Random Thoughts...

I sit here trying to think of something to write about. So far I've had suggestions ranging from imaginary friends to the time my sister showed up at the airport to pick me up with a sign that read "Congratulations on the sex change you make a great man!!" Yeah awesome, that was a great moment for me. In retrospect it was pretty funny though so kudos to them for pulling it off. But still I'm left with out inspiration. Perhaps I'm looking for too much? Isn't the real humor and beauty in life found in the ordinary? Isn't it the details that really make up life? With that in mind maybe I'll just talk a little about a few of the details that make up me and my life...

I don't know if I'm the only one but I'm sure I'm not, who steps back for a second and thinks... where did all the time go? I think Facebook has really made me step back and consider this. I've had a little Facebook page for a few years but never really did anything with it. In the last few months though I've been engaging in it a bit more. It's amazing the people you find on there. People who I haven't seen or heard from since the morning after Grad Night in 1993 when I graduated high school. I look at the pictures and truthfully wonder who these people are? Where did the time go? When did we get older? When did we become the adults? Truly... that's a scary thing to think that the same friend who wrecked 3 cars in a month, felt compelled to visual emphasis the Virgin Mary's virginity with a hip thrust in Sunday school now carries a gun and is investigating domestic terrorism for the FBI. When did we grow up? 

The other day I was sitting in my office at work and it really hit home that I'm full-on involved in a career and life is moving forward at a breakneck pace. It's amazing all the things I've experienced when I look back on it. The memories come flooding back, moments of greatness, and moments of despair but overall I'm grateful for all of them. Even the painful ones. Each experience has led me to where I am. Sure there are things I'd like to improve and I'm by no means finished and satisfied with where I'm at, which isn't to say I'm unhappy quite the opposite. I'm very happy. I just think that once we are satisfied and not looking to grow we're cheating ourselves. I hope I never stop learning and discovering new things. Isn't that what life is all about?

I think about the mistake I've made in the past and as Amanda and I are starting our family I think what advice would I give my children? What pearl of wisdom would I pass on to them if I could only pass on one thing. It's tough to say. There are so many things to teach them. Would it be to trust in God, how about teaching them about love by showing them how much their mother means to me, the value of education? It's tough to say but I think if I could only pass on one thing it would be to live life to the fullest.

So faithful readers live life to the fullest. What I mean by this is simply capture each moment and savor it for what it is because you'll never have it again. Savor each painful lesson and take something away from that experience that will help you grow as a person. When you play lose yourself in it. You see we aren't defined by our accomplishments or the big things that have happened to us, we are defined by the ordinary details of our everyday life because it's those small simple moments that lead us to those big moments and the outcome of those moments were decided long before those moments came. So if you're unhappy with your big moments then look at the details of your life and make some changes. 

So even though you're not here yet live life to the fullest whoever you are. When you cry, cry hard and savor that moment for it will teach you empathy for the pain of others. When you triumph and experience great joy soak it up because then you'll be able to revel in the joys of others. Ultimately live your life and experience what this world has to offer because there so so much. The wonderment you experience with every new day as a child doesn't go away because the world changes, you change. So may you always be a child at heart and look at the world wide-eyed with wonder and find ways to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. 

I read this and it looks like I threw up a bunch of random thoughts on this page. Maybe I did, maybe I just needed to get this out. Either way, I'll now retreat back under the bus and reflect on all the details of my life, I'll laugh I'll smile and there are a few that will bring a little moisture to my eyes. However; I can say this for certain, the best is yet to come and I'm grateful for all those who've shared the details of their life with me and I'm thankful to all of you who have contributed to the details of my life.