As a twentysomething male, I am about as far removed from the Disney Channel’s target demographic as anyone. Yet, I still have a soft spot in my heart for the network. Some of it definitely stems from nostalgia. It also helps to be aware of some shows on the network to stay relevant with my students (who, as middle schoolers, are most certainly within Disney’s target demographic).
I rediscovered the network a few years ago thanks to nostalgia. My curiosity of Girl Meets World and how true a successor it would be to Boy Meets World (THE show of my childhood) drew me to the network. While I always enjoyed GMW (and still feel that show was pulled long before its expiration date), another show truly grabbed my attention and captured my imagination.
Liv & Maddie tells the story of twin sisters (both played by Dove Cameron), their two brothers, and their navigation through adolescence with laughs galore. Despite the lighthearted tone the show often takes, the show handles issues such as gender roles, gender inequality, and misogyny. As a teacher, I know all too well that these are issues that our young ladies face on a regular basis. Feminism is not an easy subject to tackle, whether in conversation or portrayed on television. Liv & Maddie shows young girls and boys that the best way to fight inequality is to take action. When a principal threatened to make budget cuts to the girls basketball program, the girls raise funds of their own to convince the principal to take them seriously. When a chauvinistic producer believes that girls cannot possibly be interested in STEM, the girls build a car that outpaces that of the boys (the addition of the Val character in Season 4 also went a long way toward showing that girls can be passionate about STEM as well).
In a world run by social media and embracing debate, it is commonplace for hostility to reign. Liv & Maddie demonstrates that the best way to exact lasting change is by taking action and by simply having a conversation. When action is taken, it is always done in a productive rather than destructive matter. Even the bullies are never humiliated.
A while back, I live-tweeted an episode and expressed my surprise that Todd Stetson never got his comeuppance. To my surprise, one of the show’s creators, John D. Beck noticed the tweet and replied “Because it wasn’t about Todd. You can’t change how someone else feels. You can only change how you feel about yourself”. That one tweet perfectly encapsulates the message of Liv & Maddie.
In fifty years or so, when someone on one of those sites decides to do a retrospective of Disney Channel shows and ranks them, it is my sincerest belief that Liv & Maddie should be ranked at the top. It didn’t have the gimmickry of Wizards of Waverly Place or the constant promotion of K.C. Undercover. It didn’t need it. Dove Cameron never got the level of hype of Miley, Selena, Hilary, or Zendaya, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is perhaps the finest leading lady (times 2!) and best role model that a young girl could have. Whether she was portraying teen actress/pop star Liv or alpha female Maddie, Dove showed the importance of confidence and empathy in every line she spoke. In a world that feels the increasing need to be “edgy”, Liv & Maddie thrived by being the exact opposite. It was a cute show full of wholesome values. It empowered young people to be comfortable with who they were, to change the conversation, to believe in themselves, and to support their friends and family.
While Liv & Maddie may be done, its message and spirit will live on. Cheers to all for a job well done!
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
On Wellness and Motivation
With my 30th birthday less than a month away (!), now is probably a better time than ever to get as much of my life, the story of my first 30 years, out there. It is important to me know and share where I have been and use it as a vehicle to drive me toward where I eventually want to be.
I spent the last two posts talking at moderate length about my resolve. I have to be honest to myself and to anyone who reads my writing and admit that much of my resolve is born out of the fact that I am rarely (if ever) content with myself. I always feel as if I have something to prove, whether to my peers, love interests, family, or myself.
If you know me even remotely or follow me on any sort of social media, you know how important the gym has been to my 20s. I’ve used the gym as a conduit to lose weight (twice), to gain strength and endurance, and to simply feel good about myself. At this point in my fitness journey, I go to the gym 11 times a week for 5 cardio and 6 weightlifting sessions. I would love to say that I always did it for me, but that is not the case.
For the record, I do not mention any individual or experience in this post with the intent of demonizing anyone of putting them down. I just have to give perspective. In 2008, I lost 62 pounds because a girl wrote me a letter telling me all the reasons she would never date me, my appearance being one. I almost literally worked myself to the bone that summer in the hopes it would impress her. It did not. That did not lessen any of what I accomplished, but it let the wind out of my sails a bit.
Growing up, I always had to hear my grandfather talk about how much “tougher” and “stronger” his granddaughters were compared to the grandsons. It stung, but at least I had company in my weakness in my male cousin. A year or two ago, that changed. My cousin changed his diet and workout regimen and drastically changed his body type. When I heard my grandfather mention it once, I thought it was just a conversation piece, but after it was mentioned at least a dozen times in the year that followed, it began to grate on me. Here I was working out regularly, having completed two marathons, and I still felt as though my accomplishments were ignored. I would be lying if I said that the change in my workouts toward building more muscle was not brought on by this.
Over the past year, I have seen my body transform (albeit not at the rate I would prefer). I have found myself with the ability to lift significantly more than I could lift even six months ago. Yet that still does not feel enough. Some days I am pleased with my progress, while other days I view myself as a scrawny twerp in comparison to some of the guys at the gym.
For the longest time, I shied away from free weights because I did not feel “worthy” of being in that section of the gym. I had to get over those fears. As I continue in relentless pursuit of my goals, I have learned two lessons.
Lesson 1: Don’t do it for or because of anyone else.
I lost weight for a girl. I started lifting more because of comments that got under my skin. Those are awful reasons to do anything. It’s not about anyone else. You can work relentlessly to try to impress someone else, but honestly, whether or not they are impressed is out of your control. Don’t place your success or self-worth on the shoulders of someone else. Be happy with yourself. If you’re not happy with where you are, do something about it, but do not do it simply for the attention or affection of another.
Lesson 2: You should only ever compare yourself with the person you were yesterday.
I am still guilty of this one. I see guys at the gym who are absolutely jacked and I get frustrated that I am not there yet. I have to remind myself that my journey didn’t start at the same time as theirs, and my journey does not end at the same time as theirs, either. Self-improvement is not a race. Every little bit counts. Focus only on working to be just a little bit better than you were the previous day. Negative comparisons are toxic. Don’t make them. I know this is easier said than done.
I’m not where I want to be yet (both from a physical and motivational standpoint), but I am moving in the right direction. If you’re struggling with anything I mentioned above, just know you’re not alone. Keep at it. I believe in you.
I spent the last two posts talking at moderate length about my resolve. I have to be honest to myself and to anyone who reads my writing and admit that much of my resolve is born out of the fact that I am rarely (if ever) content with myself. I always feel as if I have something to prove, whether to my peers, love interests, family, or myself.
If you know me even remotely or follow me on any sort of social media, you know how important the gym has been to my 20s. I’ve used the gym as a conduit to lose weight (twice), to gain strength and endurance, and to simply feel good about myself. At this point in my fitness journey, I go to the gym 11 times a week for 5 cardio and 6 weightlifting sessions. I would love to say that I always did it for me, but that is not the case.
For the record, I do not mention any individual or experience in this post with the intent of demonizing anyone of putting them down. I just have to give perspective. In 2008, I lost 62 pounds because a girl wrote me a letter telling me all the reasons she would never date me, my appearance being one. I almost literally worked myself to the bone that summer in the hopes it would impress her. It did not. That did not lessen any of what I accomplished, but it let the wind out of my sails a bit.
