Chu The Cud

Baby steps unraveling

Embracing change and letting go can feel daunting and terrifying, but it can also be liberating, it creates space for new growth, exploration and possibilities.

Embracing change can be time, place or your eternal clock.

Time and place aren’t major if it’s by choice, but the eternal clock is significantly embracing change.

The “eternal clock” taps into something more profound: an inherent, timeless shift that goes beyond circumstance, carrying a deeper significance.

You see the change in the mirror or in a photograph, where time is captured in a glance. You feel the change in the shift of your patience, energy and steps, in tasks once effortless, now a struggle.

Surrendering to life’s natural rhythm is an impasse. A paradox of life’s unknown.

Letting go is a profound act of embracing uncertainty. The loss of what’s familiar, even when it no longer serves us, can feel uncomfortable, destabilizing, and even debilitating.

The rawness in that space between release and renewal. The uncertainties of boredom, the slow aching pause, while waiting for what’s next.

The healing process needed before moving on. The knowing it’s not good to linger with unspoken goodbyes.

Closure is never painless, but necessary. There is no timetable, just consistency.

Remove yourself from all familiarity.

It can be unsettling, but it can also be where true transformation begins.

Release the grip to begin the journey of anew.

c 2025 Chu The Cud

Available at Amazon.com
https://a.co/d/g4Px2w2

2012 Ford Fusion SEL

What is your all time favorite automobile?

2012 Ford Fusion SEL

After my 2006 Ford Fusion was totaled in an accident, I decided to use the insurance payout to purchase a 2012 Ford Fusion, the last model year before the body style changed.

This car was fully loaded with all the amenities one could want, and it quickly became a joy to own. Nearly 14 years and 150,000 miles later, it’s still a pleasure to drive.

Her name is Bertha, and she’s been my steadfast companion through thick and thin.

Together, we’ve shared countless memories, including a cross-country adventure from Los Angeles to Tampa, Florida, and back. Bertha isn’t just a car, she’s a symbol of resilience, comfort, and the journey itself.

c 2024 Chu The Cud

Available on Amazon
https://a.co/d/0WPluwQ

My Children

Who are the biggest influences in your life?

My children.

They’re incredible people that I love to be around. Smart, intelligent individuals with common sense and a sense of humor. Individual thinkers.

Each one has their own unique perspective with a foundation in truth. They continue to teach me new ways of thinking.

Whenever I get down, all I have to do is think of them and my spirit lifts and all is all right in my world once again.

I love them unconditionally.

c 2024 Chu The Cud

Available at Amazon.com
https://a.co/d/6x436jC

1965

Share what you know about the year you were born.

Important Events in 1965.

I was born.

President of the USA was Lyndon B. Johnson and his Vice President was Hubert H. Humphrey.

Civil Rights Movement:

The Selma to Montgomery marches took place, leading to the Voting Rights Act.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Space Exploration:

NASA’s Mariner 4 sent back the first close-up photos of Mars.

The Soviet Union performed the first spacewalk by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov.

Vietnam War:

U.S. involvement escalated with the deployment of combat troops.

Malcolm X: Assassinated in February in New York City.

Power Blackout: The Great Northeast blackout of 1965 affected 30 million people in the U.S. and Canada.

Top TV Shows of 1965

1. The Ed Sullivan Show

2. Gunsmoke

3. Bonanza

4. Bewitched

5. The Andy Griffith Show

6. I Dream of Jeannie (premiered in 1965)

7. Get Smart (also premiered in 1965)

Top Films of 1965

1. The Sound of Music: A massive hit and winner of the Best Picture Oscar.

2. Doctor Zhivago: A romantic epic set against the Russian Revolution.

3. Thunderball: The fourth James Bond film starring Sean Connery.

4. Mary Poppins: Though released in late 1964, it remained very popular in 1965.

5. The Great Race: A comedy-adventure film.

Top Music of 1965

Albums:

1. Bob Dylan – Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited (featuring “Like a Rolling Stone”).

2. The Beatles – Help! and Rubber Soul.

3. The Rolling Stones – Out of Our Heads.

Singles:

1. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” – The Rolling Stones.

2. “Yesterday” – The Beatles.

3. “My Girl” – The Temptations.

4. “Help!” – The Beatles.

5. “Stop! In the Name of Love” – The Supremes.

On August 15, the Beatles performed their iconic concert at Shea Stadium in New York City, setting the stage for arena rock shows.

Fashion in 1965

The Mod Look: Popularized by Twiggy and the fashion scene in London.

Mini Skirt: First introduced by designer Mary Quant.

Bold prints, bright colors, and go-go boots dominated the era.

Denim Jeans: Tight-fitting jeans became a staple among young men.

Graphic T-Shirts: Worn under open button-up shirts or jackets for a laid-back look.

The fashion world was embracing bold, experimental colors and patterns, which younger men adopted in casual shirts and accessories.

A Charlie Brown Christmas” aired for the first time, becoming a holiday classic.

1965 was a pivotal year in history, culture, and entertainment, with significant moments shaping the world and leaving a lasting legacy.

2024 Chu The Cud

Available now at Amazon.com
https://a.co/d/j6nsARh

Food staples

List your top 5 grocery store items.

