Sherpa’s ‘Scriptions

*Bloggers Note: I’m speechlessly honored to have Sherpa Zed as Always Looking Up’s first guest blogger today. At a formal dinner gathering last Valentines Day, he regaled me with a story of a chess match with Cupid at 2 A.M. in New York’s iconic Central Park. Sherpa made a agreement with the 3 foot sneakster prior to the start of the game that if he won, Cupid may never strike the arrow of affection in his behind so he may walk this earth of sound heart and clear mind forever.

Sherpa lost.

Enjoy and have a safe and happy Day of Love.

Friends,

I wish to offer you today, the day of St. Valentine, a remedy for those suffering from love sickness, hopeless romanticism, or a shattered heart. Whether ye are saddened, distressed, depressed, or repressed on this day and it’s corresponding festivities, I encourage you to try this simple 6-step personal prescription of sorts.  I shan’t promise it will completely eradicate your feelings of sorrow or melancholy, though I can promise it will invite some sort of inflated sense of self enlightenment.

1. Remove: turn off your mobile phone, silence your pager, set the computer to sleep, ignore the doorbell.
2. Center: close your eyes and begin to relax all of your muscles. Think of your body as a loose sock that just feel out of a heap of freshly dried clothes.
3. Silence: shut down your mind for a moment. Do not focus on work obligations, personal endeavors, or how you intend to save the world. For now, it can wait.
4. Self: begin to think of how an ideal partner would treat you on a day centered around you and your happiness.
   • Where would you go?
   • What would you eat or drink?
   • What activities would you do?
   • Which movies would you watch?
   • What books would you read?
5. Plan: grab a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and write down all the things you thought of during that time of self-reflection.
6. Action: leave means of communication behind, grab that piece of paper and anything necessary to complete the things on that only that list (i.e. wallet, vehicle, bike, etc.) and head out the door.

Instead of wallowing in misfortune that you don’t have anyone to share this day with, utilize it as an excuse to treat yourself to a day dedicated to only you. It’s fantastic for those who have the privilege of enjoying this day with someone they love but not everyone has such an honor.

If worry and gloom try to creep back into your day of you, just remember that you will most likely not be spending all Valentines Days for the rest of your life by yourself.

Now go have a happy Valentines Day, don’t fret, and treat yourself, dammit.

 

Not a doctor or a psychologist,

Sherpa Zed

Self-appointed 3^rd eye of Kyle Hart

Love Thy Critics

Approval, admiration, and applause are all things we search for from birth in various areas of our lives. From grades to friendships, sports to daily chores, everybody loves to hear their name spew from someone else’s mouth with “well done”, “great job”, or “keep it up” attached to it. There’s something inexplicably uplifting, inspiring, and heartening about hearing these words of support and reassurance in regards to a job done well. It carries the power to turn quitters into winners, negative into positive, and “I can’t” into “watch this”.  These messages are fundamental in continually improving and strengthening your craft in order to reach success in your hopes and dreams.

But what if I told you the flip side to this equation is just as if not more vital in cultivating accomplishment in your life? Would you think I was sane if I told you to keep your adversaries and critics much closer than your biggest fans and fondest friends?

Advancement and progression in any field or endeavor is insanely difficult, if not downright impossible, without adversity, challenge, and someone constantly questioning the way you do things. It’s these criticizers and scrutinizers that end up being the gusts of wind that catches our propellers so we may fly to new heights, soar towards new milestones, and rise to greatness. We must embrace these people and always consider their opinion first before asking anyone who we know from the get go will give positively and warmly. The fans will be there and there will constantly be someone who yearns to consume your work. In any medium or art, there are no universal favorites. If you don’t like the Beatles, you’re a Stones fan. You may think Monet is garbage and Degas is far superior. You may feel a Steinbeck book is barely worthy of toilet paper but the work of Vonnegut should be cast in pure gold.