Growing up, I always had to hear my grandfather talk about how much “tougher” and “stronger” his granddaughters were compared to the grandsons. It stung, but at least I had company in my weakness in my male cousin. A year or two ago, that changed. My cousin changed his diet and workout regimen and drastically changed his body type. When I heard my grandfather mention it once, I thought it was just a conversation piece, but after it was mentioned at least a dozen times in the year that followed, it began to grate on me. Here I was working out regularly, having completed two marathons, and I still felt as though my accomplishments were ignored. I would be lying if I said that the change in my workouts toward building more muscle was not brought on by this.
Over the past year, I have seen my body transform (albeit not at the rate I would prefer). I have found myself with the ability to lift significantly more than I could lift even six months ago. Yet that still does not feel enough. Some days I am pleased with my progress, while other days I view myself as a scrawny twerp in comparison to some of the guys at the gym.
For the longest time, I shied away from free weights because I did not feel “worthy” of being in that section of the gym. I had to get over those fears. As I continue in relentless pursuit of my goals, I have learned two lessons.
Lesson 1: Don’t do it for or because of anyone else.
I lost weight for a girl. I started lifting more because of comments that got under my skin. Those are awful reasons to do anything. It’s not about anyone else. You can work relentlessly to try to impress someone else, but honestly, whether or not they are impressed is out of your control. Don’t place your success or self-worth on the shoulders of someone else. Be happy with yourself. If you’re not happy with where you are, do something about it, but do not do it simply for the attention or affection of another.
Lesson 2: You should only ever compare yourself with the person you were yesterday.
I am still guilty of this one. I see guys at the gym who are absolutely jacked and I get frustrated that I am not there yet. I have to remind myself that my journey didn’t start at the same time as theirs, and my journey does not end at the same time as theirs, either. Self-improvement is not a race. Every little bit counts. Focus only on working to be just a little bit better than you were the previous day. Negative comparisons are toxic. Don’t make them. I know this is easier said than done.
I’m not where I want to be yet (both from a physical and motivational standpoint), but I am moving in the right direction. If you’re struggling with anything I mentioned above, just know you’re not alone. Keep at it. I believe in you.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
...Know When to Fold 'Em...
With my 30th birthday less than a month away (!), now is probably a better time than ever to get as much of my life, the story of my first 30 years, out there. It is important to me know and share where I have been and use it as a vehicle to drive me toward where I eventually want to be.
“A blessing that is improperly utilized becomes a curse.”
In yesterday’s post, I reflected on the positive things that have come as a direct result of my resolve. It would not be fair to leave it at that, however. I have always purposed to tell my whole story in my blog. My resolve, while generally a good thing, has been my detriment more times than I care to remember.
When I have a goal or a dream in mind, I see it through until its very end. I will be the first to admit that particular line of thinking has caused me to hold onto things far past their expiration dates. In many of those cases, the very resolve that has led to greatness in other areas has led to heartbreak and heartache in others.
I have spent a significant portion of my life waiting for girls with relatively little to show for it. I spent the majority of high school and a good part of college waiting for Jessica to give me a chance. When it was all said and done, I wasted five years of my life on that and then another 9 years on a friendship that was far weaker than I perceived. I wasn’t even viewed as important enough to see when I was in town. I spent the first half of my 20s waiting for Jannelle to get her life sorted out. It didn’t get me to where I wanted to be, but I was so afraid of giving up too soon that I held on for way too long. I spent nearly three years trying to get Kim to realize I was an awesome dude. Spoilers: It didn’t happen. She finally had to flat-out reject me for me to give up the ghost.
When I was growing up, I had a core group of friends with whom I spent most of my free time. I thought nothing could ever tear us apart. Perhaps I was naïve to think that time and distance wouldn’t leave its mark. Perhaps I should have seen the writing on the wall and cultivated another core group of friends while in college or at work. I did not because I believed that I could simply will things into not changing. I was wrong. When they moved away, it was really tough on me. If I had not been so resolute in my desire to keep things the same, I could have averted much of that.
I have spent a lot of time believing that my way was the right way and that if I kept on in the path that I was going, I would get to where I wanted to be by sheer force of will. Sadly, that is unrealistic and a faulty life strategy. As I near 30, I am realizing that my way may not always be the best way. I am learning that resolve is a good thing, but not in all areas. It’s important to know when to hold on, but it is equally as important to know when to move on. Moving on and quitting are not one in the same. In the next chapter of my life, I resolve to be better about my resolve.
“A blessing that is improperly utilized becomes a curse.”
In yesterday’s post, I reflected on the positive things that have come as a direct result of my resolve. It would not be fair to leave it at that, however. I have always purposed to tell my whole story in my blog. My resolve, while generally a good thing, has been my detriment more times than I care to remember.
When I have a goal or a dream in mind, I see it through until its very end. I will be the first to admit that particular line of thinking has caused me to hold onto things far past their expiration dates. In many of those cases, the very resolve that has led to greatness in other areas has led to heartbreak and heartache in others.
I have spent a significant portion of my life waiting for girls with relatively little to show for it. I spent the majority of high school and a good part of college waiting for Jessica to give me a chance. When it was all said and done, I wasted five years of my life on that and then another 9 years on a friendship that was far weaker than I perceived. I wasn’t even viewed as important enough to see when I was in town. I spent the first half of my 20s waiting for Jannelle to get her life sorted out. It didn’t get me to where I wanted to be, but I was so afraid of giving up too soon that I held on for way too long. I spent nearly three years trying to get Kim to realize I was an awesome dude. Spoilers: It didn’t happen. She finally had to flat-out reject me for me to give up the ghost.
When I was growing up, I had a core group of friends with whom I spent most of my free time. I thought nothing could ever tear us apart. Perhaps I was naïve to think that time and distance wouldn’t leave its mark. Perhaps I should have seen the writing on the wall and cultivated another core group of friends while in college or at work. I did not because I believed that I could simply will things into not changing. I was wrong. When they moved away, it was really tough on me. If I had not been so resolute in my desire to keep things the same, I could have averted much of that.
I have spent a lot of time believing that my way was the right way and that if I kept on in the path that I was going, I would get to where I wanted to be by sheer force of will. Sadly, that is unrealistic and a faulty life strategy. As I near 30, I am realizing that my way may not always be the best way. I am learning that resolve is a good thing, but not in all areas. It’s important to know when to hold on, but it is equally as important to know when to move on. Moving on and quitting are not one in the same. In the next chapter of my life, I resolve to be better about my resolve.
Monday, March 6, 2017
Know When to Hold 'Em...
With my 30th birthday less than a month away (!), now is probably a better time than ever to get as much of my life, the story of my first 30 years, out there. It is important to me know and share where I have been and use it as a vehicle to drive me toward where I eventually want to be.
One of the greatest achievements of my 20s occurred in 2012 when I completed my first marathon. To say that it was an arduous task would vastly undersell the difficulty of the task. It was tiring. It was painful. It was accomplished. I no longer run significantly long distances (due to a number of factors but primarily due to the fact that these days I train for different goals), but I look back fondly on what I accomplished.
