My writing process typically begins with 5-15 open tabs in my browser– the majority of which are completely unrelated to one another. I read a little of this one, I scan that one for a second. I will probably mosey on over to Facebook or my email at some point.

As I was thinking about the unorganized manner in which I approach my writing I started to wonder what habits stifle creativity, and what habits encourage it to flow freely into words on a page (so to speak).
I sat down to compose a post for you on a riveting topic (something to look forward to next week!). Poetically, however, my  creative process lead me to stumble upon this cool little video. The music is different… but the animations and ideas are rad.
Enjoy:

What is your creative process? What do you do to encourage creativity?

- Ches Sheridan Arms

“You’re not your job. You’re not how much money you have in the bank. You’re not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. You’re not your fucking khakis. You’re the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world. ”

Ok, so maybe Tyler Durden’s soap box is a bit too tall for me to stand on, but what he’s getting at here truly resonates with me– as I’m sure it does for many of you. The notion is: Don’t let your social status or your possessions dictate who you are.
However, Tyler’s last sentence here implies we cannot do this because we are no better than anyone else. I beg to differ. I strive to do better and be better every day. And in many instances, I believe we can be better by possessing less.

A while back I was geeking out on Mashable(a website that covers digital culture, social media, and technology news) and ran across an article titled 4 Big Trends for the Future of Sustainable Tech. The whole article is awesome and I highly recommend the quick read, but #3 on the list really caught my attention. The concept is “Micro-Living,” and the idea behind it is that we can reduce, or do away with, much of the material goods we accumulate in our lives.

Think of a goldfish in a bowl. If you put a tiny goldfish in a big bowl, it will fatten up and grow to the size of it’s environment.
If you put a perfectly content human in a big space, they find themselves yearning for “things.” They will seek to fill that space– unnecessarily.

I, like many of you out there, am in the job market. There are many questions that arrise when headed down this road: “Do I have the necessary experience?”… “Will this salary support my lifestyle?”… “Could I get away with ‘dancing’ for a little while longer? You know- have some fun… pay off the school loans…” (<–What? No one else?)

But how many of you have seriously asked yourselves: “Would I be willing to relocate?”

I’ve recently asked myself this question and come to realize: No, given the choice, I would not relocate (for work or otherwise).
The state of Colorado is one of the greatest places in our country.
Sure, if given the opportunity to work our dream job in Fiji, most of us would probably jump ship. But let’s be realistic- 40k a year for a middle-management position in Mianus, CT… no thanks. I’ll keep my anus in Denver.

Some of us, however, get in ruts. We begin to think “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” A common theme in my posts to you has been finding contentment, and in continuation of that theme, I’d like to share with you 10 Reasons Colorado  is GREAT:

1. Colorado ranks as the nation’s fifth-best state for business and careers in the latest annual report by Forbes, posted November of 2011. So stick it out, job hunters!
   
2. Colorado consistently ranks in the top 10 healthiest and slimmest states in the country. There’s so much to do! Plus, walking anywhere west of Denver means going up hill.
3. Denver was named the 13th best city for singles by Forbes.com in 2009. We have the thinnest, most attractive young professionals. Look in the mirror… you’re probably getting laid tonight.
4. Boulder is the most educated city in America. Colorado is one of the most educated states. It’s everywhere online… Google it.
5. Colorado gets over 300 days of sunshine every year– the most clear-sky days of any state.
6. Denver is the top city for bicyclists according to Bicycle Magazine and the Huffington Post. One more reason we’re not fat.
   Moreover, I’d like to share: I have ridden a bicycle on both coasts and in many different states. In California you get flipped off and run off the roads. On the east coast you can’t breath from the smog or people assume you’re poor. Colorado is the only state where drivers will slow down for you and wave. Shit- in Boulder they’ll stop at a convenience store and circle back around with gatorade.
7. We’ve got Colfax. In addition to all the different aswesome “scores” you can make within a single-block radius, Colfax is the longest continuous street in America.
8. The Colorado Rockies. Sure, we’ve had some good baseball years, but I’m talking about our mountains. People from all over the world save for years and spend thousands of dollars to ski and snowboard where we do any day we fancy.
9. Colorado loves good beer and has has more breweries per capita than any other state in the U.S.
10. Denver is the sixth happiest city in the country according to market research performed by the fast-food giant McDonalds.

BONUS: COLORADO HAS YOU! The communities within this fine state are filled with healthy, intelligent, open-minded, friendly people.

 What more could you want from your home?

- Ches Sheridan Arms

Today, thousands of sites around the internet will cease operation (“go dark”) in protest of SOPA– the Stop Online Piracy Act. With the internet so integrated into our lives, anything that will drastically change it, will drastically alter our way of life as well. Because of this, I think it’s important to have some level of understanding of what the SOPA and PIPA acts are poised to do.