Regardless of your perceived level of talent, there will always be at least one person or several people who want to condemn and ridicule the things you are doing. No matter your level of fame or fandom. It’s very important to listen and heed this criticism with an open mind, a sound heart, and a strong constitution. We mustn’t be afraid to have thick skin and take a few punches because, when it’s all said and done, it will work wonders on the final result. Let’s not take this feedback too negatively or personally and, instead, utilize it for positive gains and continual improvement.

This is not to say that changing your work in accordance with what others say is absolutely necessary. At any indecisive ‘finish’ of a body of work, it is still the property of the creators and belongs to no one else. It’s the artist who’s removing a piece of their soul and serving it on a finely garnished platter to be devoured by others. We must always lead with our gut when bettering our artwork or creations and our overall satisfaction with the final product is indispensable. But it’s foolish to think that impactful development is possible without some harsh and unforgiving opinions of others.

A Grim Diagnosis

We’ve discussed in prior posts about the importance of simply getting started in regards to dreams or personal endeavors.  The idea of taking action is the most essential component of transforming your goals into realities. The old saying “a rolling stone gathers no moss” is rather applicable in previous discussions.

As we begin to experience small successes, with the aid of courage, patience, and persistence, we’re able to take vital steps towards obtaining our utmost desires. Although the path is undeniably difficult and tediously strenuous on our minds and emotions, the more you put into a project, or creation, or idea, and the tighter you hold on, the harder it is to abandon it or merely give up.

A good friend asked me this question a few days ago in regards to a project I’ve been putting a lot into for the past few months. It went something like this:

If you were diagnosed today with terminal cancer and had a maximum of 10 months of life left, would you want to see this project finished before you died?

A morbid question? Slightly. A tad uncomfortable? Sure. Completely out of the question? Hardly.

People of artistic creation and expression must ask themselves the same question in respect to their own personal projects. Perhaps you’ll come to find, as I did, that the answer is found rather quickly if we put ourselves in the shoes of someone who just received grim news as such. If you are willing to listen to your heart it will override your brain. There’s no doubt that you will find what you truly want.

However, it is awfully crucial that you listen closely to this inner voice, even if it is harshly telling you to put the current project on the shelf for a while. Perhaps it would enhance the overall outcome and result if you took a break from it and return to it later with fresh thoughts and new ideas.  The only person who truthfully and honestly has the answer to this question is you.

This is my challenge for us today, friends, because situations like these are not too far out of the question. In hopes of not sounding to cliché, nothing is entirely out of the realm of possibility for everyday life occurrences. Chances are high that you will answer this question, find what you truly want, and it is my hope that no one will have to die as a result.

What would you be doing, or what project would you be working on, this exact moment if you only had 10 months to live? 

The Ballad of Patch Corduroy: Part II

The van is packed,

My lunch is sacked,

It’s just you and I, Esparanza.

The road opens wide,

No safe place to hide,

With all these street urchins watching.

~

I race to the coast,

Which comforts me most,

To carve the liquids of baptism.

It’s a type of rebirth,

For whatever it’s worth,

Sure is hard to tell with no price tag.

~

The mind starts to drift

And priorities shift,

A dustining of sand hits my face.

It’s pleasantly quiet,

With no one to riot,

Besides maybe the snails washed ashore.

~

I tuck the sun in,

And kiss it’s warm chin,

I know it’s had a long day.

Glance down at my wrist,

And forlornly insist,

“I should really invest in a watch.”

~

I misplaced the day’s time,

So I’ll spend my last dime,

In exchange for Grandpa’s two cents.

He says to me,”Son,

There’s no need to run,

You may not even like the finish.”

~

D-Lightful: Sunday Showcase with Derek Danielson

I was immediately captivated by Derek’s brilliant artwork when I stepped into Tibetan Fox clothing company for the first time back in 2011. Relatively foreign to the City of Roses, I was visiting my friend Christopher Skelley who co-owned the store with Derek, when I was initially introduced. His ability to beautifully portray a wide range of motifs with brilliant, bold lines and outrageously vibrant colors left me absolutely flabbergasted. After becoming more acquainted with Derek over the past few years, I quickly realized that the only thing that out shines the gorgeous artwork he creates is his humble, light hearted, unpretentious personality.

