When Stars Misguide Us

Find Yourself, Fall In Love, Explore Life, and Stay Misguided.

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Finding Yourself, Falling in Love, and Exploring Life.
  • Sailing Through Paint

    Sailing Through Paint

    How painting a hallway and listening to Moby Dick took me to a philosophical and imaginative place.

    Image created in Canva AI

    Project: Painting Hallway Floor

    The color on the exterior hallway floor of this apartment complex is a tropical teal color, and as I roll the floor back and forth with fresh paint, it makes me think of the ocean.

    I have my headphones in and I am listening to Moby Dick audiobook.

    Over 300 units in this apartment complex and four floors need to be painted.

    The floor is rough-looking with hard marks, gum, scrapes, and old paint peeling off.

    We of course first prepped everything before we began rolling.

    Photo by author

    Knocking on every resident’s door to ask them if they can stay inside for 20 minutes for it to try, and 90% of the time they say go ahead I am staying inside anyway.

    As I listen to Moby Dick sailing the ocean on a long voyage searching for the white whale I begin to feel like I am on a voyage sailing the ocean in these hallways.

    My Mind Wanders The Sea Of Paint

    I know it sounds crazy, but the audio of Moby Dick playing, Florida’s tropical weather, and rolling teal paint on the floor back and forth in rhythmic motion like the ocean waves helped set the mood for my brain to think that I’m on a voyage.

    The destination for this ocean journey is the end of this labor project.

    The hallways are long and there are eight buildings.

    I drive an old white Chevy painter van with my dad and brother to work, and at times I feel that it is our sailing ship taking us to remote islands.

    Our painting projects are the whales that need to be taken down for profit.

    Image created in Canva AI

    Philosophical Thoughts While Listening To Moby Dick While Painting

    Back to painting this hallway floor, I hear an interesting quote from the book that resonates with me.

    “ Even though the awful power and strangeness of the sea will never really be overcome by human “science and skill,” Ishmael says that some men have “lost that sense of the full awfulness of the sea” by continually exposing themselves to it (58.6)” ― Herman Melville, Moby-Dick or, The Whale

    This quote makes me think of how there is still so much mystery to the sea. It is a vast unknown world that still triumphs over us humans.

    Even with all of the science and technology we do not stand close to conquering the ocean the way we do with land, yet we still feel confident that we have somewhat control over it.

    We forget at times as land animals that we are no match for the ocean. The ocean is its own kind of world with its own rules that we simply can’t follow.

    “Book! You lie there; the fact is, you books must know your places. You’ll do to give us the bare words and facts, but we come in to supply the thoughts.”
    ― Herman Melville, Moby-Dick or, The Whale

    This concept made me stop painting and pause my audiobook to process its beauty.

    Stubb, one of the characters in the book, states that books are a great resource with infinite and long-lasting knowledge in them, but it is we readers who give books meaning through our reflections and insights.

    Such a beautiful passage that is simply written with a logical concept.

    “for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself.”
    ― Herman Melville, Moby Dick

    This quote is as philosophical as you can get and it is written perfectly. Everything we know in this world, qualities or characteristics, do not have inherent meaning or existence on their own.

    Instead, they are defined and understood with other qualities or characteristics. For example, something might be considered “high” only because it is in contrast to something else that is “low.”

    “Nothing exists in itself”: Implies objects, qualities, or concepts do not exist in isolation but are part of a larger web of relationships and contrasts.

    Finishing The Project and The Book

    It took us about a month to finish this project because we had to do other painting projects and different locations.

    As soon as the last hallway was painted on the fourth floor, so did the amazing journey of listening to the story of Moby Dick.

    There are many more quotes and concepts that I came across in this 135-chapter book that I may write about in future writings.

    As for now, my soul has grown from combining work (painting) and this book.

    I feel that we all are on our voyage searching and going head to head with Moby Dick.

    Our lives have no true destination yet, it is the adventure that gives our lives meaning. It’s all the moments every single one of them good and bad that make up our lives and who we are.

    Gather your crew of people you trust and love, secure a vessel that can handle hardship, and set sail on a voyage to create your life.

