Plain White Rice

“Whoever said progress was a slow process wasn’t talkin bout me, I’m a P.I.M.P” – 50 Cent

Yes, I am using a 50 Cent quote to start off this blog, but I promise I’ll make it worth it.  Before I go into the heart of this blog, I have to point out something about this particular quote:

1) I am most certainly not a pimp in any way, shape, form, or fashion.

2) Progress for most people in most situations is usually a slow process.

Progress…it’s something that most strive for, yet frustrates many.  In some fields of thought, progress is life; however, to some its seen as a hindrance.  As for me, I strive to always be a progressive person even if my actions don’t always relay the same message.  Many times I feel as though I try to be progressive so much that I end up thinking too much in the future and either not doing enough or not doing anything at all in the present.  Luckily, the unconventional duo of 50 Cent and plain white rice  has allowed me to have a clearer understanding of myself and how progress can be achieved more efficiently.

When I woke up this morning at 3pm I thought to myself, “I have 55 yen (less than 50 cents in American dollars) to my name and I’m hungry.  I have enough rice to make about 4 servings, 2 slices of bread, and 2 apples that have to last me until May 11th.  I do have protein though…but that’s gross unless I’m working out…”.  I ended up making some rice and tried to flavor half of it up with some soy sauce and some onion sauce in a stir-fry.  The end result wasn’t too bad, however when I ate the plain half of it I discovered that I enjoyed it more.  As a person who loves flavor in every bite of my food, I usually always add some sort of condiment to foods that do not already have a sauce included with it.  I used to think that plain white rice by itself wasn’t something I could get down with, but this morning it was different.

This morning it was good.

This morning I thought to myself, “Hmm…this is actually good.  I guess progress is being made…”

Progress…

…just how much of it have I made?

When have I progressed recently rather than remained stagnant?

Hunger may indeed be the best spice, which could be the cause of this rice to taste particularly good, however, I may have arrived at this self-questioning at some point regardless.  The reason why I’m glad I reached these questions at this time was because it wasn’t during a time of great stress or sorrow.  I had a chance to sit down and just think ambivalently on the subject rather than trying to cheer myself up or to put myself down.  While thinking about this, I analyzed the actions that I’ve done here in Japan while thinking about how to make the rest of my stay more successful.  To progress the already amazing time that I have had here to an experience that transcends the definition of perfection.

Yes, I could have both not gone snowboarding or to Osaka and would have no financial problems whatsoever, but I also would have missed out on experiencing something completely brand new, while missing the opportunity to bond with people in ways that would have otherwise not happened.  Thinking about my financial situation now prompted me to a comment on my past blog “Horehound Tea + Heartbreak = My Night With George Lopez” stating:

“In my opinion, if you spend money on something, but then heavily regret it, that action was a waste of money. If you spend money on something and enjoyed the purchase, but realize that the money could have been spent on something more productive, then (to me) it’s a waste of money.”

Which my rebuttal was:

“Ah, I see. I see something as being ‘waste’ when it has no value to me at all. Yes, it could have gone towards something that could have made me happier at a later date, but they provided some value at the time when I did it. Since I view things like that, I am having a hard time thinking that anything that I do is wasteful.”

I still do believe in my answer at the time but now I’m at a point where I can build upon that response and progress it to better answer.  For example, with the limited funds that I have now, I’m progressively becoming better at managing my money.  Or maybe…I guess it’s better to say that my mindset now will lead me to take better actions to enjoy the present while being prepared for the future.  I’m not sure if I’m conveying what I want to say accurately or not, but saying something rather than nothing is progress right?

I once attended a sermon where a pastor said, “Sometimes, you just don’t get it until you get it.”  I feel that way every time I think about something that I know and should have understood in the past that just happens to click when you think about it again.  While in Osaka two days ago, I was at a bar with homies and a Blood-Type Horoscope told me to do 3 things: Avoid dangerous things, don’t be frustrated at the pacing of things, and enjoy every experience even if you fail at them.  I don’t necessarily believe in the science behind things like that, but I do think this advice found me at the right place at the right time.

All in all, legit hard work and sacrificing what little time you have on this earth usually leads you to the places you want to go.  The process of  that equation is called “progress”.  Whether it’s finances or experiencing food, from listening to new music to talking to people, even if it’s by babysteps or by great leaps and bounds, progress can always be made.  And being progressive is what I aim to do.

Now that I’m done with this blog, I think I’ll go for a nice bike ride in this dream world that I live in.

Peace N Be Easy (PNBE)

Snowfield Rhapsody