1. Coffee – Essential for starting the day strong.

2. Half and Half – Perfect for complementing that morning coffee.

3. Protein (Beef, Chicken, Fish, Eggs) – Versatile and nutritious, covering multiple meal options.

4. Vegetables (Asparagus, Broccoli, Onions, Spinach) – Fresh greens to balance out meals and add flavor.

5. Morning Pastry – A delightful treat to pair with coffee or enjoy as a quick breakfast.

There are many others but these are my daily food staples.

c 2024 Chu The Cud

Self defined

Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.

“I don’t concern myself with what people might say about me, that’s their choice, not mine.

Instead, I focus on living my life with integrity, empathy, respect, and responsibility. Those are the values I hold myself accountable to.

Validation need not apply.

I’ve lived long enough to let go of fixating on what others might think of me. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about myself or how I present myself, it just means I prioritize my own standards over external opinions.

This mindset can inspire others to follow suit, but it may also lead to inner truths and needs being overlooked.

c 2024 Chu The Cud

Now available on Amazon.com
https://a.co/gd/h8yTOY5n

Evolving milestones

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

There were many milestones and each were like stepping into a stream of possibilities, adapting moment to moment.

First time moving out and finding an apartment in Boston. Stepping out into a different state than I grew up and against the wishes of my father. Without the help of anyone.

It was both challenging and exhilarating. Carving out true independence for the first time in my life.

Taking on the responsibility to build myself and character with integrity. A commitment to authenticity and growth in becoming a man.

Taking the time, learning who I am.

Later I moved to Los Angeles by myself and am still here.

I jumped in my 2000 Ford Focus with, Brando my Akita puppy and drove from Rhode Island to Los Angeles.

Another milestone was becoming a father for the first time.

Witnessing his birth and holding my son for the first time was an amazing moment and milestone. Each child was the same feeling with the exception of the firstborn because he was the one who transformed me into being a father.

There are many others because growth should be a constant process in life.

An ever evolving story with many chapters, encounters and characters.

Each day and milestone contributes to who I am, with more to come.

c 2024 Chu The Cud

Available on Amazon.com
https://a.co/d/h8yTOY5n

Unclutter

When you cave in to materialism, you forfeit your freedom to simply be, to ponder, to exist unbound.

The flash and sparkle that seize your attention, manipulating your mind with coercive persuasion, feeding the soul with vain acquisitions that offer no true fulfillment.

Must-have gadgets, their purpose dictated by the perpetrators of the gadgets. Superfluous items provide hollow sustenance, offering only an illusory solace of fulfillment.

Minimalism offers a chance to truly appreciate what you have, yourself and the time to spend with you. The intangible beauty of life, complimentary and profound, that can transform your experience in and of the world.

To contemplate, unrestrained and free from unnecessary distractions, not suffering the hypnotic pull of meaningless mental turmoil.

Not suffering the stress and anxiety of bill payments, nor the added financial challenges that sustain the perpetual cycle, bound by conditional restraint.

Sidestepping the blue light, breathing in the scent of daylight, this is the prescription.

Break the grip of commercialism and embrace the influence of Mother Nature, a vast spectrum of beauty, a sensory buffet.

Take a walk and notice the beauty right in front of you, free from the programming that obscures the obvious.

Materialism fosters a sense of emptiness and unfulfillment, while minimalism creates space for deeper connections.

Take your life back.

c 2024 Chu The Cud

Available at Amazon.com
https://a.co/d/8yTOY5n

Day of the fight

As a longtime fan of independent film, I was eager to see this movie after stumbling upon a Facebook ad for it.

Michael Pitt immediately caught my attention. I’ve missed his presence since his character was killed off in Boardwalk Empire after season two. Seeing Steve Buscemi and Joe Pesci in the trailer only heightened my anticipation. Given its limited release, I took my oldest son along for the experience.

From the moment the film began, I was drawn in. The story kept my attention throughout, though it offered an unexpected perspective on the day of a big boxing match.

Instead of the usual gym scenes or mental preparations, the protagonist, Michael “Irish” Flanagan, is running around completing step nine of Alcoholics Anonymous, making amends despite not having fought in a decade. It was a fresh and unconventional approach, albeit surprising.

Michael Pitt delivers a compelling performance as Irish, a once-great boxer whose life spiraled into chaos due to fame and alcoholism.

Through brief, poignant flashbacks, we glimpse at his rise and fall, as well as the toll it took on his family and career. Now, he’s a shadow of his former self, struggling to reclaim what little remains of his dignity.

The soundtrack is a standout feature, especially Nicolette Robinson’s unique rendition of CCR’s, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” which plays as Irish races to the fight. The song’s melancholy tone perfectly mirrors the protagonist’s state of mind and adds depth to the scene.

While the film is not groundbreaking in its story or script, it’s an enjoyable experience, a grounded, heartfelt movie without the distractions of special effects, high-speed chases, or explosions.

Once scene reminded me of the classic, “On the Waterfront,” a poignant scene where Irish speaks with his ex-wife while walking in a park, evoking the iconic park conversation between Terry Malloy and Edie Doyle.

The beat down landscapes and backdrops are a pivotal component of the films story.

Overall, I left the theater feeling satisfied. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s one worth watching, especially for those who appreciate character-driven stories and the charm of indie cinema.

c 2024 Chu The Cud

Echos

The longing for times gone by and the complexity of emotional attachment of memories from consciousness.

Lingering over our heads like a halo whirling in the rhythm of the earth.

Every present.

c 2024 Chu The Cud