    In the end, life’s true essence lies not in reaching a destination but in embracing the journey itself.

    Image Created in Canva AI

    I appreciate you reading, and I thank you.

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    Website: Whenstarsmisguideus.com

    Email: Whenstarsmisguideus@yahoo.com

    Stars Misguide Music: Spotify | Youtube

  • Have our modern buildings lost their soul? Let’s talk about The Cliff House

    Have our modern buildings lost their soul? Let’s talk about The Cliff House

    In this segment titled ‘Our Lost History,’ I will write about forgotten or lesser-known aspects of our past.

    I am most fascinated with 19th-century architecture, whether grand buildings or quaint homes.

    A mysterious and elegant aura surrounding these structures ignites a sense of wonder within me. It’s intriguing to observe how architecture intertwines with psychology.

    This brings me to the topic at hand which is an iconic structure that once graced the coast of San Francisco, California, between 1896 and 1907.

    It stood as a symbol of the city’s coastal beauty during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with an interesting and unusual history.

    Detroit Photographic Co, photographer. (1899) The Cliff House, San Francisco, California. San Francisco California, 1899. [Detroit: Detroit Photographic Co] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2017658710/.

    The first Cliff House was built on a rocky cliff in 1863, serving as a fashionable resort for the wealthy and elite.

    When I first saw this building in a book called “The Birth of a Century: Early Colored Photographs of America by Jim Hughes“ (that I found in a local antique store) I was amazed by its beauty and mystery.

    Perched atop the cliff, this one-story wood-frame structure offered breathtaking views of the Pacific coastline from every angle.

    Two catastrophic events led to the destruction of the first Cliff House.

    The first event was on January 16th, 1887, when a schooner, a type of sailing vessel, named Parallel ran aground, a situation in which a vessel, such as a ship or boat, becomes stuck or stranded on the bottom of a body of water, and was abandoned but left with burning oil lamps onboard the ship.

    Also, it was carrying cargo that included dynamite powder. The burning lamps ignited the dynamite, which exploded so powerfully that it was heard a hundred miles away.

    This massive explosion damaged the Cliff House, specifically destroying the entire north wing of the small tavern.

    The second event that would destroy the building took place on Christmas night in 1894.

    The Cliff house was destroyed by fire due to a defective flue, likely a problem with the chimney or venting system of the building, despite the repairs after the explosion in 1887 the fire ultimately destroyed the building.

    In 1896, Adolph Sutro acquired the property, leading to the construction of the second Cliff House — a magnificent Victorian chateau with seven stories, often referred to as the ‘Gingerbread Palace.’

    This resort boasted modern amenities, such as six large indoor swimming pools, a museum, a skating rink, restaurants, ballrooms, observation decks, and other accommodations for guests which attracted renowned figures of that time such as Mark Twain, Jack London, Ulysses S. Grant and others.

    Despite initial success, economic downturns and natural disasters, such as the 1906 earthquake, led to the decline of the second Cliff House.

    Then in 1907, the Cliff House was closed for renovations.

    On September 7th, 1907, James Wilkins, a former proprietor, was wandering around the building to look at the remodeling when he saw smoke.

    The smoke came from where electricians had been working.

    The alarm was ranged and Wilkins had to be rescued among the flames, and just like that the Second Cliff House was destroyed by fire.

    The San Francisco Examiner described the fire as “something sent from the unknown to hold the human mind in awe and wonderment.”

    The third and final Cliff House, built in 1909 and still standing today, adopts a simpler neo-classical style.

    While lacking the glamour of its predecessor, it still is on that beautiful cliff looking over the beautiful California Sea.

    The Cliff House sign has been removed, and the building has been closed due to COVID-19, they are searching for a vendor to take over.

    My favorite Cliff house is the Second Cliff house. It looks like a mysterious castle sitting on an ocean cliff.

    It is a remarkable story of a magnificent building that tried to survive, but in the end, it couldn’t.

    At times I ponder on why we don’t want to build beautiful, interesting structures anymore for the average citizens to look at.

    Buildings, and structures for some reason connect to our souls, and can either make us feel wonder or uncertainty about our existence in modern society.