One factor more than any other propelled me to success in marathon training and running. It was not my vast experience with running. In fact, prior to December 2011 I had never run longer than 2.5 miles in a single run, let alone 26.2 miles. It certainly was not my athletic ability. Instead, it was my resolve. I determined that I was going to run a marathon and would not let anything stand in my way. Through weather, injuries, and other obstacles, still I persisted.
As I reflect on my life to this point, there are a number things of which I am proud (and, admittedly, a number of things I would prefer to forget). One of the character traits of which I am most proud is that resolve, that mental toughness, that refusal to quit. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today were it not for that mental toughness.
I know I have mentioned it on a number of occasions, but it bears repeating that my professional journey has been anything but linear. My teaching career started as a substitute teacher. While I was fortunate to live with my parents (which helped to avert any potential financial crisis as a result of my very sporadic employment), it was still difficult to keep going when dozens of doors slammed in my face. By the time the summer of 2012 came around, my parents told me to start thinking of alternative plans for my life because it was getting to a point that I could not wait much longer. Still, I believed. I was patient, and by the end of that summer I had my first full time teaching position.
Nearly a year to the day of finally receiving that first teaching job, I found out that I was one of a number of teachers who were laid off to start the school year. Something in my heart told me that I still belonged at that school, so I did everything I could to be the first teacher that was brought back. What I did not know at the time is that my resolve to return to AAA Academy would result in me working for free for a number of months. I did exactly that because I believed that in the end, I would be where I wanted to be. It took over three months, but I got my job and old classroom back. When I realized that it was time to move on from the school, I had to endure a number of closed doors and near misses before getting to where I wanted to be. If I had simply given up due to past experience and the weight of prior failure, I never would have gotten this far in my career.
The more I reflect on my resolve and patience, I think of the doors that have opened as a result. There are friendships that bloomed that never would have been possible if I had simply walked away at the first sign of trouble. There are people I never would have met in person, things I never would have done, and places I never would have visited were it not for this stubborn desire to persist. I have always operated under the principle that if I give up now, I might be giving up just a moment too soon. The idea of not waiting long enough is one that has driven me to the path of patience and persistence, and I would not be where I am today were it not for it.
One of the greatest achievements of my 20s occurred in 2012 when I completed my first marathon. To say that it was an arduous task would vastly undersell the difficulty of the task. It was tiring. It was painful. It was accomplished. I no longer run significantly long distances (due to a number of factors but primarily due to the fact that these days I train for different goals), but I look back fondly on what I accomplished.
One factor more than any other propelled me to success in marathon training and running. It was not my vast experience with running. In fact, prior to December 2011 I had never run longer than 2.5 miles in a single run, let alone 26.2 miles. It certainly was not my athletic ability. Instead, it was my resolve. I determined that I was going to run a marathon and would not let anything stand in my way. Through weather, injuries, and other obstacles, still I persisted.
As I reflect on my life to this point, there are a number things of which I am proud (and, admittedly, a number of things I would prefer to forget). One of the character traits of which I am most proud is that resolve, that mental toughness, that refusal to quit. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today were it not for that mental toughness.
I know I have mentioned it on a number of occasions, but it bears repeating that my professional journey has been anything but linear. My teaching career started as a substitute teacher. While I was fortunate to live with my parents (which helped to avert any potential financial crisis as a result of my very sporadic employment), it was still difficult to keep going when dozens of doors slammed in my face. By the time the summer of 2012 came around, my parents told me to start thinking of alternative plans for my life because it was getting to a point that I could not wait much longer. Still, I believed. I was patient, and by the end of that summer I had my first full time teaching position.
Nearly a year to the day of finally receiving that first teaching job, I found out that I was one of a number of teachers who were laid off to start the school year. Something in my heart told me that I still belonged at that school, so I did everything I could to be the first teacher that was brought back. What I did not know at the time is that my resolve to return to AAA Academy would result in me working for free for a number of months. I did exactly that because I believed that in the end, I would be where I wanted to be. It took over three months, but I got my job and old classroom back. When I realized that it was time to move on from the school, I had to endure a number of closed doors and near misses before getting to where I wanted to be. If I had simply given up due to past experience and the weight of prior failure, I never would have gotten this far in my career.
The more I reflect on my resolve and patience, I think of the doors that have opened as a result. There are friendships that bloomed that never would have been possible if I had simply walked away at the first sign of trouble. There are people I never would have met in person, things I never would have done, and places I never would have visited were it not for this stubborn desire to persist. I have always operated under the principle that if I give up now, I might be giving up just a moment too soon. The idea of not waiting long enough is one that has driven me to the path of patience and persistence, and I would not be where I am today were it not for it.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Floating Between Possibility and Impossibility: A Brave New World
Everything is impossible until it is possible. Once something becomes possible, it can no longer be impossible.
When I was younger, so many things seemed so far away. Dreams, hopes, goals… so many of them seemed exponentially easier to conceptualize than to actually materialize, yet I always believed that they would come at some point. They just had to come. Much has changed in a short amount of time. We live in an age in which my Chicago Cubs are your reigning World Series champions and my Seahawks are a perennial powerhouse (and have won a Super Bowl). We live in a time when Day at the Fair actually releases new music. We live in a time when a reality television star with no experience can be elected president of the United States (okay, they can’t all be good things).
The world in which we live seems to be showing us that anything is possible, yet there is this strange dichotomy that makes it seem as if some things have never been more impossible. For all the grief that “millennials” receive from their older and “wiser” counterparts, the fact of the matter is that the deck is stacked higher than it has ever been. Good jobs and nice houses are not just there for the taking. It is significantly easier to collect debt than it is to collect experience. Many places do not want to hire someone without experience, but heaven forbid that person has too much experience. They price themselves right out of that job!
I had to scratch and claw for years to get to where I am now. I paid my dues as a substitute teacher for three years. There were years that fewer than 50 social studies jobs posted in the state of Illinois for the entire year! When I finally received a full time job offer, it was in an alternative school setting. It was a high stress, low pay environment. I paid my dues there for another three years. When I finally received a full time job offer at a public school, it was a bait and switch and was not the position for which I interviewed. Even so, it was a better opportunity than where I had been working. When I FINALLY got that full time social studies teaching position, it was not quite ideal, but it was what I had worked so long to obtain. That is what personally bothers me about some of the older generation railing on mine. They have no concept of the fact that I spent the better part of a decade fighting for something that was readily available to their generation immediately upon college graduation. I stand on the doorstep of 30, and I am where I wish I would have been at the age of 23. That frustrates me at times, but I am thankful that I am here at 29 instead of 39.
We live in a world that is so frustratingly dreary at times, but for some strange reason I am still filled with hope. This madness… it *has* to turn around. It just does. There are too many people working too hard to make things happen. While I do not always agree with the methods or the motives, I will always support those who make an effort. Fear, doubt, and loathing do not make things happen. Actions do. We truly do live in a world of boundless possibilities. We just have to work a little harder to realize these possibilities.
When I was younger, so many things seemed so far away. Dreams, hopes, goals… so many of them seemed exponentially easier to conceptualize than to actually materialize, yet I always believed that they would come at some point. They just had to come. Much has changed in a short amount of time. We live in an age in which my Chicago Cubs are your reigning World Series champions and my Seahawks are a perennial powerhouse (and have won a Super Bowl). We live in a time when Day at the Fair actually releases new music. We live in a time when a reality television star with no experience can be elected president of the United States (okay, they can’t all be good things).