Now, I know you’ve all been inundated with status updates, emails, and articles talking about this potential internet game-changer. If you’re anything like me, once a certain topic starts to blow up your news feeds, you start reading around it– unconsciously dismissing it as “SPAM.” SO- I tracked down a short little video produced by the hilarious Matthew Inman over at The Oatmeal (if you aren’t familiar- The Oatmeal is a little website filled with comics and other hilarity discussing current issues).

For those of you who hate sitting down to read an article, or simply don’t have time, this is a laughable 1 1/2 minute crash course on this controversial issue:

I’ll be the first one to admit that this is an extremely partisan overview. But, isn’t that the point of something this controversial– to take a side? A strong position?

If you disagree with this video and feel SOPA/PIPA could create positive change, I implore you: Share your thoughts and point of view!!!

After all- that is what the anti-SOPA stance is all about: freedom of expression!

Below is another video that goes into much more depth. I wanted to include it for those auditory/visual learners who do have some time to get their knowledge on but don’t feel like reading another article. I also encourage further reading at http://americancensorship.org/. And be sure to check out their nifty infographic HERE.

- Ches Sheridan Arms

___________________________________

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Age 0-20 is spent growing- molding yourself into the person whom you want to live the rest of your life as. Age 60-80 is spent in useless dying. Age 20-60 is spent with useful potential. 1/3 of that is wasted sleeping. 1/3 of that is wasted at a job. This leaves 1/3 of 40 years free, which is about 15 years (rounding optimistically up). 1/3 of that is wasted on chores and obligations.
That leaves 10 years in which to live. Not 80 like you thought. That is why life seems so short. It is short.

A few weeks ago I wrote a post titled Living In the Moment. It discussed the notion that we are all so busy in life we rarely take the time to “stop and smell the roses.” After considerable contemplation of this conception I’ve come to some conclusions:

• Most people I know consider me “time challenged.” Why?
• It’s not that I don’t respect other people’s time, it’s that I sincerely respect my own.
• I value the quality of my time at any one moment much more than I value having it allocated as “efficiently” as possible to accommodate those around me.

I know I’m not alone. Do you associate with these conclusions as well?
Perhaps you disagree entirely and perceive my conclusions to be selfish.

This week, I’d like to continue my musings on the topic of [thoroughly enjoying your] time while introducing you to the concept of Monocronic Vs Polychronic senses of time. The link I listed here talks more about individual senses of time and it’s an excellent little explanation of the concept. However, In 1959 a famous anthropologist, Edward T. Hall, originally introduced the theory in regards to cultures around the world.

• Monochronic cultures are cultures in which individuals structure and schedule their activities in a linear fashion, based on clarity of purpose, and economic progress. “Time is money.”
• Polychronic cultures tend to be more fluid and less structured. Having several projects running at the same time (multi-tasking) is both natural and stimulating, and people are put before punctuality.

Monochronic culture runs the Western World. That’s not to say that everyone is a monochron — far from it. But life, work, and society are organized according to monochronic principles. Conversely, in Mexico, Latin-America, and many parts of Africa & Europe the culture as a whole is considered polychronic.

Personally, I am a Polychron (with a few monochronic tendencies). It’s likely that you associate with one column of the chart above more than the other. I wanted to share this with you because I believe it can teach you a lot about yourself, including how you fit into the world and how you get along with others.

Moreover, I’m sharing because (as illustrated above) life is short. By understanding how we perceive time perhaps we can learn how to get the most fulfillment from it. Anyone can “stop and smell the roses”– but some people only truly enjoy their aroma when it doesn’t interfere with any of their other carefully laid plans. Others find greater satisfaction when they randomly stumble upon the roses and put all lesser obligations on hold.

How do you best enjoy the smell of life’s roses?

- Ches Sheridan Arms

A couple weeks ago I wrote a post entitled “3 Easy Ways to Improve Your Shred this Winter.” The 3rd bullet point discussed being more environmentally conscious about our actions surrounding skiing and snowboarding. I re-read this post recently and it got me thinking: there is a lot I do, unconsciously, that contributes to my carbon footprint.

Corporations have the opportunity to purchase Carbon Offsets  in order to maintain a certain level of eco-friendliness across all forms of industry. I’m not positive I agree with allowing companies the opportunity to pay off others to be environmentally considerate for them (My feelings mirror this Bloomberg Businessweek article: “Another Inconvenient Truth” <– http://buswk.co/vLsHJI). Regardless, as individuals, most of us do not have the capital to pursue this option.
SO, what can we do?

We can separate recyclables. We can walk to the gas station (2 blocks over) for snacks instead of drive. And we can stick to 6 or 8 squares in the lavatory. I mean- if you haven’t had Chipotle in the past 24 hours do you REALLY need half a roll in one “sitting?”

