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After reading Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, I see how society makes decisions and why certain trends catch on and some don’t.  It’s really a simple and fun read. 

But there’s a moment before the ‘tipping point,’ a moment when you realize that you are going to do something no matter what.  And it so happens that that moment is probably when you’re least thinking about doing it.  I have two examples.  One is studying for an exam.  I think everyone, including myself, knows when he or she is screwed because it’s too late to start studying.  And then we continue to think, omg, I’m screwed, I’m screwed.  And at that moment, we call someone, check our e-mail, or just do anything besides study.

But then soon afterwards, in a moment of lack of thinking, as in a moment you’re not actually thinking about how screwed you are, you just sit down and start reading.  You just do it.  And it’s only 15 minutes into studying you think to yourself, ‘How the hell did I get myself to study when I just felt so screwed/hopeless 15 minutes ago?’  [It's as if you have to not think about something to get it done.  And it's not like one of those things where you can say to yourself, 'I'm not going to think about it.'  Because by saying that to yourself, well, you're actually thinking about it!]

A second example is running or doing any form of physical exercise.  When you get up, you’re like shit, shit, I don’t want to run or don’t want to workout.  Then, after you use the bathroom, or do something else that grabs your attention for a moment, you trek down the stairs and strap on your shoes.  And it’s only 15 minutes into your workout you think to yourself, ‘How the hell did I get myself to workout when I felt like shit just 15 minutes ago?’  It’s as if your mind has to wander by itself to another thought without you consciously knowing that it went to another place in order to get yourself to do something that you really don’t want, but need to.

Enough of that.

It’s Friggin Awesome…

My friend Tanmay and I were watching the Patriots game yesterday in disbelief.  Maybe it’s Randy Moss.  Maybe it’s Brady, or Welker, or Stallworth.  Who knows?  But I just had to slap myself in order to realize that it’s friggin’ awesome to be a Boston Sports Fan.  And then, of course, later yesterday night, the Red Sox demolished the Indians.  Then I was in true ecstasy.  Sure, the Patriots destroyed an injury-depleted Dolphins and the Red Sox have double the money that the Indians do.  But still, it’s INCREDIBLE!  And there’s BC, who’s sure to get spanked at some point this season.  But right now, they’re #2 in the country with Matt Ryan as a potential Heisman candidate!  Of course, the Celtics are generating a lot of buzz with Garnett, Pierce, and Allen (let’s not forget Scot Pollard!), and the Bruins are playing pretty well.

I think in 10 years I’ll look back and wonder how awesome it was in 2007.  I’m sure the Patriots will suck after Brady retires and the Red Sox will suck after Manny hits the wall (he is getting old), but for right now, I’m that annoying Boston Sports Fan, and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it!