The world in which we live seems to be showing us that anything is possible, yet there is this strange dichotomy that makes it seem as if some things have never been more impossible. For all the grief that “millennials” receive from their older and “wiser” counterparts, the fact of the matter is that the deck is stacked higher than it has ever been. Good jobs and nice houses are not just there for the taking. It is significantly easier to collect debt than it is to collect experience. Many places do not want to hire someone without experience, but heaven forbid that person has too much experience. They price themselves right out of that job!
I had to scratch and claw for years to get to where I am now. I paid my dues as a substitute teacher for three years. There were years that fewer than 50 social studies jobs posted in the state of Illinois for the entire year! When I finally received a full time job offer, it was in an alternative school setting. It was a high stress, low pay environment. I paid my dues there for another three years. When I finally received a full time job offer at a public school, it was a bait and switch and was not the position for which I interviewed. Even so, it was a better opportunity than where I had been working. When I FINALLY got that full time social studies teaching position, it was not quite ideal, but it was what I had worked so long to obtain. That is what personally bothers me about some of the older generation railing on mine. They have no concept of the fact that I spent the better part of a decade fighting for something that was readily available to their generation immediately upon college graduation. I stand on the doorstep of 30, and I am where I wish I would have been at the age of 23. That frustrates me at times, but I am thankful that I am here at 29 instead of 39.
We live in a world that is so frustratingly dreary at times, but for some strange reason I am still filled with hope. This madness… it *has* to turn around. It just does. There are too many people working too hard to make things happen. While I do not always agree with the methods or the motives, I will always support those who make an effort. Fear, doubt, and loathing do not make things happen. Actions do. We truly do live in a world of boundless possibilities. We just have to work a little harder to realize these possibilities.
Monday, January 2, 2017
2017: New Focus, New Energy
2016 is in the rear view and with it the general sense of dread and weariness. I know a new year only holds the power that you want it to hold and that change comes from within. That said, the symbolic fresh start has been accompanied with a laser-like focus and drive that I have not had in a number of years. Major things are going to happen this year. There is a lot that will be accomplished. I use “will” instead of “may” because, quite honestly, I do not see another way for it to go. I am excited to share some of the items on my 2017 To-Do List.
BODY
•Work out twice a day. Sometimes it is difficult to accomplish everything I want to accomplish from an exercise standpoint after work when I am worn out from a long day with my 110 rascals. I have purposed to wake up earlier four days during the week to take care of my cardio before work. It is my hope that accomplishing that will also revitalize me in the classroom
•Drastically reduce sugar intake. Goodbye, soft drinks (and yes, energy drinks. Farewell, Full Throttle). See ya, candy. Deuces, refined sugars, cookies, and other sweets. I don’t know that I will be able to cut out gummies completely, but I will greatly minimize them. This won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. After all, I will be 30 in a few months. Gotta start looking out for myself!
•Find an ab routine that works and stick to it. For years I’ve gotten into routines to varying amounts of success, only to get off of it after a while. I did pretty well in the first half of 2016, but various stressors and a general dislike for the routine caused me to lapse during the later portion of the year.
SOUL
•Get back into a regular writing routine and complete 30 posts this year. Over the years, writing has been an excellent outlet for me both communicatively and creatively. In 2015 and 2016, my writing was sporadic. There are any numbers of factors to blame for that, but that does not matter at this point. What does matter is that I get back into it. With a milestone birthday approaching, I really want to get my story out there to this point. April 4th starts a new story. It has the same character (me), but it is a new story. I want to finish my story and do my best to share who I am and why I am who I am. Some posts may be amusing. Some may be a little difficult to read for some, but I purpose to finish my story.
•Spend time with Myrna in person when/if it is the right time and situation for her. Self-explanatory.
•Tie up loose ends. Whether it’s a conflict left unresolved, a friendship floating around with no real progress, or anything in between, I have left some things unfinished in my life. I do not have the time or room to be burdened by anything from the past as I travel to where I plan on going with my life. Some people need to be forgiven. Some need to be confronted. In some cases, difficult conversations need to be had. It’s time.
SPIRIT
•Trust myself. In my past, I have been prone to fall into a couple traps during my decision-making process. At times, I did not trust myself at all, so I would not act at all because I could not live with the idea of making the wrong decision. I have also asked dozens of people for advice on simple situations that I could have and should have figured out on my own. It is great to have friends and their counsel, but in some cases, I need to figure things out for myself, by myself.
•Make decisions for the primary reason of giving myself peace. Though I may not always seem it, I do care about appearances and the ramifications of my decisions on others’ opinions and approval of me. That is no way to live. I will never stop caring about certain people and will make sacrifices for them until I am no longer able to do so, but in terms of decisions that primarily affect my life, I have to do the things that give me peace. Maybe that will lead to a change of scenery or vocation. Who knows? All I know is that it is time for make my best moves.
This year’s goals are heavier in nature. I know this. I also know how focused I am at this point in time. I am excited to see where my journey leads, and I look forward to reflecting on my triumphs at the end of the year.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
2016 in Review
Even though my blog has spent the better part of the last two years in hibernation, some traditions are too important to me for me to just let fall by the wayside. I don’t know how much anyone else gets out of my “Year in Review” posts, but it has allowed me to both reflect on the year that was and eventually go back later for a reminder of how far I have come in my own personal journey. As usual, here’s a month by month rundown of my year with some thoughts at the end.
January: I made a concerted effort at the beginning of the year to be more social, and that is exactly what I did. From hanging out with Dan at the beginning of month to get me a working computer to finally meeting Shannon (from Florida) after knowing her for seven years, I succeeded in getting myself out there. The Seahawks were eliminated in the playoffs, but I wasn’t devastated.
February: I fought the winter doldrums by on a number of dates which ultimately went nowhere, which was fine by me. I went on these dates not because I necessarily had a great interest in any of the young ladies, but because I felt it was important for me to get out there and get to know people I wouldn’t necessarily come into contact with in my day-to-day life. The experiences gave me greater clarity as to what (and, more specifically, who) I want in my life.
March: This month was filled with some of my highest highs and lowest lows of 2016. In the middle of the month, I was unexpectedly informed by Prairie-Hills that my position was being terminated and subsequently that I would have to seek out new employment in the fall. I had thought I would be entering my first summer in 7 years where I did not have the burden of a job search hanging over my head, but that unfortunately was not the case. On the bright side, I was able to spend much of the month making special memories with people. I visited my friend Shannon (Peachy) in Minnesota, spent the end of the month with my sister, brother in law, and niece in Maryland, and finally met Kim in Pittsburgh (something that many thought would never happen).
April: When I got home from my Maryland trip, the reality hit me that I was fighting yet another uphill battle with my life. While I was able to distract myself with the annual WrestleMania party at my uncle and aunt’s house, a pleasant birthday and birthday Skype with Myrna, and a Cubs game with Dan and Merrill, I started to feel the pressure building up inside me. I began to work out differently in hopes that the change in exercise and the change in my body would combat the internal battles I was fighting.