I am beyond flattered to feature Derek and his art in this week’s Sunday Showcase. He is an enormously brilliant and exceptionally creative talent patiently waiting to be discovered and properly recognized.  It is this blogger’s firm belief that when that time comes, there are no limits for the success this young man will achieve. Derek is currently freelancing and exploring his options to create art daily. His other beyond art include his dog Rӓv, uncontrollable laughter, and Tuesday evening microbrews. This is not the last time you will see his creations proudly displayed on Always Looking Up.

How did you initially get into artistic expression? Is it something you started doing at a young age or did it pick up more so in college?

I started drawing at a very early age.  I can remember at the age of 5 consistently drawing to pass the time.  I wasn’t exactly sure why I was drawing and I never had a specific topic, but I remember enjoying the creative process that a pencil could give me.  Other than that my dad is I quite an artist.  I’ve always strived to be even close to as good as him in several different mediums.  As far as college goes, I did learn a decent amount there, but I learned most of what I knew/techniques from my father.

 

As a fan of your work, I know you enjoy using animals as your muses while painting. Is this your favorite? How do you choose which ones to draw/paint? What has been your personal favorite piece you’ve made?

I like to paint animals most because I believe I can catch a lot of human emotion in the animal’s expression.  To me that is the most exciting part, you can see the “person” the animal is/might be when you look one of my paintings.  I think most people look past animals as feeling beings and I think its fun to bring the human element to animals in paint.  I really wish I had a better reasoning for why I pick which animals to paint that I do, but to tell you the truth it’s completely random.  Whatever animal comes into mind, I’ll paint it!  My favorite image would have to be the Walrus piece I did a few years ago.  Lately I’ve been focusing more on sculpture and possibly trying to mix the two mediums in a way that hasn’t been done before.

 

Who is your favorite artist? The one you find the most inspiration and encouragement from?

I’m a huge fan of Jeremy Fish.  The way he is able to combine imagery and topics is incredible.  Not to mention his line work alone is something I’ll always strive for.  He is truly a master of the medium.  Aside from him and quite possibly the exact opposite would be Jackson Pollock.  Some would say its completely random but its truly about how deliberately random it is that makes it work and I enjoy that style of art as well, because it’s quite freeing compared to other forms.    

 

Tell us briefly about your t-shirt company Tibetan Fox clothing company? What was it like owning and operating such a unique custom t-shirt company in the shopping district of NW Portland? Do you miss it? Would you ever considering starting the company back up?

TibetanFox was a huge part of my life/the only part of my life for 3-1/2 years.  We had our own custom line of clothing that myself and Chris Skelley had created.  We also had sculptures and paintings for sale  among the uniquely design Tees.  We also created custom clothing for customers on the spot and with most applications we could have them created and printed within the half hour.  Northwest Portland is an incredible area of Portland.  If you’ve ever been to NW 23^rd you know how unique and fun the entire street is.  Do I miss it, yes and no.  I miss the people, locals, friends and customers, but I don’t really miss having to be there 6-7 days a week. As for possibly starting the company back up at another point, I think I will eventually do something along those lines.  I’ve learned a lot over those 3-1/2 years and I know exactly how it should be next time and where it needs to be in order for it to be more successful.    

 

In an ideal world, where will you and your artwork be five years from today?

In five years I hope my art is most importantly in as many homes as possible.  Aside from that I would love to have work up in several galleries across the US and hopefully other parts of the world.  Here’s to getting more work done and making many more people smile and admire art. 

Keep up with Derek and his amazing artwork:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derek.d.danielson?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

Instagram: http://instagram.com/d_recked

The Missing Link

I went to the zoo,

And I already knew,

The monkey I wanted to see.

.