    If you google famous and wealthy people’s homes a lot of them are beautiful masterpieces with old classical styles and they are tucked away and hidden from site.

    We average citizens can not witness the beauty of structures, instead, we have our mundane copy-paste buildings that don’t spark any wonder but are only built quickly for a purpose and that is all.

    Overall, I am trying to highlight the shift in architectural values from the wonder and aesthetic appeal of historical buildings to the functionality and efficiency of modern construction.

    What does it mean, and how does architecture affect our emotions and psychology?

    Please comment on what you think. Have our modern buildings lost their soul?

    Canva AI generated based off of The Second Cliff House

    Social Links:

    Website: Whenstarsmisguideus.com

    Email: Whenstarsmisguideus@yahoo.com

    Stars Misguide Music: Spotify | Youtube

    Instagram: @WhenStarsMisguideUs

  • Misguided Feeling

    Misguided Feeling

    Finding oneself amid confusion and misdirection.

    I’m in knots. I do not know how to tell you this, but frankly, I don’t care to tell you.

    So why am I feeling this way?

    Is it because you are aggressive and I am calm? I don’t like drama.

    There must be a reason for my feelings, but I can’t quite understand it.

    I feel like I can’t breathe and I am stressed. Overthinking and feeling are all I do and it seems like I am the only one around me doing so.

    Is life a little bit harder for those who think and feel too much? Those who not only analyze their own lives but also the ones around them.

    The healthy thing to do is to think positive thoughts and feel positive emotions.

    I know what to do; so why can’t I do it?

    I am reminded that I need to push forward and become a better version of myself. There is no time in life to stay still and think for endless hours about what could happen or what will happen.

    Use your time to rediscover yourself and create yourself.

    Stay Misguided! This is your life and no one else’s!

    This is your life and look at it as a story waiting to be told. This is the book you are writing. This is the film you are starring in; what do you want it to look like at the end?

    Question:

    How do you handle moments of confusion?

    Stay Misguided

  • A Friday In October

    A Friday In October

    Beautiful day filled with moments of love, family, and connection and understanding the simple yet profound moments that make life meaningful.

    Wednesday we had a hurricane hit us here in Central Florida. My family is fine and there is no damage to our home. Thursday was another dark and rainy day and everything was closed and gas stations had no gas. Friday everything is back open and it is a cool sunny day with blue skies.

    Friday Begins

    I start my Friday off with my wife waking me and my daughter up telling us we have a doctor’s appointment to go to and we have an hour to get ready and arrive.

    I start packing up the diaper bag, get everyone’s shoes, and water bottles, while my wife feeds my one year old breakfast. They both get dressed quickly and we head out.

    The doctor’s visit is a regular check up on my 6 month pregnant wife. My daughter is an angel as we wait in the lobby and sit quietly and patiently. I hold her on my lap and tickle her and say funny jokes to her and my wife does too.

    My wife’s name is called and we all head back to room number three and we wait. We waited about 30 min before the doctor came and in that time I put on my daughters favorite movie “Ponyo”.

    Once the doctor came in my daughter stopped watching and looked right at the doctor and got down from the chair and walked towards her. The doctor was surprised and thought she was so cute.

    The doctor asked if she can help her hear the baby’s heartbeat. We of course said yes and our daughter held my wife’s hand in one hand and held the box that heard the baby’s heartbeat in the other and listened to her future baby brother’s heartbeat.

    It was a magical moment to say the least. It was a moment that I captured in my mind and will never let go.

    Once the appointment is over I call my dad and he tells me to meet him at work (I work for my dad’s painting business) at an apartment complex about 45 min away. I said alright.

    We drive away and I know that my wife is hungry and my daughter is in the back eating the lunch my wife packed for her. So I thought to myself why not treat my wife and daughter and we stopped at Chick fil a.

    We usually eat all our meals at home and eat out occasionally during the week. We tend to spend our money on pastries, tea, and coffee when we go out but every now and then it is fun to eat out.

    I drop them off at home, get dressed, tell my mom what happened at the appointment, say goodbye to everyone and head out.

