“’cause they will run you down, down ’til the dark..
yes, and they will run you down, down ’til you fall..
and they will run you down, down to your core..
yeah, ’til you can’t crawl no more..

and way down we go…”

~ Kaleo, “Way Down We Go”

One thing that is a flaw of mine is trying to finish something before I start something new. I have three posts that I am simultaneously working on for this blog. Probably better if I focus on one and not half-ass the other two, yeah? Welp, of course while I’m working on one trying to get it up to speed and quality that I want it to be (while still sick, mind you, this whole being sick for a week straight thing is not cute), I have this whole different thought process hit me saying “yowritemecauseimnotgonnastopbeingonyoursubconsciousuntilyoudoson” and fighting that is not easy. So, here is post 2 of what I’m trying to put out to the world. It’s on a different vibe than the other ones, so work with me, yeah?

I’m a fan of traveling.. as you can see and imagine. There are trips that I have taken, trips that I am planning, and trips that I dream of. My goal is to fill my place with life size portraits and landscapes that I have taken.. because it’s one thing to have the Eiffel Tower on my living room wall, but it’s another to have a life size picture of it that is mine all mine, you know? Makes it feel much more authentic and from my own point of view. I already have a library of pictures to choose from, and I’m looking to add to them.

But what I put before all my days of exploring and gallivanting through the planet are two things that are near and dear to me: my family, and my religion. Before you start clicking to the next post because I’m mentioning religious matters, hear me out. I am a Christian, and I am still learning and trying to do right each day. I’m not one to preach that I’m holier than thou, because I know I’m not. All I can be is a better version of me each day, and what I believe in helps me do that. I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t claim to. There’s a lot more than I can do in my life to prepare myself for this afterlife that occurs after my last breath here, and I know that I slip up daily. We all do. If you ask me to respect your opinion on what you believe in, I ask you to do the same. Only fair, right? I can invite you to come with me on my journey, I can show you how it has changed my life (and I’m not exaggerating here, I’d be glad to have a drink with you and go over it in detail), and I can show you my perspective on how I see it.

One thing I can’t stand for is just outright bashing it. Criticism is one thing, and we can have a healthy debate, which I’d have no problem with. But mocking it and making it seem like it’s a waste of my time when I could be doing other things is grounds for us being on thin ice. It’s really not cool. To me, I have a personal obligation to serve, and it’s something that I am not ashamed of doing. For years, I was curious of other people’s religious backgrounds and affiliations.. not to judge or to convert, but to learn more about what led them to their choosing. I would never talk down to someone who is a different affiliation than I am, who the blue hell am I to do that? So, to tell me that what I am doing is wrong or that I am spending more time doing that than doing something else is an open-handed slap in the face. If you don’t know why I feel how I feel about it, then you don’t know me fully.. and while I’d be glad to share my story, I don’t need sarcastic barbs directed to me if/when I do. I feel that’s a fair assessment to imply, yeah?

The other part of this lies with my family. If you know me (if you don’t, what’s taking you so long?), you know that my family can sometimes drive me loco in the coco, but they are nearest and dearest to me no matter what. Honestly, in terms of priorities, if I was put third behind God and someone’s family, then I’d have no problem with that. I don’t need anyone to put me before God, or their family, because as strong as a connection as we might have, your family comes before me, and so does God. That’s just my thought. I’ll continue to remind you that. I’m flattered if I’m that high up on your list, but I won’t let myself be your main focus in life. 😉

But yeah, long story short, if we can vibe about religion (even if we’re going down a different path), and my family thinks you’re chill (and you can hold your own in some trash talk), settle yourself in for some holiday food, and make a key to slide through. Okay, maybe not a key. Just let me know you’re coming through, alright?

I guess the last thing that my subconscious is telling me to get out in the open is this.. I have a lot of dreams and cockamamie ideas. Many people do, I get it. But here’s the thing. There are certain goals that I have that I am looking to achieve sooner than later. Vague, but you know me (well, you do now if not). Some are pie in the sky, lottery-hitting dreams. My “new year, new continent” goal is a bit out of reach at the moment, but others are reachable and attainable, more so than ever before. What I don’t need is the horseshit of life called doubt. I’m all about helping folks hit their goals and aspirations.. and the closer it is to them (and the more they believe they will do it), the more it inspires me to hunker down and focus on what it is that I need to do. What I am not taking from here on in is excuses. Right now, I’m 88 days into 2017, and I am nowhere near my target weight for the summer, and I know it’s my doing (or lack thereof) that has me where I am. However, I’m not making excuses for why, we just know that tomorrow is a new day to start. It’s up to me whether I want to make something better of myself, or make up a reason why I didn’t.

Alright, so after that pep talk to myself, I say that to say this: If you’re going to be detrimental to what I’m reaching to do, then the riches need not include you. I’ve already struggled enough (both necessarily and unnecessarily) to have some unwanted snide shit seep its way into my soup. It’s not a direct jab (or haymaker, depending on how it’s taken), it’s just general discourse.. and a fair warning, in my opinion. I value my worth enough to cut ties with those who aren’t doing anything to help me reach my peak, and it’s high time I make good on it. Full disclosure: I didn’t before.. I was told I didn’t love myself because all I did was cater to everyone but myself. And they were right. As brutal as that sounded, it was accurate in more ways than one. A long process to go through, and still going through, to keep it 100. But what I’ve learned (which wasn’t all fun, I’m sure you can assume) has made me who I am today. Cliché, but true. Forgive me if it’s not the finished product.

Anyway, I know I can do better than what I’ve done with this blog. If I’m going to promote this, it’s going to be more than a post every quarter.. because what fun is that? So, my Q2 goal is to get better at this updating thing. Maybe you throw me a bone and give a like? Or le comment? Or you can be that Creeper McGee who just visits from the shadows and whatnot.. that’s cool too.

But I’ve more to work with this Spring.

4.27-30 – New York City.
5.26-29 – Miami.
6.30-7.4 – Los Angeles.

There are other trips that will be planned during the season, but that is what is scheduled. Trips, shenanigans and debauchery subject to change. But til the next time, misadventurers.. #overandout