One chapter ends, another begins

If my life was a novel, I don't think anyone would read past the introduction.

Fortunately, this blog contains only an abridged version.

Anyway, in keeping with this "novel of life" metaphor, tomorrow will mark the end of what has been an exciting chapter in my life: a summer-long business reporting internship at The Arizona Republic.

The last ten weeks have been exhausting and stressful at times. But the experience was overwhelmingly positive and incredibly valuable. I learned a lot about reporting, about business, and about myself.

I made new friends among the other Pulliam Fellows and co-workers in the business department. Those relationships will always be very important to me.

And as this internship comes to a close, I'm struck by one thought: Nothing lasts.

But here's an equally true, more encouraging thought: When you finish one chapter, there's always another one ready to begin.

And so in less than two weeks I'll be back at the Republic, albeit on a different beat and in a different bureau. I'll be reporting news in the city of Mesa, where I grew up. And my first journalism teacher, the man who set me on my current career path, will be my editor.

The future is as good as you make it.

Amy Wang and I shared a cubicle over the summer.

It was a cramped space, but we had a lot of fun.

A good book is worth a thousand pictures

Sorry photographers, but it's true.

So here are four books I think everyone should read:

1. Into the Wild - by Jon Krakauer. The author recreates the true story of a disenchanted college grad who abandons everything and everyone to disappear into the wilderness and life off the land. Since you are told upfront that the protagonist dies in Alaska, there is a strong sense of melancholy and foreboding throughout the book, which makes the story even more powerful. Reading this book changed me a little bit.
2. Leadership and Self-Deception - written by the Arbinger Institute. This is the most important secular book I've ever read. Every human being should read it. It's a book about interpersonal relationships in a business setting, but it can and should be applied to every aspect of one's life. The main thesis: Treat others as people, not as objects. It's a simple idea, but not so easy to practice. If I could keep just one book to read again, it would be this one.
3. Ender's Game - by Orson Scott Card. A novel about a boy genius who saves the planet from aliens. It sounds childish, and it probably is. But this book isn't really for kids. There's a lot of psychology and sociology mixed in with the laser guns and star ships. I promise.
4. Blink - by Malcolm Gladwell. A psychological book about cognitive processes, specifically quick thinking and gut instinct. It can be a laborious read at times, but it's an opportunity to learn and understand more about the way your mind works. Or, in some cases, the way it doesn't work.

There are so many great books out there, it's difficult to single out a few to recommend. But these four books are entertaining and enriching. You learn more about yourself and the world around you.

And it's exhilarating.

(500) Days of _______

I saw the movie (500) Days of Summer tonight. For the second time.

Probably one of my 10 favorite movies of all time.

The movie captures the dynamics of a relationship incredibly well.

The roller coaster of emotions and feelings.

The inevitable gap between Expectations and Reality.

The pressure.

The obsession.

The joy and disappointment.

And finally, the nervous uncertainty.

The movie makes you laugh throughout, but I think you're mainly laughing at yourself. At least I was. Because "love," or what you may think is love at the time, can make you act silly.

And when the roller coaster ride is over, you feel sick, like you could never ride again. But how quickly do we get back in line?

(500) Days of ______.

Who you're with

Tonight's wise words come from an unexpected but surprisingly consistent source of inspiration: Dave Matthews.

"Turns out not where but who you're with that really matters."

More great lyrics from the same song:

"And if you hold on tight to what you think is your thing, you may find you're missing all the rest."

Source: "Best of What's Around" by Dave Matthews Band.

Quoth the raven

It's almost noon on a beautiful Sunday morning. It's already been a great day.

I just want to share one of my favorite quotes for today's entry:

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

Let's all strive to be excellent.

I'm floating on thin air

Someone recently asked me, "Parker, why are you so happy all the time?"

Before I dive into some sort of abbreviated answer, let me preface this with a disclaimer:

I, of course, am not perfectly happy 100 percent of the time.

AND

I don't have solutions for all the world's problems; I'm still trying to find solutions for my own problems.

That said, I am a generally very happy person. There isn't much that can keep my spirits down for very long.

So, I'd like to share a few thoughts on what makes - and keeps - me happy.

• Positive thinking - This is a choice. It's a decision to cultivate a good attitude and maintain a healthy dose of optimism. And if you're thinking, "Well, I'm just a naturally pessimistic person," then that's where you're losing the battle. There is both good and bad in this world. You shouldn't block out either one, but you can make a choice to focus on the good.
• Passion - Laugh hard. Love everyone. Try new things, and savor the experience. Enjoy life for what it is, and enjoy it passionately.
• See people, not objects - A human being is not an island. He/she is Switzerland: landlocked and surrounded by diverse cultures and tongues. When you go to a restaurant, treat the server like a person, not just a waiter. Apply this concept to everyone you meet. Suddenly the world will feel more like a vibrant ocean teeming with diverse aquatic life, rather than a 2-gallon fishbowl.

I believe there are more keys to happiness, but these three are some of the most important.

And the best news is this: Each of these concepts can be readily applied by anyone. They are elements of life solely under your control. You cannot always choose how much money to make, how many friends to have, or what kind of house to live in. But you can control your attitude.

2nd write-thru

Let it come to you.

That's what a friend said when I told him I had no idea what to blog about tonight.

Hey Alex, guess what? It didn't come to me.

Perhaps exhaustion is to blame. I went into the newsroom just before 8 this morning so I could finish writing this story by lunchtime.

Then, after downing a meaty crab cake at Sam's Cafe, I started working on yet another "Cash for Clunkers" follow-up. I think the story will actually be pretty interesting, but I don't want to tip my hand by giving any details here.

About 20 phone calls later, I logged off and called it a day.

I believe the correct procedure now is to rinse and repeat.

It's a reporter's life

I love my job.

When I tell that to co-workers, they roll their eyes.

When I say it to friends, they smile, nod, and then change the subject.

When I tell my parents, they ask if I really think I can support myself on a reporter's salary.

It seems counter-intuitive, I know. Newspapers are dying, people say. Thousands of reporters and editors are losing their jobs. Journalists are fleeing the "outdated" print media to seek better opportunities elsewhere.

And I actually enjoy this?

Yes. In fact, I love it.

I don't subscribe to the same negative thinking that plagues many in my industry. To quote one of my favorite bands, Chevelle, "This type of thinking could do us in."

In the newsroom, I've been told to "go to law school," "find a nice, cushy job in PR," or "stay in school as long as you can."

There is a galaxy-size void of optimism. Cynicism is much more chic.

But I won't buy into it.

The print medium allows a journalist to delve deeper into a story and provide better, more thorough information to the reader. Granted, A 20-inch story can't say everything, but it certainly beats a 30-second sound byte.

A newspaper provides a lasting, concrete product. It's a tangible record. It can be pasted into a scrapbook, posted to a refrigerator and yes, it will even line your birdcage.

But I digress. This isn't a post about the state of the newspaper industry. It's about me, me, me, and how much fun it is to be a part of all this.

Who else gets paid to call CEOs, mayors, legislators and other bombastic puffballs and ask blunt, sometimes awkward-silence-inducing questions?

Who else gets to go to work each day and do something entirely different than the day before?

Finally - and this is the particularly narcissistic part - who else can google their name and be the subject of approximately 4,000 search results?

Being a reporter is fun. I wish more reporters would remember that.