Shane’s words and delivery are powerfully raw, authentic, and inspiring.

In 2000 Shane was awarded the Individual Championship at the US National Poetry Slam Competition (The first Canadian to do so). He’s amazing. My other favorite slam poet is Anis Mojgani, There’s actually a lot of similarities between Shane & Anis in terms of substance and delivery style. Anis lives in Austin, though, which is a bonus. Shane, you’re welcome to join us as well.

This is my voice by Shane Koyczan

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHczVzGfyqQ

The crickets have arthritis by Shane Koyczan

When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.-Emerson

“When all’s said and done, all roads lead to the same end. So it’s not so much which road you take, as how you take it.” - Charles de Lint

Do you know someone that seems to float through life? That everything seems to just happen for them? That they never really look stressed or like they’re trying too hard? And they’re always laughing or in a great mood?

Yes, I know a few people like this. And honestly, for a while their presence bothered me. Their happiness and ease of life would really get to me. Sometimes I would find myself bitter, even. But then I realized that THEY were the ones that had figured it out.

It’s like driving in your car rushing around to get somewhere. Do you actually get there that much quicker (or even quicker at all?). And think about the tenseness of trying to weave through traffic and driving fast (and looking over your shoulder for the cops). Or you could just stroll along and get there in pretty much the same amount of time, with limited stress.

Life’s the same way!

So, next time you’re rushing around on a project, on a deadline, to hustle more money, stressing about bills, upset that your waiter is slow to bring you food—-just remember that friend you have that life just seems to work so much more smoothly for. How would he/she handle it?

It’s not too late to change.
Be calm—enjoy the ride. You’ll get there.

“The task ahead of you is never greater than the power behind you.” – Unknown.

Have you ever noticed there’s a little something sometimes that propels you to go further, to try harder, to grasp tighter? Whether it’s a spiritual force or simply an innate soulful force, there’s certainly something. Just know that it is there to call on when you need it. You’ve already been through so much in your life and yet, here you stand–strong and tall. You’ve managed to get through it before, and you can certainly do it again.

It’s possible.

“Real Tai Chi Chuan when looked at appears very simple. All of it,…however, is on the inside. The inside is trained so that it will affect the outside. Change occurs from the inside out.” Koh Ah Tee

Ever gotten so overwhelmed with something on the inside that you feel frozen to do any sort of action? That it perhaps handicaps your ability to even do other unrelated things? And then if you get a chance to talk it out, write it out, or otherwise work it out mentally, so it all makes sense, all of a sudden things become more manageable and action is easier and the
energy and actions flow easier?

Small changes, no matter how small, and no matter on the inside of your mind or on the outside can make the hugest of difference. So, next time you get so overwhelmed on the inside, just remember that you probably have a little puzzle inside you that has a turned piece. Look inside yourself and work on it a bit. You might surprise yourself what a big difference this simple self introspection can make.

Breathe – You can do it.

“Your hopes, dreams and aspirations are legitimate. They are trying to take you airborne, above the clouds, above the storms, if you only let them.” – William James

Don’t question yourself so much. Maybe you should follow yourself more often than not. Crazy thought, eh? Your gut is trying to tell you something, so don’t  forget to stop and listen. Follow your thoughts and you just might be surprised to see how far it takes you.

Start flying.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKlU9GBn7cE

As life becomes smoother and less rocky, it’s like being in a state of quietness and then being at total peace. It’s an easy place to stay. It’s comfortable.

But you do want more experience, don’t you? If you’re anything like me, then you crave it, you lust for it. We feel the urge inside our hearts for a higher fun level, a higher intellect level, a higher plane of life experience – and yes, it is possible—we know it is. The more experiences we can experience, the higher our level of adventure climbs. We CRAVE adventure and change and the unknown because it is what drives us through life and will drive us even further, even higher.

Do not be afraid to live in a world where you have more options, more choices. Do not be afraid to live in a world without limits. Do not be afraid to live in a world where tomorrow can look very different than today. Accepting this and embracing this is key because, after all, it is the world that you and I are living in, already.

Every once in a while I go on a reading rampage. In fact, for a three month stretch during my last year in college, I was consistently reading four to six books per week (non course work related) and regularly checked out 15-20 books at a time from the library. In fact, it was a bit of an unhealthy obsession—and I felt quite consumed by my addiction to knowledge.

I’m able to read pretty quickly because of a speed reading technique my dad taught me years ago that he learned while in the US Air Force Academy.

A couple months ago, I was on one of my reading rampages and went to one of The University of Texas libraries (they have an amazing collection books and honestly, it’s kinda neat to be in there and know that you’re one of the ONLY people in there reading for leisure) and found a bunch of books that facsinated me. I plopped down for a long while and read them all, taking notes of the most memorable passages from each book. Here’s an AMAZING quote from one of them:

Thoughts are cold, but feelings are warm, alive and vital. So don’t “think” I am strong. Feel it! Stir up your nature to its depth until you can really feel you are indeed strong and possessed of the radiant energy of mentative force. - Mind Power: The Secret of Mental Magic by William Walker Atkinson.

This was the quote that inspired me to have the realization that I wrote on previously: Clarity is feeling, not thinking

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN_4EZMYf-E