right with me. Did I at that point ask for clarification? Oh no. I got defensive and offended. Was that the right reaction? No.

Days after that had happened, I felt terrible. But I figured that he had given up on the friendship that we had. He too struggles with Friendships just as I struggle. People come and go...no one is one hundred percent committed, besides him. For that I felt terrible for my reaction to the situation. I battled with this for months.

But I worked through some things, forgiveness was given. Tonight, I had the pleasure of having dinner with him at a very nice restaurant, Copeland's in Buckhead. We had a joyful time of fellowship and then the bitter-sweet moment of confrontation of the events last fall.

During that time, we talked through things, and we are on the road to recovery. God works in mysterious ways, but they always turn out for the best. There are still hurt feelings, but I think that time, trust and love will bring healing.

-Ken

Labels: committment, Copeland's Atlanta, forgiveness, friendships, love, mistakes, relationships, struggle