The "Slumdog Millionaire" Mindset

I just saw Slumdog Millionaire for the first time last night and thought it was amazing! I didn't even notice my roommate and his friend entering and leaving the room as my $65 Skullcandy DJ headphones took me straight to the city of Mumbai, India. For those of you who haven't seen the movie, it is about an uneducated boy named Jamal Malik from the slums who's on India's version of Who Want's to be a Millionaire, and has the opportunity to win it all: twenty million rupees, a new lifestyle, and his long-lost love. The young man (Jamal) upon hearing each question, is taken back into the time of his struggles of growing up in the slums as an orphan with his older brother Salim. Upon his adventures of survival, he runs into another orphan by the name of Latika, and they soon become good friends. At some point, the young "musketeers" become separated and each question asked on the show brings him closer to realizations of family, his past, and some things that money can't buy... 

Growing up, there are a lot of things that young adults go through. Whether it's looking for a job, studying for a degree, or pursuing a relationship, we should have the Slumdog Millionaire mindset. What I believe this to be is a mindset where no matter what, you always go and pursue your dream. Look in your past and think of all the events you have undergone that make you YOU. Does everything add up? Do you find yourself a little more defensive from a bad relationship? A little more thankful for life after a car accident? A little more loving? Somehow, let us all try to be a little more hopeful as life progress and we fall a little more into alignment with our destinies... 

PLEASE SEE THIS MOVIE WHENEVER YOU GET THE CHANCE!

-DaL!ngo

The F-Word...

Growing up, I was VERY shy! At social events, I would often be so nervous in games where guys had to interact with girls. "Man she looks good... What if I don't look the same to her? How do I talk to her without stumbling over my words?" And then the summer before I went into high school, I told myself, just talk to them! They still breathe and dream and feel and talk just like you do... So high school called for me leaving my friends at lunch and introducing myself at tables with all girls. For some reason, I didn't find it that bad at all... I ended up making more friends and they even spoke to me about situations they had with guys and needed a guys perspective. Here's where the guys should listen... No, seriously... LISTEN! Listen to what they like to do, what makes them happy, and where their interests reside. From doing this for quite awhile, I started learning about the beautiful F-word. Flirting.

The dictionary defines flirting as "behaving as though attracted to or trying to attract someone, but for amusement rather than with serious intentions." This can indeed be a dangerous act, as if the person likes you, they can take you seriously and receive your actions in a more personal way. I found that flirting helps a guy to understand what girls like and don't like without having to put your heart on the line. As I said before, it was hard for me to talk to girls at one point, but now I know that not everyone is for everyone, and a rejection from one girl is an open opportunity for a reception from another... 

I realized that people enjoy compliments... I NEVER used to be able to compliment anyone, but an opportunity with one potential girl passed when I kept my mouth shut about how I felt about her and I realized that one compliment can go along way, even into the flirting realm. So now, after complimenting girls to their faces for some time, I've been considered to be a flirt. For example: if I think a girl looks good on a particular day, I would definitely let her know, but in a flirtatious kind of way... Girls should feel special about themselves... After all that time spent in a mirror, shower, or make-up kit, a compliment is well-deserved. Guys, be careful with the power of the F-word... Use it in moderation, for you never know which girl you wanted to talk to who actually may WANT to talk to you! Both genders have the capability of seeing the big picture - we just always end up looking at it from different sides of the canvas...

-DaL!ngo

Mirage of a Valentine

Soft hands reach out to a soul that yearns

And yes I want her in return

And yes I want her to be mine

But for some reason, she whines

Whines because part of her still can’t believe

That there’s a possibility that she’s face to face with

The man of her dreams

Face to face with uncharted territory

And unsown seams

I close my eyes and think that someday

She’ll be my true lover

The space between us dwindles

Our hands interlock

And twenty curious fingers start talking to each other

Slowly sailing seven seas 

I silently shiver on this ship

A slice of Heaven must be equivalent

To the quiver of her lips

She leans in for a kiss

Happy eyes close and everything fades

Our thoughts create messages we choose to convey

My heart burns with pleasure

From the curves of her hips

And locked lips equips me with tools to reminisce

Her love is so cultured

She was well brought up 

Her words rapture my body 

And then I’m all caught up

Caught up in the breeze of her love

She’s secure in the squeeze of a hug

Oh no, eyes open, and off comes the mask

To reveal my Queen gently pressed against glass

I need her, but I can’t reach her

And a voice tells me to leave

What’s the logic in being whole

With a missing puzzle piece?

And once again I’m found dancing 

And holding hands with time

So close yet so distant

To my mirage Valentine…

Quarterback Vision

Now for those who are fans of Madden Football, you should already be informed about the quarterback vision and its purpose. When playing, a "flashlight" shadow comes out from wherever the quarterback is looking on the field. The better the quarterback's vision (ex: Tom Brady, Drew Brees), the wider the light is shown on the field; this allows more receivers to be in the range of light, resulting in a higher chance of a completion. 

Guys, let's say girls are receivers. They've been running all sorts of patterns down and around the field and waiting to get an open chance for you to throw the ball. Now what if you don't have the vision of Brady or Brees? What if somehow, the girl (receiver) that's the best option to throw it to isn't in your line of vision? You can't just throw the ball (your heart) to her thinking that it's going to be a 30-yd completion! 

Funny for me to say is that I'm really picky... I think I'd be more concerned with the receiver running 40+ yds down and throwing a "hail mary" rather than looking at the nice curl pattern that's right in front of my face for a first down. We often tend to be so focused on what we innately desire down the line that sometimes we miss the potential blessings running right in front of us for the completion and the next snap... Fellas, we need to work on our quarterback vision. How else are we going to get our "ratings" up?

-Da L!ngo  

What is the Drive?

So I'm on the NBA website and I'm looking at some of the stats for last night's games (because that's what guys are supposed to do), and I see that in the Orlando Magic game against Charlotte, Dwight Howard had 45 points, 19 rebounds, and 8 blocks in a 107-102 overtime win. No player has ever had that many stats in each category since they added blocks to the stat sheet. Now why exactly did Howard do what he did? Was it a personal statement? Public? Or did he just know he had to carry the team on his back? Better yet, what gives us the drive to do what we do now?

What gave Obama the drive to successfully maneuver his way to the Presidency? The Valedictorian to graduate on top of their entire class? The guy to tell the girl how he feels, or the girl to do the same? I personally believe the cliche statement, "You can do whatever you put your mind to." It (your goal) truly can be done. The question is if it will be done SUCCESSFULLY... 

-DaL!ngo

Just Starting

Hey Everyone,

Just thought I'd start a blog, because there's so much going on in my mind right now, and I'm not sure of the best way to let it out. Hopefully this can be a great venue in terms of me speaking my mind... Very soon, I will begin to share with you the bits and pieces of my thoughts that generally make me, well... ME! Hope you guys follow...