May: For the first time in 1999, I took a sick day from school/teaching. I had what I thought was strep but what the doctor said was a very severe non-strep throat infection. All I know is that it was so bad that I voluntarily drank hot tea for the first time in my life. I ended the month by ending my tenure at Prairie-Hills and by taking a trip to California, where I finally met Tiffany after knowing her for 4 years and Ken after knowing him for 12(!)
June: Back to the job hunt. I finally met another Stickam friend for the first time after knowing her for 5 years. My great aunt Bernice passed away this month as well. While I was blessed to have had a number of job interviews, the pressure of not knowing my next step was really weighing on me.
July: I finally had two interviews that brought promise of the immediate future with them. While I was still waiting on word from one of the schools, I received a job offer from the other school and a 24 hour deadline to accept or decline the offer. I felt that I had to go with the sure thing and accepted a social studies teaching position at a relatively nearby school district. I went back to Maryland (with a stop in Pittsburgh once again), and while it was a pleasant time, it wasn’t quite the same experience as it was in March. Even though my immediate future was settled, there was still a great sense of unease that took over my entire being.
August: Honestly, I’m surprised this month didn’t break me. It started with a 5 hour argument with one of the most important people in my life. I thought I was going to lose that connection. Fortunately I didn’t. I also felt compelled to see the whole thing with Kim reach its logical conclusion. I knew how it was going to end (and honestly, I probably knew for years how it was going to end), but I needed it to reach that point for my own sanity as I was falling into a lot of old traps and bad habits. I started the new job and was very quickly overwhelmed, as things were not quite as I expected that they would be. There were all sorts of challenges that I had not anticipated. I had what would be the last conversation I would ever have with my grandmother, as her cancer worsened quickly.
September: Ahmah (my grandmother) passed away, which was tough for so many reasons that I honestly don’t want to go into (if I did, this post would probably span 20 pages). That was my first loss of a grandparent, and it hit all of us particularly hard. Work didn’t make things any easier, and I felt more tense than ever.
October: Things got marginally less stressful, but fortunately I had distractions to take my mind and thoughts off the challenges and loss. The Cubs’ postseason run and eventual World Series win gave me an outlet to lose myself in for hours at a time. I was able to go to Indiana to celebrate Whitney’s wedding.
November: By this point of the year, I don’t know that things got demonstrably better or that I simply became more tolerant of them because I could see the finish line in sight. I drove my parents to Maryland to spend Thanksgiving there, and we had a very relaxing holiday (without some of the stresses that holidays can bring…take that as you will).
December: I ended the year in one piece… maybe a little wearier than I started but still in one piece. The Christmas holiday, quite frankly, was unpleasant. It happens. I got to spend a good amount of time with my niece, however, and that is what I will take from this month. I also changed my hairstyle for the first time in two decades. It was time for a change.
2016 was not a good year. It seems as though that was the case for many. It felt as if every time I made any sort of progress, some sort of piercing loss or failure set me back a number of steps. However, unlike 2014, the year didn’t cause me to feel depression or despair. Eventually a sort of numbness or emptiness washed over. When I look back on 2016, I’m sure I will laugh at the absurdist comedy as it was. For now, I will choose to look at the good (the people I finally got to meet, the times I spent with those I love, the late night phone conversations, etc.) and focus on that which lies ahead. We survived 2016. Here’s to thriving in 2017!
January: I made a concerted effort at the beginning of the year to be more social, and that is exactly what I did. From hanging out with Dan at the beginning of month to get me a working computer to finally meeting Shannon (from Florida) after knowing her for seven years, I succeeded in getting myself out there. The Seahawks were eliminated in the playoffs, but I wasn’t devastated.
February: I fought the winter doldrums by on a number of dates which ultimately went nowhere, which was fine by me. I went on these dates not because I necessarily had a great interest in any of the young ladies, but because I felt it was important for me to get out there and get to know people I wouldn’t necessarily come into contact with in my day-to-day life. The experiences gave me greater clarity as to what (and, more specifically, who) I want in my life.
March: This month was filled with some of my highest highs and lowest lows of 2016. In the middle of the month, I was unexpectedly informed by Prairie-Hills that my position was being terminated and subsequently that I would have to seek out new employment in the fall. I had thought I would be entering my first summer in 7 years where I did not have the burden of a job search hanging over my head, but that unfortunately was not the case. On the bright side, I was able to spend much of the month making special memories with people. I visited my friend Shannon (Peachy) in Minnesota, spent the end of the month with my sister, brother in law, and niece in Maryland, and finally met Kim in Pittsburgh (something that many thought would never happen).
April: When I got home from my Maryland trip, the reality hit me that I was fighting yet another uphill battle with my life. While I was able to distract myself with the annual WrestleMania party at my uncle and aunt’s house, a pleasant birthday and birthday Skype with Myrna, and a Cubs game with Dan and Merrill, I started to feel the pressure building up inside me. I began to work out differently in hopes that the change in exercise and the change in my body would combat the internal battles I was fighting.
May: For the first time in 1999, I took a sick day from school/teaching. I had what I thought was strep but what the doctor said was a very severe non-strep throat infection. All I know is that it was so bad that I voluntarily drank hot tea for the first time in my life. I ended the month by ending my tenure at Prairie-Hills and by taking a trip to California, where I finally met Tiffany after knowing her for 4 years and Ken after knowing him for 12(!)
June: Back to the job hunt. I finally met another Stickam friend for the first time after knowing her for 5 years. My great aunt Bernice passed away this month as well. While I was blessed to have had a number of job interviews, the pressure of not knowing my next step was really weighing on me.
July: I finally had two interviews that brought promise of the immediate future with them. While I was still waiting on word from one of the schools, I received a job offer from the other school and a 24 hour deadline to accept or decline the offer. I felt that I had to go with the sure thing and accepted a social studies teaching position at a relatively nearby school district. I went back to Maryland (with a stop in Pittsburgh once again), and while it was a pleasant time, it wasn’t quite the same experience as it was in March. Even though my immediate future was settled, there was still a great sense of unease that took over my entire being.
August: Honestly, I’m surprised this month didn’t break me. It started with a 5 hour argument with one of the most important people in my life. I thought I was going to lose that connection. Fortunately I didn’t. I also felt compelled to see the whole thing with Kim reach its logical conclusion. I knew how it was going to end (and honestly, I probably knew for years how it was going to end), but I needed it to reach that point for my own sanity as I was falling into a lot of old traps and bad habits. I started the new job and was very quickly overwhelmed, as things were not quite as I expected that they would be. There were all sorts of challenges that I had not anticipated. I had what would be the last conversation I would ever have with my grandmother, as her cancer worsened quickly.
September: Ahmah (my grandmother) passed away, which was tough for so many reasons that I honestly don’t want to go into (if I did, this post would probably span 20 pages). That was my first loss of a grandparent, and it hit all of us particularly hard. Work didn’t make things any easier, and I felt more tense than ever.
October: Things got marginally less stressful, but fortunately I had distractions to take my mind and thoughts off the challenges and loss. The Cubs’ postseason run and eventual World Series win gave me an outlet to lose myself in for hours at a time. I was able to go to Indiana to celebrate Whitney’s wedding.