    As I make my drive I put on a playlist with all my favorite songs, and I think to myself “I have so many memories here, so many unforgettable moments”. This thought brings waves of emotions.

    I arrive at the apartment complex and we finish the job in about 2 hours and head home.

    Driving back my brother comes with me (he also works with us) and we play the music he likes to listen to and discuss what it means to him.

    Home Time

    We arrive home and my daughter wakes up from her nap and wants to play with Sophie (our female french bulldog).

    After she is done playing she wants to go outside on the back patio. My parents back patio is paved and has a large Tiki Bar in the back and my daughter has two slides, water toys, and other kids toys so she loves going outside.

    My brother turns on music and plays songs she likes and she starts dancing. She grabs each one of our hands (me, my wife, brother, mom, and dad) and pulls us to make a circle and she goes in the middle. She then begins to tell us all to clap while she is dancing.

    Her music taste is a strange one and she picks these songs herself from hearing all the different kinds of music that is played throughout the house all day.

    Some of the songs are “Thriller by Michael Jackson”, “Bunny Suit by Sematary & Ghost Mountain”, “This is Halloween from Nightmare Before Christmas”, and “Danza Kuduro by Don Omar”.

    She is singing the words the best she can and running in circles and stopping to dance. She stops and looks at me and gives me a smile and I give her a funny face and roar and say I am a monster and she cracks up.

    After that me and her went down the slide over and over for about 20 minutes and she would say “Dada come upstairs and slide”.

    After that my wife cooked up her dinner and me and my daughter watched “Out of the box” , an old disney learning show I used to watch when I was little and she loved it.

    After she ate her food I asked my wife if she wanted to go to our favorite icecream shop. She said yes.

    I told my parents, and my brother and everyone said they are coming.

    I called up a family friend who lives down the street and asked him if he would like to get some with us and he said he is working right now and doesnt think he will get off in time.

    I texted him later and said we are leaving now if you think you can make it, and in that instance he called me and said I can leave straight from work and meet you guys. I said are you sure you aren’t tired? He said don’t worry I have to go because who knows when we all can get another chance to be together.

    We Meet at the Ice Cream Shop

    He meets us at the ice cream shop and it is full of people. The moon is out and everyone is having a great time. We gave my daughter her own small ice cream cone and she loved it.

    The ice cream shop is right next to a trail and there are a few lights out so you can walk on it. Me and my wife take my daughter up the small hill and we see a cat come out of the trees.

    My daughter is amazed (she loves cats) and starts yelling out Kitty Kat come! She makes her way after it and I pick her up and tell her it’s okay the cat is going home.

    She then starts telling other kids and adults that she doesn’t know that the kitty kat went home. The kids looked worried and the adults were laughing.

    My daughter then grabs our family friend’s hand (he is 6 ‘4) and pulls him up the small hill to tell him that the kitty kat went home. She was worried about this kitty kat.

    Then I look over and at the restaurant next to us there is outdoor seating and the cat is on top of the tables eating the leftovers. I showed my daughter and said the cat is eating a hamburger and my daughter gave a big smile and started cracking up!

    We talked with our family friend for a while and then headed home.

    We finish the night with some burgers and fries. All of us talking, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.

    Reflection

    Days like this remind me that life is all about relationships.

    No matter what you are going through, or what you do, what makes life bearable and memorable is the people who you surround yourself with. The people that love you.

    Social Links:

    Website: Whenstarsmisguideus.com

    Email: Whenstarsmisguideus@yahoo.com

    Stars Misguide Music: Spotify | Youtube

    Instagram: @WhenStarsMisguideUs

    © All content published on When Stars Misguide Us, including but not limited to text, images, and multimedia, is the intellectual property of When Stars Misguide Us and is protected by copyright laws.

  • 3 Ways to Spark Mystery

    3 Ways to Spark Mystery

    Life is full of mysteries we only have to try and discover them.

    The role of mystery in our lives is important to our well-being and has the potential to spark wonder, curiosity, hope, and a sense of awe. The allure of the unknown has driven human endeavors throughout history, from scientific inquiries to artistic creations. It is mystery combined with feelings of discomfort, that has flourished human creativity and helped push the boundaries of knowledge and understanding. Besides being afraid of the unknown, let us embrace it because it is one of the foundational concepts that has made humans thrive.  Here are three ways to spark some mystery in our lives. 

