Preach

Sometimes I think I preach too much. By sometimes I mean whenever I read my own posts. Outside the blog, I tend to stay quiet and reserved and listening to what people say, or pretending to do so. Despite the fact that I think I preach too much, there's really nothing of substance here. Even if there is any degree of depth and substance, it's all found in posts that weren't by me such as the stories and poetry of other (far better) writers.

I think that's my main problem. My work always ends up being a poor imitation of those who I admire. At least, that's what I've led myself to believe. The opposite may be true- my work stands fine on its own, but I really have no way of knowing this because despite being my own fiercest critic, I have no way of genuinely judging my work dispassionately/unbiasedly. As I answered a question: Can you sing? Yes or no?

I left it blank but wrote, "I'm not a very good judge of my own abilities. Sorry."

I'll be too harsh on myself and not see even the slightest sliver of merit. Or vice versa, as it was one summer a long time ago by which I mean I'll think of my work as being so great that I won't even think of doubting myself.

Hmm.

But yes, I do preach too much which is odd because I often loathe the sound of my voice.

Could be worse, I suppose.

The Steep and Narrow Crooked Paths: Virtue

Virtue is becoming increasingly difficult to define (and, apparently, write about because this entry has been listed as a draft for over a month now). Virtue is especially difficult to define in these days of fast food, fast women, seemingly lax morals, and whatever else we instinctively (or by way of decades and centuries of conditioning) decree as wrong but is in reality up to the individual to define. We've become slaves to the freedoms and privileges we've given ourselves. I'm not saying freedom is a bad thing, I'm saying irresponsibility is. It's actually getting harder to be a good person. There seems to be some sort of pressure that forces us or guilts us into doing things for others. We don't want to seem like assholes by denying help and services to others but sometimes you have to say "Me." Does this make you a bad person?

No
There is nothing wrong with thinking of yourself and wanting to do things for yourself. The problem comes with excess: thinking of yourself too much is a bad thing. A very bad thing. That's really all there is to it. You can be a good person for thinking of others but you descend into doormat when all you do is think of others and not look out for yourself. That's really all that can be said to it which feels like something of an anti-climax given that the post on Vice was more detailed but this can be really summed up in a nutshell: think of others but don't become a doormat; do things for yourself, too.

Hmm.

You'll do what you want but stay on the path that'll offer a genuine wholesome reward.

Movember

Movember (or No-Shave November) is a month in which men don't shave, as to grow out a beard or mustache or just have an excuse to not shave and be rough and ragged and manlier. Movember, however, is also an event for charity in which funds are raised for men's health causes as well as raising awareness for men's health issues. You can read more about it here: About Movember.

Right.

So, as you readers may or may not be aware, Gustavo Barba-Roja is just my pen name. And a damn cool one, too, if I say so myself. What's that? Stop stroking my own ego because it makes me come off as a jerk? All right. Well, I'm participating in Movember and hope to raise some money in order to help fight diseases like prostate cancer and the like.

Wait, your pen name is Gustavo Barba-Roja?
Yeah. My facial hair is primarily black (or really really really dark brown that it teeters on black) but through the magic of genetics, a fair amount of it grows a noticeable shade of red (not red like an apple but you know what I mean). So that's the story of my pen name- because my facial hair grows a nice amount of red, I ran with it.

Well, for this month I won't actually have a beard, or a full one anyway. Stubble and patchiness, most definitely. Ah. But if it helps, it helps. This really is a sacrifice of some sort because I really like my facial hair and it has taken me a while to grow, and it makes me appear wiser, older, more respectable in a strange sort of way. And to give that up is pretty hard. It took about 30 minutes to undo what took me about a month to grow and kept for about 8 months.

Right.

I suppose I should get to the point behind this post.

I'd like your help, readers, in this cause. Participate in Movember yourself, of donate if/what you can. click here. I'd prefer you make a general donation but if for some reason you want to make a donation to me, which I'll pass on, click here for my MoSpace My "MoSpace" Yes, it is called a MoSpace.

Thanks.