November: By this point of the year, I don’t know that things got demonstrably better or that I simply became more tolerant of them because I could see the finish line in sight. I drove my parents to Maryland to spend Thanksgiving there, and we had a very relaxing holiday (without some of the stresses that holidays can bring…take that as you will).
December: I ended the year in one piece… maybe a little wearier than I started but still in one piece. The Christmas holiday, quite frankly, was unpleasant. It happens. I got to spend a good amount of time with my niece, however, and that is what I will take from this month. I also changed my hairstyle for the first time in two decades. It was time for a change.
2016 was not a good year. It seems as though that was the case for many. It felt as if every time I made any sort of progress, some sort of piercing loss or failure set me back a number of steps. However, unlike 2014, the year didn’t cause me to feel depression or despair. Eventually a sort of numbness or emptiness washed over. When I look back on 2016, I’m sure I will laugh at the absurdist comedy as it was. For now, I will choose to look at the good (the people I finally got to meet, the times I spent with those I love, the late night phone conversations, etc.) and focus on that which lies ahead. We survived 2016. Here’s to thriving in 2017!
Friday, December 30, 2016
2016 in List Form
So we’re nearing the end of another year, and while 2016 was awful in many ways for most of us (and something that I will discuss in greater detail in my “Year in Review” post tomorrow), there were some bright spots, particularly in the world of entertainment.
Songs
1. This Wild Life – Pull Me Out
2. The Summer Set – Figure Me Out
3. The Lumineers – Sleep on the Floor
4. Jimmy Eat World – Through
5. Simple Plan – Perfectly Perfect
6. Emarosa – Sure
7. A Day to Remember – Same About You
8. Thrice – Black Honey
9. Weezer – California Kids
10. Good Charlotte – Life Can’t Get Much Better
11. Blink-182 – No Future
12. Sum 41 –Breaking the Chain
13. Bayside – The Ghost
14. Sherwood – Closer to You
15. Modern Baseball – Wedding Singer
Albums
1. Jimmy Eat World – Integrity Blues
2. This Wild Life – Low Tides
3. The Lumineers – Cleopatra
4. A Day to Remember – Bad Vibrations
5. Gregory Alan Isakov – Gregory Alan Isakov and the Colorado Symphony
6. Blink-182 – California
7. Weezer – The White Album
8. Emarosa – 131
9. Yellowcard – Yellowcard
10. Bayside – Vacancy
TV Shows
1. Mr. Robot
2. NCIS
3. Suits
4. NCIS: Los Angeles
5. WWE SmackDown Live (judge me all you want)
Sports Moments
1. Cubs win World Series (!!!)
2. Seahawks defeat Patriots on Sunday Night Football
3. Cubs defeat Dodgers to advance to World Series
4. Seeing the Cubs beat the Brewers in person
5. Dolph Ziggler vs The Miz, No Mercy 2016
Personal Moments
I don’t feel like ranking these this year. It doesn’t feel right, so I’m going to bullet point all the things that happened this year that made me feel alive inside in no particular order.
•Meeting Shannon (Shanwow) in January
•Meeting Kim in Pittsburgh
•Visiting Maryland in March, July, and November
•Visiting Shannon (Peachy) in Minnesota
•Going to Six Flags with Tiffany
•Hanging with Ken on the beach in California
•Getting to see the Cubs win a World Series
•Going to Wrigley to see a game with Merrill and Dan
•Going to Indiana for Whitney’s wedding
•Finally being offered a full time teaching position in social studies
•Every moment with Hadley
•Phone calls, texts, and FaceTime with Myrna to end our nights by hearing each other's voice
•Dinners with Aunt Dianna
•Meeting a fellow wrestling fan from Twitter at a hot dog place in Chicago
•A Friday night dinner at the Cheesecake Factory on Michigan Avenue
Songs
1. This Wild Life – Pull Me Out
2. The Summer Set – Figure Me Out
3. The Lumineers – Sleep on the Floor
4. Jimmy Eat World – Through
5. Simple Plan – Perfectly Perfect
6. Emarosa – Sure
7. A Day to Remember – Same About You
8. Thrice – Black Honey
9. Weezer – California Kids
10. Good Charlotte – Life Can’t Get Much Better
11. Blink-182 – No Future
12. Sum 41 –Breaking the Chain
13. Bayside – The Ghost
14. Sherwood – Closer to You
15. Modern Baseball – Wedding Singer
Albums
1. Jimmy Eat World – Integrity Blues
2. This Wild Life – Low Tides
3. The Lumineers – Cleopatra
4. A Day to Remember – Bad Vibrations
5. Gregory Alan Isakov – Gregory Alan Isakov and the Colorado Symphony
6. Blink-182 – California
7. Weezer – The White Album
8. Emarosa – 131
9. Yellowcard – Yellowcard
10. Bayside – Vacancy
TV Shows
1. Mr. Robot
2. NCIS
3. Suits
4. NCIS: Los Angeles
5. WWE SmackDown Live (judge me all you want)
Sports Moments
1. Cubs win World Series (!!!)
2. Seahawks defeat Patriots on Sunday Night Football
3. Cubs defeat Dodgers to advance to World Series
4. Seeing the Cubs beat the Brewers in person
5. Dolph Ziggler vs The Miz, No Mercy 2016
Personal Moments
I don’t feel like ranking these this year. It doesn’t feel right, so I’m going to bullet point all the things that happened this year that made me feel alive inside in no particular order.
•Meeting Shannon (Shanwow) in January
•Meeting Kim in Pittsburgh
•Visiting Maryland in March, July, and November
•Visiting Shannon (Peachy) in Minnesota
•Going to Six Flags with Tiffany
•Hanging with Ken on the beach in California
•Getting to see the Cubs win a World Series
•Going to Wrigley to see a game with Merrill and Dan
•Going to Indiana for Whitney’s wedding
•Finally being offered a full time teaching position in social studies
•Every moment with Hadley
•Phone calls, texts, and FaceTime with Myrna to end our nights by hearing each other's voice
•Dinners with Aunt Dianna
•Meeting a fellow wrestling fan from Twitter at a hot dog place in Chicago
•A Friday night dinner at the Cheesecake Factory on Michigan Avenue
Sunday, October 23, 2016
A Note for the Faint of Heart
If you’re reading this right now, there’s a strong probability that you’re struggling through something. After all, like quite often feels like an endless continuum of gain and loss. We work so hard to accumulate as much as we can, to build our stock up, to build ourselves up, in the vain hopes that we won’t be completely destroyed when the struggles inevitably come. Life’s victories often feel as if they are but temporary reprieves from the innumerable losses.
I’m not going to attempt to argue that life doesn’t seem bleak quite often. It does. Most of the time I feel as if I’ve reached the top of the hill, like Sisyphus, I somehow find my way back at the bottom. In this year alone, I lost a job for reasons that were out of my control. I found another job that in many ways has not been a great fit. I lost two relatives, including a grandparent. I lost a friendship simply by trying to pursue a relationship with her. I lost confidence. I nearly lost myself.
