1. August Studio
2. Genuine Authenticity
3. August Links
4. Wrap-Up
This summer is flying and I'm trying to fly high above it! One thing I've been working on this summer is my personal website, ChelseaRocks.info. Thanks to a suggestion from my buddy Andy, I launched this site as a way to communicate and share with folks around STJ, in WV and...everywhere else. I also am using it as a tool for building my web development skills, programming various tricks and features until I feel confident enough to sell my amazing skills to others. I've set up a weekly image feature, a gallery with different albums, a blog that I update regularly and--just today--a showcase of some of my art. The blog is open for anyone to comment--I strongly encourage you to! (If you're into looking around, I also added to my portfolio on asolaredesign.com.) On another note, in the past month I discovered the nice movie theater on St. Thomas...did you catch "Ratatouille"? The animation was super, and so was the story. And on another note, school athletics and football preseason kick off this month. Get ready for indulging in lots of sports--or trying harder to avoid them. Thanks for checking out my sites and thanks for reading, y'all.
Authenticity is a technical term in existentialist philosophy. In this philosophy, the conscious self is seen as coming to terms with being in a material world and with encountering external forces, pressures and influences which are very different from, and other than, itself. Authenticity is the degree to which one is true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, despite these pressures.
-Wikipedia.com
The concept of authenticity is something that many people strive for but also one that many people fail to achieve. Authenticity is important because it endears you to others, it usually makes you feel good about yourself and...it sells. If you can convince others that you are genuine, you've won half the battle! If you have authenticity, you also have pride. If you feel good enough about yourself to maintain who you are and what you believe in, you have confidence--and you give others a reason to believe in you, too.
It's a simple concept but not an easy one. Many people search for authenticity to find meaning and happiness, particularly in their work lives. How one chooses to try to live more authentically depends on their own perspective on authenticity. Like many other popular concepts, different people have different views about authenticity and many people feel very strongly about their own views. Some people might say that an individual is being authentic if they are being honest and focused on the present, eg. an honest conversation with a friend, being completely focused on cleaning out the garage, etc. There are others who feel that authenticity involves many other features, like always being centered with themselves and others, living in a completely integrated fashion with their own values and principles, always feeling complete meaning or sense of purpose in their lives, etc.
The concepts of "authenticity" and "meaning" can seem almost the same. Existentialists assert that if an individual is not living authentically in their lives, then they lose meaning and can fall into chronic anxiety, boredom and despair. People might pursue "quick fixes" to avoid the responsibility of living authentically--drugs, lying, denial. However, one of the first things one needs to do to get out of those situations is to be honest about what's not working in their life.With that honesty, one can take steps forward because each step is purposeful. Having purpose means you have meaning.
Regardless of others' perspectives on authenticity, it's important for people to understand that living and working as authentically as possible is the way to finding real happiness. It's can often be difficult to achieve, particularly in large social groups or organizations. As mentioned above, how one chooses to live a more authentic life depends on their perspective. If you're lucky enough to know what works for you, count yourself blessed. If you're strong enough to go after it or maintain it, be proud of yourself and enjoy the rewards.
Expert Village Video How-Tos
As the name suggests, this site is a great resource, offering brief Flash videos on a range of "how-to..." topics.
http://www.expertvillage.com
N.E.R.D. Blog
This guy describes his blog as, "Newmedia.Engineering.Research.Development. Log." I enjoy his opinions and news on the latest tech stuff and his Mac tips.
http://www.nerdlogger.com/
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Asolare Design
Chelsea Rocks