I know what you’re thinking: “Stringent bath tissue management by little ‘ol me isn’t likely to put a stop to the clear-cutting of our rain forests.” BUT, think about this: you are one of hundreds of people (mostly Denver-ites) reading this blog. If each of you makes one conscious effort a day to reduce your usage of paper products, over the course of a month it could decrease demand enough at a popular local supermarket for them to tally one less crate of paper products on their next order form. You just saved a tree. Not to mention more than a few bucks.
By doing this consciously for a while (supposedly it takes an avg. of 66 days to form a habit) pretty soon you will be unconsciously saving numerous trees (that are probably older than you are!) and lots of green-backs.

As an example: my first conscious attempt to reduce my usage of paper products was simply not throwing away a paper towel after it’s initial use. I would neatly fold the towel on my counter and use it later to blow my nose, wipe up my spills, and so on- until the towel no longer functioned. Anymore, it takes me a month to go through a roll.
It doesn’t have to be just paper products though! Reducing your impact can be as easy as shutting off the light EVERY time you’re not home; Or unplugging all of your appliances when you are out of town for the weekend. The best part: All of these things will save you money too!!

Above is a carbon footprint calculator. I’ve included it here for you to get a rough idea of what your personal carbon footprint looks like and encourage you to compare it to the US average. Give my suggestion a shot! Then- check back here in a month and recalculate.

What size are your shoes?

- Ches Sheridan Arms

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past couple months, you’re probably familiar with the “Occupy” movement. Until recently, I only had a general idea of what it was: 1% of our population makes significantly more money than the other 99%. This, however, didn’t seem like “breaking news” to me, so I decided to do a little reading on the movement to more fully understand it. Pretty wild stuff. For those of you who are a little fuzzy, I’ll highlight a few points:

• The protesters seek (in part) more/better jobs, more equal distribution of income, bank reform, and a reduction of the influence of corporations on politics.
• The top 1 percent of income earners have more than doubled their income over the last thirty years according to a recentCongressional Budget Office (CBO) report.
• In 2009, the average income of the top 1% was $960,000 with a minimum income of $343,927.
  

  Source: Congressional Budget Office, Average Federal Taxes by Income Group, “Average After-Tax Household Income,” June, 2010.

That said– I’d like to introduce you to Rusted Yucca Furniture. Travis Toms and Sam Rolph of Golden, CO are educated individuals. They have degrees in Urban Planning and Business Administration. For nearly a year now the two have been looking for jobs in their field that would pay the bills, and they have yet to find suitable employment. SO- have they thrown up their hands, moved into their parents’ basements, and nurtured their beer guts to the point of being mistaken for a pregnant Rosie O’donnell? NO!

Instead, they got creative. They started collecting wood that no longer served anyone a purpose (old fences, broken shipping palettes, etc.) and began RE-purposing it into fine furniture.

The fact that Trav and Sam truly love the work they’re doing is evident in each final product. No two pieces are alike, but they all are re-purposed from unwanted pieces of timber, and exhibit exquisite craftsmanship & a signature rustic Colorado style. These characteristics speak for themselves and, as such, the business is taking off. Their extremely reasonable prices even sweeten the deal.

If you want to support these local artisans and businessman, you can visit their website at http://rustedyucca.wordpress.com/
You can also meet them and purchase furniture in person at the farmer’s market off 2nd and Santa Fe every Saturday.

Garth Henrichs, a famous author, was quoted as saying: “The person who is waiting for something to turn up might start with their shirt sleeves.”

The point is: The job market is tough. Money is tight. What can you do to be creative, make money, and contribute positively? Occupy your time.

- Ches Sheridan Arms

It’s post-Thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner. That means you can’t blame the early-season for your lack-luster performance on the slopes any more. The snow is no longer riddled with rock and twig death traps; you aren’t considering amputating a foot after a full day in your boots; and there is much less giggling and snickering when your friend mentions a “big dump,” because the image that comes to mind has nothing to do with last nights drunken Del Taco burrito bender.

Every day we ride we try to improve, but sometimes we hit a plateau. Something is holding us back but we don’t know what.
So- Maybe you’re downright embarrassed to tell your friends you’ll meet them after your bunny slope warm-up runs. Could be you need a little extra game to seal the deal with “Jackie from Texas” at the bar in the lodge. Or perhaps you’re somewhere right in between. Whatever the case, these three tips should have you back on the path to bragging rights. They may seem simple and obvious, but I guarantee you haven’t considered all three (if any)!

1. Rub it Out- err… On. 

   The wax that is! Or even better, get an iron and do it right. Think about your first day this season. Were you “that guy/girl” in the group: the last one down every run– leaving your friends tapping their foot in the lift line? Maybe you should try a few solo lesson days… OR- maybe a fresh tune is all you need. I waxed my board halfway through day 1 this season and was TOTALLY amazed the diference it made. If you have to take it to a shop I wouldn’t be TOO embarassed… but you could just as easily follow these instructions at home.

