in examining the world around me, as one is to do when you're away from home and facing mortality somewhat face to face every day, i have come to form a hypothesis.
religious people are everywhere...and you could be one and not even know it.
now to question whether you could be a religious nut and not recognize it is to first remove those that associate with being "religious." we discard those that follow a program of faith concerning the existence of a deity(ies) and hell...these days even the belief that there is no such higher power. atheism has taken on a religious tone. we remove those and are left with the very core of what faith and a religion are: a devotion to a system that guides your well being..and it's everywhere in people all around you.
it's a new diet they're sticking to.
a new exercise program they're on.
a new hobby they picked up.
a new book they read.
these things affecting the very mindset we elect to live our life by. and with the same vigor as any door to door missionary or televangelist...they want to tell you about this thing they "discovered" that changed their lives!
YOU GOTTA TRY THIS! YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME TRUST ME!
and it's understandable. for the only even slightest reason for these folks need to get in your face is to just observe that you're not as noticeably happy as they are! they have to share the secret, solicited or not.
it changed their mind.
or changed their appearance.
and therefore changed how they view and enjoy the world, like any religion.
and you can have your new thing.
you can have your god, or your cross fit, or gluten free food, or your rocks to climb.
just get the fuck outta my space about it.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
that boy's got a lot o' quit in 'im
get a haircut and get a real job.
when i was in the beginnings of adulthood i was in a pretty good position to pursue my dreams.
i was young.
i had no debt.
i was a decent looking guy.
i was a white male with no kids.
SKY WAS THE LIMIT!!!
i was doing stand up comedy at the age of 18, getting paid and even doing shows out of state. i had talent, a future, a good support system. so what was wrong with that?
there's no money starting out.
yeah, i had a great support system but that didn't mean i wanted to be dependent on that support system. i wanted my own place, my own rules, my own life.
compromise number one: joining the military.
not too bad, just do four years. i get a little nest egg and when that's done i'm back on the road to the emerald city right?
compromise two: staying in the military for my wife and kid.
well we saw how the marriage worked out. and not to take that lightly. my exwife is a great woman and great mother. we're still in each others' lives because we're still a team in raising our little girl. and even when we were together we had agreed that i wouldn't stay career. she knew what i really wanted out of life and she supported that, as a good friend does. well why wasn't I adamant about staying in? the guy who joined for the sake of being on his own, to handle is own...
i couldn't tell my daughter to follow her dreams if i hadn't tried myself.
my mother and father sacrificed so much in their lives..im sure had to put a few dreams in the proverbial drawer for the sake of giving their children a good life. nobody appreciates that more than my brother, sister, and myself. for me though, i had the tools to pursue what i always wanted and i wasn't, but i wasn't going to let that memory of what could've been pound my mind down until i escaped each night in sleep. i ask those of you out there that have that feeling inside to not push it down.
i'm not saying drop your job and kids and start up the rock band.
but indulge a little in those things that you loved doing. i was stationed at offutt and doing comedy shows. was i out all night every weekend hitting the clubs and getting some scratch for gas money? no, but i was still getting a glimmering of what i had and it re energized the thirst to entertain.
a thirst that will not go unquenched. mark my words. it's still important to have a responsible plan to those you're responsible for, and to have a support system of family and friends. pursuing the "unsure" thing is never easy, but you only get one go around. if you can't do the 9-5 grind (and bless the ones who love it) then get out there do something that's gonna make you proud. people feed off of energy (calm down hippies, this isn't a rally). if you're happy and are proud and fulfilled, those around you will be too...especially if you have kids.
fear is a powerful thing. it can either propel you to try harder, or chase you away off of the path. you need to find out what it does to you. if you can feed off of it, great...but if you can't, you need to learn to not fear. it's not the same path for everyone, but all paths can lead to the same result. enjoy the journey: the successes, failures, highs and lows...all of these things make up what is your life.
when i was in the beginnings of adulthood i was in a pretty good position to pursue my dreams.
i was young.
i had no debt.
i was a decent looking guy.
i was a white male with no kids.
SKY WAS THE LIMIT!!!
i was doing stand up comedy at the age of 18, getting paid and even doing shows out of state. i had talent, a future, a good support system. so what was wrong with that?
there's no money starting out.
yeah, i had a great support system but that didn't mean i wanted to be dependent on that support system. i wanted my own place, my own rules, my own life.
compromise number one: joining the military.
not too bad, just do four years. i get a little nest egg and when that's done i'm back on the road to the emerald city right?
compromise two: staying in the military for my wife and kid.
well we saw how the marriage worked out. and not to take that lightly. my exwife is a great woman and great mother. we're still in each others' lives because we're still a team in raising our little girl. and even when we were together we had agreed that i wouldn't stay career. she knew what i really wanted out of life and she supported that, as a good friend does. well why wasn't I adamant about staying in? the guy who joined for the sake of being on his own, to handle is own...
i couldn't tell my daughter to follow her dreams if i hadn't tried myself.
my mother and father sacrificed so much in their lives..im sure had to put a few dreams in the proverbial drawer for the sake of giving their children a good life. nobody appreciates that more than my brother, sister, and myself. for me though, i had the tools to pursue what i always wanted and i wasn't, but i wasn't going to let that memory of what could've been pound my mind down until i escaped each night in sleep. i ask those of you out there that have that feeling inside to not push it down.
i'm not saying drop your job and kids and start up the rock band.
but indulge a little in those things that you loved doing. i was stationed at offutt and doing comedy shows. was i out all night every weekend hitting the clubs and getting some scratch for gas money? no, but i was still getting a glimmering of what i had and it re energized the thirst to entertain.
a thirst that will not go unquenched. mark my words. it's still important to have a responsible plan to those you're responsible for, and to have a support system of family and friends. pursuing the "unsure" thing is never easy, but you only get one go around. if you can't do the 9-5 grind (and bless the ones who love it) then get out there do something that's gonna make you proud. people feed off of energy (calm down hippies, this isn't a rally). if you're happy and are proud and fulfilled, those around you will be too...especially if you have kids.
fear is a powerful thing. it can either propel you to try harder, or chase you away off of the path. you need to find out what it does to you. if you can feed off of it, great...but if you can't, you need to learn to not fear. it's not the same path for everyone, but all paths can lead to the same result. enjoy the journey: the successes, failures, highs and lows...all of these things make up what is your life.
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