    3 Ways to Spark Mystery

    1. Read Diverse Literature

    If you read the same kind of content all day every day you will never discover something new. Diversifying the books you read can lead to concepts and ideas that are unknown to you. Explore the depths of the unknown ocean that lies inside your soul. If you only read fantasy and sci-fi books why not try out a philosophy book, or even a cookbook of cuisines from a culture that you don’t know much about? Mystery is all around us waiting to be discovered, try not to get stuck on one concept or world. Get into your ship, and go out on a journey in your mind. 

    1. Foster Serendipity

    Allow room for serendipity in your life. Be open to unexpected opportunities and spontaneous experiences. Unplanned moments or purchase often accompanies mystery. An interesting blog called “Wrapped In Serendipity” explains how interior decorations and the way your room, or house looks represent you and your soul. The unplanned purchases you keep in your room create a unique and mysterious personality. All our rooms and spaces of living look different from one another which is a lovely mystery in itself.  If you enjoy interior decoration, home stuff, and colors, you should stop by their website, oh they also have an Etsy shop. I encourage you the next time you have a free day and a little pocket change to go out somewhere new and buy something spontaneously. 

    1. Keep a dream journal

    I enjoy journaling my ideas, and writings, but I have yet to keep a dream journal. One year I kept having the same dream over and over again so I wrote that dream down (it was about me meeting someone that I never met before but we shared the same soul) but now that I am older my dreams seem like a gateway to mystery. Our subconscious mind is strange and mysterious by keeping a journal and writing these dreams down we can read and analyze what our mind is thinking when we aren’t controlling it. 

    Striving for Balance:

    The overall goal to strive for in life is balance. If we balance consumption, emotions, money, entertainment, etc. we can live a content life. Balancing what we know and what we don’t know can lead us to find the essence of our human existence. Comment below what you think of these three ideas to spark mystery back in our modern lives, and if you have better ideas please let me know by commenting. Always stay misguided and question everything!

    Social Links:

    Website: Whenstarsmisguideus.com

    Email: Whenstarsmisguideus@yahoo.com

    Stars Misguide Music: Spotify | Youtube

    Instagram: @WhenStarsMisguideUs

    © All content published on When Stars Misguide Us, including but not limited to text, images, and multimedia, is the intellectual property of When Stars Misguide Us and is protected by copyright law

  • Stars Misguide Releases an album called “Settling the Friction”

    Stars Misguide Releases an album called “Settling the Friction”


    Stars Misguide Releases ‘Settling the Friction

    Stars Misguide Unveils ‘Settling the Friction’

    Spotify link: Settling the Friction

    I’m trying to express myself and my soul through music. I began to create music to help soothe my emotions when my favorite artist couldn’t. My goal is to help at least one person’s soul with my music the way my favorite music artist did for me. Stars Misguide: My Original Music

    When Stars Misguide Us

    Spotify link: Settling the Friction

    I am thrilled to share the news about my latest musical venture — a brand new album called, “Settling the Friction.” This collection of tracks is a mix of pop, electro, and indie genres.

    The album has 9 tracks on it. I have been creating original music for 14 years now and have been publishing my music on all streaming platforms for about six years now.

    My music artist’s name is Stars Misguide. “Settling the Friction” is more than just an album; it is me trying to explain the conflicts of getting older and finding contentment amidst the twists and turns of life. Drawing inspiration from bands like The Postal Service, Blink-182, and Death Cab for Cutie, the sound is a unique blend of pop, pop-punk, and indie influences.

    These bands inspire the sounds heard on the album, but I have tried to create a new sound that blends their styles with my sound. Even my album title is inspired by two Death Cab For Cutie songs “Blacking Out The Friction” and “Sound of Settling” These are also my favorite songs by the band, and I also have a song called “Blink of Time” which the name references my favorite band of all time Blink-182.