I looked in his eyes,

And the monkey replies,

“What have you done to me?”

ENVY

We currently exist in the most communicative and visual period of mankind’s history. Generally speaking, this is a continued blessing as it allows us to effortlessly communicate with others, consume entertaining media, and surround ourselves with vices that promote personal happiness. Though, like every story, there are two sides to this never ending ingestion of news, sport, and events of other people’s lives. With a plethora of readily available information at the tip of our fingers, it’s not considered strange or unusual behavior to completely obsess with and shadow the lives of others. In turn, this can evoke very dark, depressing, and mentally poisonous dispositions and it is most commonly experienced as feelings of envy and callousness, of bitterness and greed in regards to someone else’s life.

A daily example of how this can regularly manifest is in the daily news reports and television programs following the daily life of others (i.e. Duck Dynasty, Keeping Up with the Kardasians, etc). We sheepishly watch, observe, and follow the lives of celebrities, athletes, and other figures held in high sociological regard and think things like, “if only I had their money or their job or their wife or their life or their talents and abilities.” We experience this ill-advised and misappropriated jealousy of the fame and money they have and we don’t. These feelings can also be viewed on a localized and relative level via coveting thy neighbor’s boat or resentful that Zoey down the street is 10 years closer to retirement than you.

Besides the obvious issue of communally exiling yourself because you’re known for inherent negativity and spite, it also poses problems to our mental health. Rather than focusing on the things we don’t have and others do, why don’t we strive to manifest these desirable objects or characteristics in our own lives? Why must this harebrained mentality of “it’ll never happen to me” ruin the daily chances we are presented to better ourselves?

Rather than fixating on and craving the lives of others, let us selfishly turn that attention inward and make a conscious decision to hone and enhance our own skills. You want to be like Hulk Hogan? Then stop watching VHS tapes of Wrestlemania 30 and go weight train at the gym down the block. You want to be like Tina Fey? Then quit sitting on your behind all day watching 30 Rock and sign up for an acting class. You want to be like J.K. Rowling? Then put down The Chamber of Secrets for a minute, grab a notebook, and start practicing.

Let’s all quit talking ourselves out of putting in the practice and effort to get better at what gives our life meaningful fulfillment.  As I said last week, chances are high that you aren’t going to produce your absolute best work when you start out. In fact, nobody in the history of any craft has been able to do such a thing. There is an endless list of countless failures throughout the history of time. But do you honestly believe that they focused on their the work predecessors or peers were doing? Or do you think they were putting countless hours into bettering their abilities to produce and create?

The choice is ultimately up to you.

 

 

*Bloggers Note: Apologies on the tardiness of this post. I was momentarily held up in a snowstorm yesterday. 

In The Middle

When we make the initial decision to start taking the steps in order to transform our dreams into realities, it often becomes difficult not to infatuate with those who are the most skilled with the craft at hand. Those who wish to become a professional basketball player often fantasize about Michael Jordan. Some who desire to be the next blockbuster movie director or producer often visualize Quentin Tarantino. Of the many hopeful novelists, several might desire to become the next Kurt Vonnegut.

No matter the particular subject, expertise, or dream, there are always quintessential ‘top dogs’ who are held in an elite category of ‘untouchable-ness’.

The initial spark we have for a certain ambition can be quickly defused after we realize that it’s a lot harder than it looks. It’s always imperative to shoot for the stars in respects to your own personal potential, but these geniuses and stellar performers didn’t just try something for the first time and instantly become a NBA Champion, Academy Award Winner, or Hugo Award winning author overnight.  Things like this normally take a large amount of time and practice as well as a heaping amount of unfailing courage and continued patience.

The problem here is that we have a tendency to compare our practice work, our scribbling in a pad, our attempts and misses to the creations of the most successful people who have done it for the past few centuries. Plain and simple, we are afraid to stink, afraid to fail, and afraid to put in the hours needed to get better. What it really comes down to is: we are paranoid that we will end up in The Middle.

