Dear Stalker,
I have moved.


All others, please find my new home under a "protected" post.
Shpanks. 

Playing it safe never made a person great.


Pushing yourself to one's limits is like travelling along the ocean: whenever you think you've reached the horizon, you realize that there is more open water still left to be discovered.  Your journey never ends.  The capacity to grow is directly related to your desire to try.  Leaving one's comfort zone -- physically, mentally, emotionally -- is always uncomfortable.  And it's true, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

I don't think we're meant to understand the "meaning of life".  In fact, I believe that is a fruitless endeavor that only wastes precious moments that are better spent enriching our lives.  If every person realized that through their experiences, failures, and successes, each unique life was a small yet vital piece of this mututally dependent puzzle called The World, then no one would have to go through the motions of life feeling so lost.  Be cognizant that your actions will have a ripple effect on not only your life, but upon others.  Remember, "no man is an island."

Tomorrow, I take a crucial small baby step towards harmonizing the ripples of my life.  Although it scares me to death, I refuse to let fear dictate my actions.  I don't really know what will come out of tomorrow, but that isn't really relevant.  Like they say, it's the journey and not the destination.  And let me tell you -- part of the journey is an 9 hour commute.   Anyways, wish me luck and say a prayer to keep me safe.

Taken from one of my all-time favorite writers.  If ever you're in need of a good introspective book, I'd highly recommend Thoreau's Walden.  This quote alone is laced with numerous layers of meaning, touching both our personal and professional lives. 

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...dream, and dream big.  Never let the fear of failure keep you from at least trying.  What good will simply stating you'll become a millionaire one day, if you're never willing to work hard?  What good will saying you're going to marry that pretty girl someday, if you're never even willing to ask?  There are two tragedies in life: one is to never know the depth of one's potential, and the other is to never strive to capitalize on that potential.  This goes for your career aspirations and your romantic endeavors. CARPE DIEM. You will earn the respect of your peers if you at least try, but you will be forgotten if you never take the first step.

The bottom line is that a given outcome is never a guarantee.  Disappointments, failures, setbacks are all inevitable.  But you're only as great as you're willing to dream...so we should all set our eyes on the road ahead while keeping steady hands on the wheel.  I believe I will become something great.  I believe I will be someone great.  But I'm also aware that I hold the keys to my own success: perserverance, persistence, determination, ambition....nothing is for free. 

Don't let a good thing slip between your fingers.  Great jobs, great loves -- all require work.  And you know what?  It wouldn't be much of a *castle* if it was so damn easy to attain.  Now, the castle is mine to take, but also mine to grow.  And so I will begin to lay each brick, one by one, so I can rest assured that when I get to my castle, a little shake, a winter's storm, or even a huff-and-a-puff-and-I'll-blow-your-house-down will not destroy my beautiful castle in the sky.

The other day, my friend and I were having a discussion over coffee and he made an interesting comment: every person's life is motivated by fear.  At first glance, this makes sense: we don't want to be lonely, we don't want to be poor, we don't want to be fat, etc.  However, the more and more I listened to him, the more and more a part of me refused to believe it.

Sadly, there are some of us who live our lives in fear.  However, I believe that for the majority of us, our lives are motivated by desire.  Deep down inside, all of us desire to find that perfect someone who will complete us.  All of us desire the personal satisfaction of being successful with a job you're good at.  All of us desire to leave a legacy beyond the finite period of our lives.

Too often I catch myself stressing over the little things.  Granted, I've gotten much better, but I've still got a long ways to go.  I can't remember the last time I didn't have school, organizational responsibilities, or other personal crap constantly harping on my mind and taken a full day just to enjoy myself.  I remember when I was in elementary school and how the weekends were just the best of times.  You would wake up for Saturday morning cartoons (Hey, anyone watch Beakman's World?  That shit was great), run across the street to play with my friends and swim for hours on end only to cap everything off with a warm grilled cheese sandwich and ice cold juice.

Even though I've lived in Austin for almost 4 years now, I've yet to really enjoy the lake and explore the beautiful hill country around me.  It really makes me sad that I honestly cannot recall a day in recent memory where I wasn't stressed about -something-.  *shrugs*  When I think about my future, all I see is 4 more of years school: get my BBA, MPA, CPA license, and J.D.  I will have spent almost 20 years of my life in school by the time I finally graduate.

All my life, I've always taken the "safe" route.
But as I mature (at least I hope I'm freakkin maturing?!), I realize that life is also about taking chances.  So here I am, kinda at a mini-fork in the road and I realize...I'm not gonna be a little chicken shit anymore. (...all this reminds me of my all-time favorite poem, "The Road Less Taken" by Robert Frost -- go read it if you have the time)

Most of you will have no idea what I'm talking about, and some of you might have a clue.  But just know this--I may be scared, but my life isn't motivated by fear.  I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.  So...fuck it.  Buckle up and hang on for the ride.  No one said life was supposed to be easy.