Despite every storm I have had to weather this year, there was one thing I did not lose: hope (not that I didn’t want to lose hope, though. It was only by grace and the watchful eyes of family and friends that I did not lose that part of myself). I have learned that having hope does not mean that you have an unrealistic fantasy that everything will miraculously get better immediately. Hope can be much more grounded than that. My hope is the cautious optimism that I’ll be able to make it through my day with just enough to get to the next one and that every now and then, things will come along to make the storms seem worthwhile. When I try to take a step back and look at things, I realize that I have been blessed with those respites from the storm. I’ve gotten the opportunity to watch people I love get back on their feet and succeed. I’ve gotten to watch my niece grow into not only an adorable youngster, but a sweet one as well. I have spent time in person with people I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to meet. The Cubs are even in the World Series!
If you’re struggling right now, you’re not alone. Our fights are quite often our own, but we are surrounded by soldiers who are fighting similar (or in some cases, identical) battles. Every day you survive is a major victory, and you should take pride in that. I’ve weathered my storms thus far, but it hasn’t been easy. I am no better nor am I any stronger than anyone else, so if I can make it, I have the utmost confidence that you can as well. Don’t give up. I believe in you. I can’t promise that your storms will go away permanently (that continuum of fleeting gain and chronic loss appears to be legit), but I can promise you don’t have to do it alone. Talk it out. Express yourself. Teach and learn from others who are fighting or have fought similar battles. You are strong. You are resilient. You are amazing. You are enough.
You’ve got this. I’ve got this. We’ve got this.
I’m not going to attempt to argue that life doesn’t seem bleak quite often. It does. Most of the time I feel as if I’ve reached the top of the hill, like Sisyphus, I somehow find my way back at the bottom. In this year alone, I lost a job for reasons that were out of my control. I found another job that in many ways has not been a great fit. I lost two relatives, including a grandparent. I lost a friendship simply by trying to pursue a relationship with her. I lost confidence. I nearly lost myself.
Despite every storm I have had to weather this year, there was one thing I did not lose: hope (not that I didn’t want to lose hope, though. It was only by grace and the watchful eyes of family and friends that I did not lose that part of myself). I have learned that having hope does not mean that you have an unrealistic fantasy that everything will miraculously get better immediately. Hope can be much more grounded than that. My hope is the cautious optimism that I’ll be able to make it through my day with just enough to get to the next one and that every now and then, things will come along to make the storms seem worthwhile. When I try to take a step back and look at things, I realize that I have been blessed with those respites from the storm. I’ve gotten the opportunity to watch people I love get back on their feet and succeed. I’ve gotten to watch my niece grow into not only an adorable youngster, but a sweet one as well. I have spent time in person with people I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to meet. The Cubs are even in the World Series!
If you’re struggling right now, you’re not alone. Our fights are quite often our own, but we are surrounded by soldiers who are fighting similar (or in some cases, identical) battles. Every day you survive is a major victory, and you should take pride in that. I’ve weathered my storms thus far, but it hasn’t been easy. I am no better nor am I any stronger than anyone else, so if I can make it, I have the utmost confidence that you can as well. Don’t give up. I believe in you. I can’t promise that your storms will go away permanently (that continuum of fleeting gain and chronic loss appears to be legit), but I can promise you don’t have to do it alone. Talk it out. Express yourself. Teach and learn from others who are fighting or have fought similar battles. You are strong. You are resilient. You are amazing. You are enough.
You’ve got this. I’ve got this. We’ve got this.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
The 10 Pop Punk Albums That Most Need a Vinyl Pressing
As I promised in an earlier post, I intend to use this blog to speak about my passions as much as I use it to write about the heavier things (e.g. last post). If you’ve known me at any point in the past 15 years, you know that I never grew out of being a pop punk enthusiast. If you’ve known me at any point in the past three years, you also know that I have become an avid collector of vinyl records, with a collection that spans nearly 200 records as of this post. As much as I can appreciate the convenience of having my music digitally, I love vinyl. I like having something tangible to hold onto, and I have made it a point to try to collect all of my favorite albums in that format. That said, there are a number of albums that I absolutely adore that have not yet been pressed to vinyl. If any bands or execs are somehow reading this, get on it! Here are (in my opinion) the ten pop punk albums that most need a vinyl pressing.
10. Go:Audio – Made Up Stories (2009)
The Argument For: Admittedly I do not have much of a leg to stand on here, as this album was the band’s lone output and was not received to critical acclaim. However, it has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. The British pop punk boom of the 2000s that started with Busted and McFly and carried on to Eliot Minor and You Me At Six reached a poppier destination with bands such as Go:Audio and Twenty Twenty. Made Up Stories features a steaming bowl of melodrama and heartbreak (“She Left Me”, “Made Up Stories”… well, if I’m being honest, pretty much everything), complete with British accents. It might not be the best, but this is my list and I’m keeping it on here!
9. New Found Glory – Catalyst (2004)
The Argument For: Recently I read an article that referred to New Found Glory as a “Wal-Mart version of Blink-182”. I hate that assessment. The difference between NFG and Blink is that NFG didn’t need to resort to snot-nosed immaturity to get noticed. While their self-titled output and its successor, Sticks and Stones, put the band on the map (and let’s face it, what teen *wasn’t* singing the chorus to “My Friends Over You last decade), Catalyst is the album that took NFG to its greatest heights. While I am a bigger fan of its successor (SPOILER: it will also be on this list), this is both a fantastic and important pop punk album.
8. Hawk Nelson – Letters to the President (2004)
The Argument For: As pop punk was finding its place on the mainstream market in the early to mid-2000s, there was also a boom for the genre within the Christian market as well. One band that benefited from this boom was Canadian pop punk outfit Hawk Nelson. Their debut studio album, Letters to the President, was everything my high school self wanted in a pop punk album. It was catchy, positive, and relatable. As other primarily (or even nebulously) Christian albums are starting to receive the vinyl treatment, it’s time this album gets noticed as well.
7. Forever the Sickest Kids – Underdog Alma Mater (2008)
The Argument For: Having actually met these guys, they’re fantastic and genuine people, and people want to hear songs that are not only relatable but come from a place of sincerity as well. FTSK’s following two albums are pressed to vinyl, and neither of those albums put them on the map in quite the same way that Underdog Alma Mater did. It’s got a brighter sound than many of its contemporaries from the same time period (Set Your Goals, A Day to Remember, Four Year Strong), and while the sound of those other bands is probably what will be remembered from that time period, it would be a shame if FTSK didn’t get the love they deserve as well.
6. FM Static – What Are You Waiting For? (2003)
The Argument For: A side gig for members of Thousand Foot Krutch, FM Static was another band that rose to prominence on the Christian airwaves during the pop punk boom of the middle of last decade. I cannot begin to tell you how much I played this album my senior year of high school. If you want adolescent heartache and heartbreak (here’s to you, “Definitely Maybe”, and hey, isn’t that what pop punk is all about?), few albums do it better.
5. Simple Plan – Still Not Getting Any (2004)
The Argument For: Simple Plan is everything about the genre that people outside the genre hate and people inside the genre love. They’re a bit overly dramatic. They want to remain young. They will take everything they’re feeling and hit you in the mouth with it. For those reasons, they didn’t explode into the mainstream like contemporaries Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco did because they were much more reticent to evolve. This band, this sound, and this album represent a specific time period for the genre, and it would be a shame if that were to be forgotten.
