Monday, February 29, 2016

Shedding Skin

I had a prediction when I was young.  It was the only prediction I ever had.  I said I would never live past the age of  21.  I thought we would all be dead honestly.  The wars, the disease, famine, evolution, climate, and over population were all against us.  How could we possibly survive when there was this giant monster looming in the darkness just waiting to consume us all?  Turns out is was all media spin.  Magic of the teLIEvision.  They manipulate the facts, mix them with opinions, give us a point of view, then prove it to us.  Funny, it is still happening today.  Now, thanks to social media, we are bombarded with it every second of every day.

But, I digress.  This story is about me and I will make concerted effort to push my add out for long enough to get to my point.  I never thought about the "future."  I never set any goals.  I really didn't think it mattered.  When people said I was messing up, I told them it didn't matter.  When people said I was ruining my chance to go to college, I said it didn't matter.  When people said my behavior was self destructive, I said it didn't matter.  When people said I was going to die young, I said it didn't matter.  The president may push the button and start a nuclear war with Russia any minute.  The next ice age could start tomorrow.  Nothing matters.

Boi, I am so glad I was wrong.  I moved so many times. Started over so many times.  I shed so many skins. I have so many interests.  I like so many types of weather.  I have friends all over the United States.  I love the outdoors.  I have learned so much.  I have so much more to learn. I have finally forgiven.  I have finally forgotten.  I am finally sober.  I know what makes me happy.  I know what I enjoy.  I love helping people.  I love teaching people.  I love coaching kids.

I now have a goal.  My goal is to be a part of a good memory in someone's mind.  The kind that pops into your head from out of nowhere, makes you stop for a second to remember, and puts a smile on your face.  That means something.  Means you had a positive impact on someone's life.  As the good Doctor said "We are all stories in the end, just make it a good one."



I wish I could have understood all this a long time ago.  My mind is fresh and young, but my body feels the weight of all those years of abuse.  I still have a lot left to give.  Someone told my wife they thought I was a teenager playing soccer a couple days ago.  Almost 42 and people think I am a teenager on the soccer field.  Maybe I will keep this skin.  It fits me quite well.