2. Get Some Beef on those Buns 

   Nobody wants to believe it, but chances are you’re out of shape. Maybe you bike, run, or perform arial acrobatics on the reg, but that doesn’t mean your ski/snowboard muscles are up to par. Flexibility and endurance are equally as important, but most of us sending it every week are young bucks anyway.

   I spent WAY too much time looking through websites to find pictures and explanations of exercises that would be the most beneficial to you. So, while Exercises to Prepare for the Slopes on Bodybulding.com seems a bit hardcore, the exercises in the article are the most quality, and appropriate for skiers and snowboarders alike, that I could find. Try to incorporate a few of these into your day once or twice a week. You’ll be blown away how much easier tricks will be. And a positive side-effect: you’re ass will look better than ever come summer.

3. Treat Her Right
   

   I’m talking, of course, about our Mother Earth. In true DVLP Life fashion, “riding green” had to get thrown in here. While being environmentally conscious probably wont help you stick 60 ft. frontside 5′s by the end of the season, it may score bonus points with the snow-bunnies. When she says, “Ooo, I like your snow pants!” what’s better than replying: “Thanks! I bought the skinny pair because I’ve been doing conditioning this season (i.e.- ‘they make my ass look awesome’). Oh, and did I mention they’re made entirely of post-consumer recycled material and $1 of my purchase went to saving children and puppies in Kazakhstan?” Nicccce.

   This article is an awesome place to get started: How to Go Green: Skiing & Snowboarding

    

So now you have no excuses! With these three easy-as-pie tips, you should be upping your game in no time!
And if any of these tips worked for you and you want to show off, hit me up ANYTIME– let’s ride!

- Ches Sheridan Arms

I have no doubt that each of you reading this is juggling anywhere between 1 and 17 too many things in your life. The fact of the matter is: in a frantic effort to gain control over our hectic lives our brains are constantly multitasking– thinking about what we have to do today, tomorrow, next week. While there is something to be said for being organized and productive, when we are too concerned with what’s happening 20 minutes from now we forget to enjoy what’s happening
right now.

How many of us feel empty inside? We spend our money on fleeting pleasures that never provide fulfillment– things like copious amounts of alcohol, shiny new gadgets & toys, or expensive shoes & jewelry. Don’t get me wrong, I love blowing a paycheck in an inebriated shopping spree as much as the next guy, but I enjoy it every once in a while as a spontaneous pleasure. I know it doesn’t bring true value to my life.

Similar to a drunken dumping of all my dinero, I often catch myself not being able to remember what I had for lunch yesterday. Where was I? Where was my head?
Obviously, I did not get much enjoyment out of the plants that were harvested and the animals that were killed to provide me sustenance. How unconsciously ungrateful!

It sounds silly (because chances are you’ve not tried it), but slowing down and focussing on what is wonderful at any given second will put a smile on your face and in your heart. Try this the next time you make a sandwich at home: sit down, shut off the music & TV, close your eyes, and try to detect each individual flavor in every bite. Thoroughly enjoy what you’ve just prepared.

This sounds really goofy, I know. But no need to feel embarrassed, no one is watching you do this or judging you. You don’t have to go tell people about it. I guarantee, tomorrow, you will remember exactly what was in that sandwich and, regardless of what you are doing, you will smile.

- Ches Sheridan Arms

The nature of our society is growth. As a culture we are always seeking bigger, better, MORE. As we age and embrace social norms this mentality transcends the societal whole and takes root in our individual consciousnesses. We begin to lose sight of the wonderful things we already have in life and covet the shiny, the expensive, and the unattainable.

Are we ever, simply, content?

I met some friends at a local coffee shop yesterday. An hour after purchasing my Americano “Frosty the Snowman” (or some variation of) had played four times. We have entered Holiday Season: Defcon 1. Within the next 2 weeks we will hit Defcon 5 and grannies will be beating soccer moms with their canes for the last waffle-maker at Target.

How silly.

SO- let’s take a step back and look at what we, and our loved ones, already have in life. Do any of you really need new, expensive, and shiny? Do any of you REALLY need a 6-setting space-age polymer waffle maker?

This holiday season I propose a challenge: Buy (or better yet: MAKE!) unique gifts. Think of each person on your list and give them something that is individually meaningful to them. Re-purpose old items you never use or bake them something delicious!

A couple days ago Abella wrote you a piece on Upcycling. <– GREAT place to get started!!!

 And as for the time you’ll save not standing in lines or filing police reports on “Gladys,” donate it to those less fortunate. Head down to the shelter ONE night this month and serve some meals. Hold a toy drive like the one above. ANYTHING!

 If you get “that warm fuzzy feeling” you’re probably doing something right.

- Ches Sheridan Arms