4. We the Kings – We the Kings (2007)
The Argument For: While not groundbreaking in the slightest, this album is perfectly pleasant. People may have tired of “Check Yes, Juliet” by now, but back in 2008 it was a banger. As catchy as that song was, there are probably three or four other songs on the album that are even catchier. As Boys Like Girls’ self-titled and Hey Monday’s Hold On Tight have been pressed, We the Kings’ debut effort deserves that same treatment as well.
3. Mayday Parade – Anywhere But Here (2009)
The Argument For: For some inexplicable reason, this is the only album in Mayday Parade’s discography that has not received the vinyl treatment, which should be reason alone to put it to wax. If that is not reason enough for you, let me also state that this is my favorite album in the band’s catalog. It certainly differs from its predecessor as it was the first album to not feature Jason Lancaster, but this album showcases Mayday Parade doing what Mayday Parade does best: alternating between breaking your heart and breaking your neck with its energy. One of these songs was even featured in a commercial for Frozen.
2. Sum 41 – Underclass Hero (2007)
The Argument For: Concept albums when done well are some of my favorite things in the world. The flow and clarity of a concept album truly enables the listener to focus and be immersed. This album is a concept album that covers Deryck Whibley’s views on life and relationships, and while I cannot say that he and I share the same views on everything, I have to say that this album is masterfully done. While more hardcore fans of Sum 41 don’t necessarily appreciate this album in comparison to the band’s earlier catalog, the reality is that bands as well as people grow and mature. If I were to recommend a pop punk concept album, I would look no further than this album.
1. New Found Glory – Coming Home (2006)
The Argument For: New Found Glory decided to grow up for this album, and what resulted was what I believe to be the band’s finest work, an album that took everything we knew about the band and turned it on its head. To me, this album represents growing up and making things work whilst not losing the very essence of what made you special to begin with. The grouping of songs is magnificent as well, as “Love and Pain”, “Familiar Landscapes”, and “When I Die” take the listener on an emotional journey that must be listened to be understood. New Found Glory has never quite reached the heights to which they ascended on this album ever again. It’s time this album gets immortalized the way it deserves.
10. Go:Audio – Made Up Stories (2009)
The Argument For: Admittedly I do not have much of a leg to stand on here, as this album was the band’s lone output and was not received to critical acclaim. However, it has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. The British pop punk boom of the 2000s that started with Busted and McFly and carried on to Eliot Minor and You Me At Six reached a poppier destination with bands such as Go:Audio and Twenty Twenty. Made Up Stories features a steaming bowl of melodrama and heartbreak (“She Left Me”, “Made Up Stories”… well, if I’m being honest, pretty much everything), complete with British accents. It might not be the best, but this is my list and I’m keeping it on here!
9. New Found Glory – Catalyst (2004)
The Argument For: Recently I read an article that referred to New Found Glory as a “Wal-Mart version of Blink-182”. I hate that assessment. The difference between NFG and Blink is that NFG didn’t need to resort to snot-nosed immaturity to get noticed. While their self-titled output and its successor, Sticks and Stones, put the band on the map (and let’s face it, what teen *wasn’t* singing the chorus to “My Friends Over You last decade), Catalyst is the album that took NFG to its greatest heights. While I am a bigger fan of its successor (SPOILER: it will also be on this list), this is both a fantastic and important pop punk album.
8. Hawk Nelson – Letters to the President (2004)
The Argument For: As pop punk was finding its place on the mainstream market in the early to mid-2000s, there was also a boom for the genre within the Christian market as well. One band that benefited from this boom was Canadian pop punk outfit Hawk Nelson. Their debut studio album, Letters to the President, was everything my high school self wanted in a pop punk album. It was catchy, positive, and relatable. As other primarily (or even nebulously) Christian albums are starting to receive the vinyl treatment, it’s time this album gets noticed as well.
7. Forever the Sickest Kids – Underdog Alma Mater (2008)
The Argument For: Having actually met these guys, they’re fantastic and genuine people, and people want to hear songs that are not only relatable but come from a place of sincerity as well. FTSK’s following two albums are pressed to vinyl, and neither of those albums put them on the map in quite the same way that Underdog Alma Mater did. It’s got a brighter sound than many of its contemporaries from the same time period (Set Your Goals, A Day to Remember, Four Year Strong), and while the sound of those other bands is probably what will be remembered from that time period, it would be a shame if FTSK didn’t get the love they deserve as well.
6. FM Static – What Are You Waiting For? (2003)
The Argument For: A side gig for members of Thousand Foot Krutch, FM Static was another band that rose to prominence on the Christian airwaves during the pop punk boom of the middle of last decade. I cannot begin to tell you how much I played this album my senior year of high school. If you want adolescent heartache and heartbreak (here’s to you, “Definitely Maybe”, and hey, isn’t that what pop punk is all about?), few albums do it better.
5. Simple Plan – Still Not Getting Any (2004)
The Argument For: Simple Plan is everything about the genre that people outside the genre hate and people inside the genre love. They’re a bit overly dramatic. They want to remain young. They will take everything they’re feeling and hit you in the mouth with it. For those reasons, they didn’t explode into the mainstream like contemporaries Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco did because they were much more reticent to evolve. This band, this sound, and this album represent a specific time period for the genre, and it would be a shame if that were to be forgotten.
4. We the Kings – We the Kings (2007)
The Argument For: While not groundbreaking in the slightest, this album is perfectly pleasant. People may have tired of “Check Yes, Juliet” by now, but back in 2008 it was a banger. As catchy as that song was, there are probably three or four other songs on the album that are even catchier. As Boys Like Girls’ self-titled and Hey Monday’s Hold On Tight have been pressed, We the Kings’ debut effort deserves that same treatment as well.
3. Mayday Parade – Anywhere But Here (2009)
The Argument For: For some inexplicable reason, this is the only album in Mayday Parade’s discography that has not received the vinyl treatment, which should be reason alone to put it to wax. If that is not reason enough for you, let me also state that this is my favorite album in the band’s catalog. It certainly differs from its predecessor as it was the first album to not feature Jason Lancaster, but this album showcases Mayday Parade doing what Mayday Parade does best: alternating between breaking your heart and breaking your neck with its energy. One of these songs was even featured in a commercial for Frozen.
2. Sum 41 – Underclass Hero (2007)
The Argument For: Concept albums when done well are some of my favorite things in the world. The flow and clarity of a concept album truly enables the listener to focus and be immersed. This album is a concept album that covers Deryck Whibley’s views on life and relationships, and while I cannot say that he and I share the same views on everything, I have to say that this album is masterfully done. While more hardcore fans of Sum 41 don’t necessarily appreciate this album in comparison to the band’s earlier catalog, the reality is that bands as well as people grow and mature. If I were to recommend a pop punk concept album, I would look no further than this album.
1. New Found Glory – Coming Home (2006)
The Argument For: New Found Glory decided to grow up for this album, and what resulted was what I believe to be the band’s finest work, an album that took everything we knew about the band and turned it on its head. To me, this album represents growing up and making things work whilst not losing the very essence of what made you special to begin with. The grouping of songs is magnificent as well, as “Love and Pain”, “Familiar Landscapes”, and “When I Die” take the listener on an emotional journey that must be listened to be understood. New Found Glory has never quite reached the heights to which they ascended on this album ever again. It’s time this album gets immortalized the way it deserves.
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