This term signifies everyone’s want to be good at what they’re passionate about. This is a consistent and nonnegotiable fact of anyone who has dreams. However, the reality is that we have to…well…be willing to suck at what we do in order to get better.  We must realize that there will almost always be someone out there who is worse at what we are doing and, on the flipside, someone who is much better at it. We must accept and respect our time in The Middle.

Now, to clarify, I am not insinuating that ‘The Middle’ is a decent and ideal place to settle or that this is the final destination we should strive for. I’ve said time and time again that complacency and settling are the components of a life not completely fulfilled or utilized. But this is worth reiterating: we have to be willing to spend weeks, months, even years in this middle ground if we ever hope to walk and dance amongst the greats.

Pest-Inside

Hickory dickory noodle,

A cricket jumped rope with my noodle.

It said, “Pardon me,

my wife, who’s a flea,

Is sleeping somewhere in your strudel.”

Caught Smiling: Sunday Showcase with Audrey Wiltz

I first met Audrey a few years ago during my brief stint in the Oregon State University’s student ran media community. I could instantly tell by her permanent grin and confident body language that this woman had impeccable moral, emotional, and mental strength. This hunch was undeniably confirmed the more I became acquainted with this multi-faceted talent currently taking OSU by storm. Her motivational, hard-working, and genuine character has gained her endless friends, faithful colleagues, countless admirers, and vast opportunities inside and outside the confines of Oregon State University. Be it her Fan Film Commercial that airs regularly on the Pac12 network during OSU football games, coordinating radical events for the MUPC, befriending Betty White at the NAB Conference in Las Vegas, or interning for E! Network in LA, there’s no doubt this talented young lady is going big places really fast. You’re going to want to hop on her fan train while there are still a few seats left.

I had the honor of sitting down with Audrey for a riveting Q & A in this week’s Sunday Showcase. Here you will find an excess of terrific insights into Beaver athletics, Audrey’s simple beginnings, and her aspirations after graduation in the coming months.

Your passionate dedication to media and broadcasting is apparent and your blossoming talents are obvious.  How did you get so involved in this and what was the initial spark that fueled your desire to be the next best sports broadcaster and on field correspondent? 

I would say ever since I was a little girl being a sports broadcaster was always my dream, but I’d be lying. Yes, I’ve definitely always loved sports, that is true, but there was a chain of events that have led me down the career path I’m going.

I was always the girl all of my friends went to for advice or to tell secrets to. I LOVED to help people, to share my thoughts and give advice – and I still do! But, at a young age I always was deeply worried that my friends and people around me were not happy. I always wanted to know why, always wanted to help them live a happier life. So, “maybe I’ll become a counselor,” I thought.

Towards the end of middle school and beginning of high school, I began to think a bit bigger. If my friends and people around me were having these various issues, surely other people our age or even just other people all around the world are going through similar things as well. Then it clicked – the surest way to help a lot of people at once would be to have a talk show on TV. I thought about it on a whim, and the dream has stuck with me ever since. In high school, I had my heart set on two things: I was either going to be in the WNBA or become the next Oprah.

Well, being 5’6 and the first or second off the bench wasn’t going to get me to the WNBA, so I began to look into college options without basketball as a factor. But, if I want to be Oprah, what in the world do I study in college? I began to do some searching, and eventually came across the New Media Communications program at Oregon State.

Currently a few years later and two terms away from graduating, I could have never expected to fall so madly in love with Oregon State University and have the experiences that I have in such a few short years. My experiences in media have a heavy sports influence, which is what most people see. However, this did offer me the ability to learn hands on skills of every kind, make connections with great, kind hearted people, and it taught me one of the most important lessons of all: If you want it, go get it. A lot of things in life are what you make it, and if you’re striving to be successful, you have to make it good and meaningful from the start.

 

For someone that is looked up to by others as a role model and inspirational figure, who do you look towards for inspiration? Who are your top role models?