    Listen to “Settling the Friction” on all major streaming platforms, and don’t forget to hit subscribe to stay updated on my music.

    Your support means the world to me, and I can’t wait for you to join me on this adventure we call life.

    Settle in, hit play, and let “Settling the Friction” become the soundtrack to your own transformative moments.

    Thank you for being part of the When Stars Misguide Us community.

    If you liked any of my content be sure to comment and leave some claps. I appreciate any of your support.

    Social Links:

    Website: Whenstarsmisguideus.com

    Stars Misguide Music: Spotify | Youtube

    Album Cover for Settling The Friction by Stars Misguide

    Social Links:

    Website: Whenstarsmisguideus.com

    Email: Whenstarsmisguideus@yahoo.com

    Stars Misguide Music: Spotify | Youtube

    Instagram: @WhenStarsMisguideUs

    © All content published on When Stars Misguide Us, including but not limited to text, images, and multimedia, is the intellectual property of When Stars Misguide Us and is protected by copyright laws.

    Thank you for being part of the When Stars Misguide Us community.

  • When Stars Misguide Us: Introduction

    When Stars Misguide Us: Introduction

    The Gut Feeling of Uncertainty: Understanding the Feeling of Being Misguided

    For thousands of years, we have looked to the stars as guidance to the unknown and believed in them to take us to our destination.

    We followed the path that the night sky had set before us and trusted that it would lead us to the right path. What happens when the path we thought was true is incorrect?

    In life, there are many circumstances where what we believe in and thought was true turns out to be false. That feeling of following or believing in something and realizing that it was wrong is the essence of “When Stars Misguide Us”. It is a concept about the twists and turns in our paths as humans and the uncertainty we all have in this fast-changing modern world.

    I am on a psychological and philosophical pursuit to find meaning and contentment in this contemporary society that we all find ourselves living in.

    One of the core purposes of living as a human is discovering the many mysteries that surround us, and I feel that this modern society that we created has taken away many of the mysteries of life.

    Mysteries have been keeping us curious for thousands of years, and this curiosity is what created innovation. I still believe there is mystery out there, and we must rediscover the feeling of wonder.

    By questioning the foundations that make up contemporary society and drawing comparisons with the wisdom of past civilizations, I aim to try to figure out the answers to the state of uncertainty that many people often feel.

    Is our spirit being played with by all these big companies and governments? Is the digital revolution a good or bad thing for us? Why are our human spirits being monetized? Before modern society, our likes, interests, and personalities were for ourselves, friends, and families. Now with the rise of social media our likes, interests, and personalities are for all to see and be sold.

    What is at stake here when we sell our identities to thousands of people? I honestly am not sure what the effect of all this will do to society, but I do believe we are going through a transition from a physical world to a digital world.

    For thousands of years, civilization has always been physical, and now for the first time, we are becoming digital. What does this all mean? Are we as a whole being guided in the right direction to live happy, and fulfilling lives, or are we being misguided?

    These feelings and concepts are what I will discuss and try to find answers to.

    Let us set sail in an old 19th-century ship, exploring the lands, and sailing across a moonlit ocean.

    Our compass is our gut feeling, our soul that guides us and stars become a guidepost to discoveries of human existence, and each wave symbolizes history, philosophy, and culture.

    As we sail imagine beautiful ancient buildings standing along the shores. These are not only structures with people living their lives in them; they are portals to different eras.

    I will always stay misguided because I question everything and never hold onto any kind of belief.

    Throughout my human existence everything I tried to believe in I couldn’t without questioning it.

    From relationships, television, music, school, books, etc. I never felt comfortable in only believing and not understanding. I am comfortable in the unknown seas of our souls.

    If this search for meaning within the stars interests you, then join me and always stay misguided.

    AI-generated Image from Canva

    Social Links:

    Website: Whenstarsmisguideus.com

    Email: Whenstarsmisguideus@yahoo.com

    Stars Misguide Music: Spotify | Youtube

    Instagram: @WhenStarsMisguideUs

    © All content published on When Stars Misguide Us, including but not limited to text, images, and multimedia, is the intellectual property of When Stars Misguide Us and is protected by copyright laws.