Steven Altman
Bio
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Stories (33/0)
Jante Law
Wandering through a Scandinavian city, some pieces will immediately stand out for you. The old brick buildings in greys, whites, dull yellows, and if in Sweden, reds. The clothing of the people as they shuffle to and fro. Black, white, grey with little bits of colours splashed in from time to time. The buildings and clothings contrasting against the bright blue eyes and blonde hair of the majority of the population. They hold themselves in a manner of quiet confidence, friendliness when approached and eager to help when given the opportunity. Some of the happiest people in the world, they function as one and share a history that is as mixed as it is unique. From Denmark to Norway you will find a societal value that has been ingrained for centuries, dating back to when kommunes (communities) were dependent on the group and individuality was not the priority or heavily encouraged. Helping your family, friends, and following expectations was the way to insure success for yourself, family, and society.
By Steven Altman5 years ago in Wander
Take Some Time
As I walked with a fellow North American teammate, covered in concrete dust and sweat, it dawned on the two of us that we, as westerners, very rarely take the time to appreciate what is around us. To really look around and enjoy life. Our focus, is primarily on the next task at hand.
By Steven Altman5 years ago in Motivation
Why One Tattoo Wasn't Enough
Tattooing has a history all its own, from tribes decorating their bodies with stories and milestones, to being viewed as unsavory and the underground in Western society, and now to an expression of art and self-identity. Looking at any continent on our planet, tattoos and the people that continue to create them have shaped the way we tell our stories, helped handle difficult aspects of our lives, and to remember the paths our lives have taken. From the far East of Japan and Thailand, to name a few, to the Pacific Islands of New Zealand and Samoa, all the way to African nations such as Togo and Burkina Faso. Heading over the Atlantic or Pacific, you will be introduced to South America and North America where tattooing culture has tribal roots in the Amazon, to the more modern styling from the mid- to late-1800s in the United States. From wanderers, vagrants, sailors, and military men to the modern human canvases that pass by us daily, tattooing is a piece of our human identity and can be found in many tribes, cultures, and nations. Today, a new breed of tattooing is around for many reasons, it is not just a rite of passage or a story to tell anymore. It is self-identity, individualism, and a full art form.
By Steven Altman5 years ago in Humans
- Top Story - November 2018
My Boots Are My Roots
I could say all the cliche things to grab your attention. I could paint a fake image of the cowboy life that I grew up in. But, none of that would be me, and that would be a disservice to the way I was raised and taught. I grew up surrounded by my parents, nature, and literally, on horseback. Don't quite get what I mean? Check out the main picture... yup. That's me in the knapsack with my dad at eight months old out in Kananaskis country in Alberta. Most of my childhood memories revolve around nature and family. If we weren't camping, we were on horses. If it wasn't that then it was helping dad with projects around the house. My world was learning, all types of skills, from how to hammer a nail to asking critical thoughtful questions about tough topics like politics, history, and philosophy. I was always encouraged to do well in school and if I was curious, at the time, "Google it" wasn't a phrase yet, grab a dictionary, or an encyclopedia and learn about it.
By Steven Altman5 years ago in Families
Find Friends That Road Trip
Growing up in Canada and in the rural parts of the Great White North, having a vehicle is important not only to get from one place to another but is needed if you ever want to see the country. Transit isn't always practical and trying to get out to the mountains without a ride can be a long and harrowing adventure all its' own. When I first began to drive my friends and I would pile into someones truck, usually mine, and just go out driving around the country side to go fishing, camping or just meet up with other friends further down the line. These trips instilled a very important lesson right away. If you want to see a place, you need to see it through your guides eyes on a road trip. Somebody who knows the area, the roads and the hidden gems that many of us don't have a chance to hear about on a typical wander.
By Steven Altman5 years ago in Wander
The Conversation
This past week I have been reconnecting with a lot of my fellow Canadians back home. With the distance, texts and messenger help to close the gap and time in between. With the time change as I wake, they are preparing to call it a day and visa versa. It just comes with the territory of wandering the globe.
By Steven Altman6 years ago in Humans
A Reflection on Dating Culture
Swipe, swipe, swipe. Match. Text. Talk. Meet. Repeat. New place. New face. Is it new? Is it something productive? It sometimes feels quite the opposite. Dating culture is weird, gone are the days of speaking to someone on the street. Starting a conversation in public.
By Steven Altman6 years ago in Humans
Without Struggle There's No Growth
When looking around the world the media portrays conflict as this heart wrenching, diabolical Goliath that only seeks to twist and bend life into submission. Conflict is brutality and the worst of human beings. It is the loss and destruction of pieces of humanity that we hold sacred. Innocence, pleasure, happiness and comfort are lost within conflict with nothing to gain except...experience?
By Steven Altman6 years ago in Motivation
Why 'One Punch Man' Is Worth Watching
One Punch Man is an anime show based upon Saitama and the issues that he faces as one of the most powerful superheroes in the universe. Compared to other characters that we normally see and that are depicted in movies and cartoons, Saitama is not exceptional in many ways. He's bald, wears a yellow and red suite with a white cape and looks very, well, underwhelming. What he does possess is super strength and the ability to finish any conflict with a single punch, usually with minimal effort.
By Steven Altman6 years ago in Geeks
The Language of Love Abroad
Through my travels I haven't always been in a relationship, in fact it's been very rare. When you are always on the go it can be very difficult for people to want to stick it out or to keep it healthy. What's the next best thing? Well, Tinder. Yup the beloved app for finding your next match, date or hookup. To say it is a serious place to look for love is a little diluted, but, it is not impossible to really strike a connection with someone face to face.
By Steven Altman6 years ago in Humans