benjihana

“To write, perchance to inspire” – A play on Shakespeare’s famous “To sleep, perchance to dream.” The English language fascinates me. Too often is the written word ignored and discarded as utter filth, when its existence allows us to convey so much feeling and emotion. I love to write. Writing allows me that freedom, that ability to detach myself from the attachments of every other distraction to one’s senses. Turn the lights out and write in complete silence. Nothing but the metaphorical quill (keyboard) and scroll (blog) impeding one’s progress.

The disdain and lack of appreciation for the written word is growing incredibly disturbing. Formal printed media is losing its financial battle, and the resulting internet media does not respect the rules of proper penmanship. The internet has never been a bastion for eloquence, and as the primary media focus turns there, it fails to bring its professionalism to the medium. Yet, it is difficult to blame the devolution of our grasp of our own language on the Internet as a whole. The failure began long before the proliferation of the internet as a viable news and communication medium.

I once dated a girl who viewed my manner of speaking and eloquence with not appreciation, but embarrassment. This is not to say that I speak in person how I write on this blog – my written entries allow time to reflect and focus on the thought that I am trying to convey – I am rarely given that sort of time when I am in everyday conversation. Yet, when speaking, I will not restrict my language so as to compensate for another individual’s perception of my speech. If they don’t understand what I’m trying to say, then my point is being lost and I will surely adapt. However, when I am informed that I should speak differently to someone because I may be perceived a certain way, when this individual can clearly understand me, is inherently insulting.

This lack of value of arguably my most proficient ability is akin to finding my personality insufficient. If you cannot accept my intelligence as a positive trait, then I have zero desire to pursue you in a continued and sustaining manner. This is a general comment, not directed towards any one individual.

This posits the question of why do I speak or write this way in the first place? Is it out of complete arrogance or a need to feel superior to others? This was the unspoken explanation offered to me in the example above. No, very clearly, resolutely, and firmly, no. Why does our language contain so many words that mean the same thing? It does not. The choice of one word above another, even if their meanings are incredibly close, allows the writer or the speaker to convey more accurately his point.

The greatest writers in history are able to use the written word to evoke emotion out of the reader. True, chemically-produced, strong emotion. Tears! Smiles! Laughter! Anger! The power a writer wields is incredible! And yet, you ask me why I find the loss of respect for our language or the criticism of my manner of speech insulting?

I aspire to evoke emotion in my readers. When I write, I feel. I feel everything. I have written before about my passion – for life, for love, for everything. I want my readers to feel every drop of my passion as it slides through my fingers and into the text that you read on your screen. I want you to know that this to me is not merely a manner of communication or a manner of expression, but an ability to move people. Can you imagine? Words have inspired the greatest and worst men in our history. Find one figure who has affected our world who has not had some sort of scholarly or philosophical written influence. The words of great men are what transition and move our society, not those with the largest military. Ideas inspire movement, action, change, and growth.

And the general public wants to abandon this ability – shame on you.

Yes, two videos in two days. I found a prop for this one. A curved and adorned prop. Hooray Texas.

Facebook/RSS Users: To see the video, check my videos link in my Facebook profile, or click through to my actual blog at www.benjihana.com. Thanks!

Tonight, a new feature of the Benjihana VBlog. Feel free to hate – it was terrible.

Facebook/RSS Users: To see the video, check my videos link in my Facebook profile, or click through to my actual blog at www.benjihana.com. Thanks!

Well, it certainly has been awhile since I’ve written in the blog. I believe my last entry pertained to my temporary 14-hour shutdown of the blog due to a former acquaintance of mine who took it upon herself to interfere very directly in my personal life when it was certainly not appropriate or warranted. I do not intend to bore you with such reflections on reflection any longer than this introductory paragraph, but certainly do want to hearken back to the days of virtually penned thought on this blog, as opposed to the inundation of video blogs that has been pervasive since the turn of the year.

Life is very interesting presently. I am employed, happily, and gainfully, I might add, at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and have been since my return to the wonderful Metroplex. It has taken awhile to reintegrate myself into the Dallas and Texas culture, as well as rebuild my groups of friends in the area, given the exodus of so many that I had spent time with. I’ve had the opportunity to rekindle friendships with those that had dwindled, and detach myself from other friendships that never bore much weight or respect in the first place. Both of these, I feel, were net positives.

At times, I certainly miss the Northeast. The proximity of Manhattan and my closest friends of the past five years are the primary two reasons. Fortunately, financial freedom and the perpetual shrinking of the globe have both afforded me the opportunity to maintain these relationships much more easily than generations past, and I am certainly thankful for this.

I also recently had an experience that can only be described as innately satisfying. The opportunity to touch base and converse with an individual that I had not spoken to in so long was both awkward, yet completely comfortable. It is inherently fascinating of the human ability to put emotions and feelings on the virtual “shelf,” undeterred and unwavering over so much time, only to be pulled back as if a day had not passed. It is not to say that things have not changed since my last interaction – on the surface they have. Yet, the very core, the foundation, the anchor of my interaction with this old chum had not altered an ounce. It was refreshing to entertain mutual respect and care, once more, after so long.

In the end, a good heart in an individual will persevere through any trial that life can throw at it. An innately moral and good person will remain that, even if their actions do not always indicate the underlying valiance. I realized that with this individual and it only served to make me respect those people in my life whom are good-natured and good-willed at the core. They will remain the few that I care for on an enduring basis, and nothing will change that. Friends will come and go, but ultimately those that you most closely care for and love will always retain that ability, even after much time has passed.

I miss a few people whom are no longer part of my life. These few were very important to me, and I still care for them very deeply. One of these relationships ended suddenly, without much fanfare, and the absence has only made the appreciation grow stronger. Ultimately, I think that what I saw from the relationship was much more than what was seen from the other side. This difference of views usually serves to disappoint me in these situations, because when I commit to a friendship, a relationship, a venture, etc., I do so only after much consideration, thought, and devotion. My decisions are not made lightly, and I do not love lightly.

I will always be the person who loves with every ounce of my soul. Reckless abandon, even. Many discussions into this sort of mentality with others have led to the general conclusion that I am a glutton for punishment, always opening myself to potential devastation. And I have felt this devastation on occasion. Yet, I steadfastly believe that you cannot achieve the highs in life that come from intimate relationships without opening yourself to the lows, and I will never alter from this view. To love with passion and reckless abandon is a dangerous road, but ultimately leads to the highest summit.

Until another day, faithful readers…

Brief entry – enjoy guys and have a good night!

Facebook/RSS Users: To see the video, check my videos link in my Facebook profile, or click through to my actual blog at www.benjihana.com. Thanks!