First and foremost, my parents. I am so blessed to have been raised by them and learn the lessons I did from each. It’s very seldom do I go more than a few days without talking to my parents.  My best friend Bri, who is the perfect mix of similar and opposite to me, has inspired me with her tenacity and perseverance in life all throughout friendship, and we’ve been friends for over half our lives.

Considering all that she has influenced throughout her life, I am absolutely intrigued and inspired by the career and life of Oprah Winfrey. I’d do anything to spend just a day with her.

Another person I look towards for inspiration is Yogi Roth, one of the first sports reporters I had the chance to shadow.  He was so kind and full of life. His passion for his work (football, in particular) and his love of travel make it obvious he enjoys his life. It definitely shows.

Also Marcellus Alexander, Louie Botarro, Jeff Hale, Dr. Bill Loges, Julia Sandidge, Linda Howard, Ryan Nece, Aaron Owens, Christian Loor, and Michael Chase, and an extensive list of co-workers, friends, family, family friends both young and old, neighbors throughout the years, endless classmates I’ve met in my time here at OSU.

Most of all, I’m really intrigued and inspired by everyday people who are chasing their dreams and working towards making a better world for us to live in. Inspiration is always around, you just have to take a second to notice it.

 

I am aware you interned/worked for the E! Entertainment Network in Los Angeles last summer. Can you elaborate a bit on what kind of stuff you were doing? Were you working on a television show? What kind of career and life experiences did you learn while doing this?

Oh gosh – what a summer! I absolutely loved my time working for E! and living in Los Angeles. As an NBC Universal intern, you are very well taken care of. I worked in the department of Program Planning & Acquisitions, which essentially is a team of people who strategically plan what is on TV at certain times throughout the day. It was very insightful learning why things are the way they are, as well as what it takes for networks to acquire movies for playback on their channel. I got to meet a variety of folks who worked in many different departments, and even ones outside of my own E! network. The perks were also lovely – there were intern meet & greets, dinner events, discounts at Universal CityWalk & Universal Studios, and sometimes we were able to go to movie screenings too which was a first for me. Throughout the summer, I learned a lot about the little things. Knowing the doorman or the name of the woman at the front desk who greets you every morning is sometimes just as meaningful and important as a good handshake when you meet the head of your department for the first time.

 

Let’s exist in a fantasy for a moment: you have the opportunity to have any media job with any collegiate or professional sports team. Which position on what team would you choose? Why?

If you would’ve asked me this as a little girl I totally would’ve told you that if I didn’t make it to the WNBA then I was going to be a reporter for the NBA covering the Lakers because they were the best team of all time.

If I had the opportunity to pick any media job with a collegiate or professional sports team, I think I could choose to cover a conference – is that fair? I honestly really enjoy the PAC 12, I think they’re an overlooked conference by many.  There is a lot of rich sports history here just as there are other places. I would love to dig deeper into the schools of the PAC 12 and work to share their stories. Football and basketball (men’s and/or women’s) would be my sports preferences, for sure.

Blogger’s Note: Of course it’s fair, Audrey. In fact, as I’m sure you are well aware of, you’re already a Pac12 Network celeb:

 

Who has been your favorite interviewee, either on the Beavers Sports Talk Show on KBVR TV or in a personal endeavor?

Oh man. I’ve always really liked interviewing Markus Wheaton when he played at Oregon State. He was a bit oof a quiet speaker, but he was extremely kind and good to work with. I’d have to say the coolest interview I have ever done though was with sports legend Dick Butkus. The Memorial Union Program Council (MUPC) put on a “Breakfast with Dick Butkus” event for Dad’s Weekend this year and asked me to host the brunch and facilitate the conversation and interview there. He was such an awesome guy, really easy to talk with, and he cared a lot about things outside of football too, which is great. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to film the event and only have pictures. But hey – it happened!

 Keep up with Audrey and follow her incredible adventure at:

Website: http://audreywiltz.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/audrreeyyyy

Instagram: http://instagram.com/helloitsaudrey