33 replies to this topic

[Che'_Moderator]

I do this about once a year so the OGs have seen this, but for the new people I pose something to think about:

Think back to when you were a young kid. What did you want to be when you grew up? It was probably something you may consider unreasonable now. A firefighters, astronaut, super hero, princess whatever. The title is not important, but what is important is the reasons why. At the end of the day it was probably the virtues. Loyalty, bravery, responsibility, whatever those traits were think about them. Now think about the way you are living your life now? Would the 7 year old version of you be happy with who you are? I think very few of us could truthfully answer yes. For those who say no, what was the issue? Do you not find those desirable traits anymore, or is it an issue of responsibility or social dogmas? Maybe the world just doesn't feel as shiny and new to you anymore. Whatever the case is, why sit back and justify falling short on a childhood dream? So few dreams can be realized why not take the easy ones. No one says you cannot have the traits of a super hero and the job title of loan officer, or the responsibility and glamor of a princess and the title of service manager.

With so many things apparently wrong in the world around us, why not take a look at the world within us and expand on what we can. Its too easy on a day to day basis to make excuses. All of us have a nagging regret in the back of our mind. Maybe something we didn't do or someone we screwed over but justified it and say it was so long ago it doesn't matter anymore. Maybe it doesn't matter, but fixing yourself can be the start of fixing everything around. Take it for what you will guys,

[850newb]

as soon as i put a clutch in my acquisition and flip this dreaded rwd flatform i will join, for life.

Does prior temp membership reduce my future endeavor in this?

[Spanky]

The first steps to making a permanent change

[Fudge_Brownie]

I think I need to put this on my calendar and have it auto-prompt me every 6 months. Maybe more frequently. Though I'd fear becoming numb to it.

When I was very young, I was inspired to be a medical doctor. My mom had a medical reference book and I used to study it. Reading comprehension wasn't great, but it had plenty of diagrams. I tossed those dreams out the window when I realized I can't be objective enough to honestly help everyone, regardless of their lifestyle.

My passion has always been with cars, and in middle school, I aspired to be on a car design team. In the mean time, I'd been developing a heavy love for computers. I basically gave up gaming and started trying to learn everything I could. In late middle school I decided I wanted to be rich (no, really ), primarily driven by my love for cars and a new facination with yachts. Started trying to think up ways to get there. I remember walking on the beach with my parents and I talked about my high goals. I never forget that conversation because my mom encouraged it. Though she was very confused because she's as far from materialistic as you can get and didn't know how I'd ended up that way. But the shocking part was when my dad tried to tell me not to shoot too high in the fear of failure, and it was the first time I realized my parents weren't on the same wave length.

As highschool came to an end, I watched my dad get laid off, for reasons I believed were his fault while my mom worked extremely hard and underappreciated at her job. I'd decided many problems people have stems from money, and many limitations people have stems from a lack of money and the fear of failure. I decided I'd need to be an entrepenuer to accomplish my goals. Highschool set us up with local businesses for a "visit a work" type day. The CEO of a small medical company took three students and myself for a personal tour. He was a real nice guy, nothing like the Hollywood stereotypes we're shown. On the wall were pictures of the CEO, the CFO, and a friend of their's in torn up clothing hanging sheet rock. The 3 founders sheetrocked the whole office themselves, sleeping on the job site to make it happen. He told us that if you ever want to make the big money, to work for yourself. Otherwise, you'd just be working to make someone else's pay.

Time to pick a college path. Engineering for boats and cars? Or a natural choice given my hobby; computers? I decided designing yachts or cars would be a fairly tiny market, while the computer field was huge. All three seemed lucrative. I chose computers, and pretty much never looked back. Started doing internships freshman year, graduated in 4 years with a partial MS in CS, and started working immediately. During my time in college, I "looked back on all that crap I learned in highschool", and realized I wish I knew more of it. I wish I hadn't slept through most of it. Now, I want to learn everything. Any topic, not just computers. I don't think I want to finish the MS in CS yet, and hope to enroll in an MBA program soon.

Despite all that, am I "living the dream"? Tough to say. I've got an offer in on a house, nice career path, an education, and a great girlfriend, and none of it was 'handed to me'. American dream. And I'm not sad that I'm not a medical doctor, a car designer, or yacht designer. But my dream has a lot more freedom in it, and I think thats why I'd like to go for the MBA. Debts like college loans and a mortgage (or even a lease) create fear of taking a chance at this point in my life. And by the end of college, I was starting to feel burnt out, bitter about pretty much everyone I ever met, and a back problem that was basically controlling my life. So maybe it's time to slow down and enjoy life for a few months I've joked with people that I'm too old already. They probably don't realize I'm only half kidding. I just hope I don't become content, or numb to my ambitions. My mom has since started her own business, and told me part of my rants about money controlling people's lives, the benifits of working for yourself, etc partially inspired her to do it.

Something tells me a lot of people aren't going to read this whole thing, but I hope it's at least slightly interesting to at least one person.
uh, [/lifestory]?

Chuck, can we get your response to your own question? Especially given your recent life changes?

[NEU]

When I was 6 I got my first camera. But before that I always said I wanted to be an "Artist" (I liked to draw a lot). When I was in high school my father would joke with me "what do you really want to do, Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer?" I always replied "Photographer". When I was in college studying photography , video and art, I interned at my base and got my first taste of high speed video. I thought at the time I'd never have another opportunity to work in that again. Well boys and girls, DREAMS DO COME TURE! Especially if you stick to your guns and your passions.

I may not be rich or famous being a lowly Civil Servant Photographer/Videographer. But I serve my country everyday! I'm the US Navy's High Speed Imaging expert. Admirals view my work on a regular basis and I get to do what I always wanted to create images. Whether one frame at a time for at 300,000 FPS. I think a lot of folks think they have to make money to be successful and happy, LOTS OF IT. Well yes money is good but it can't buy you happiness, it will just buy you THINGS. I leave work everyday knowing I'm doing what I truly love, at a fantastic place NSWC Carderock, "Where the Fleet Begins!"


And yes if I showed you my work I'd have to kill you....

[InitialDriveGTR]

Fudge_Brownie, on 09 June 2010 - 12:59 PM, said:

(shortened)

Something tells me a lot of people aren't going to read this whole thing, but I hope it's at least slightly interesting to at least one person.
uh, [/lifestory]?

Chuck, can we get your response to your own question? Especially given your recent life changes?

Read the whole thing, and have more respect.

Edited by Fudge_Brownie, 10 June 2010 - 12:55 AM.
the lazy readers don't need to scroll past it twice

[bergmjs]

I wanted to be an engineer like my dad was and now I'm a junior in the College of Engineering at Umass Amherst. So I believe I'm still on track.

[Kevin.]

When I was growing up, I always loved sports. Baseball was my forte, and I loved to practice and play. I was also very interested in music; since the age of 8 or so I had been actively involved in playing an instrument. As I continued to grow, I was torn between my 2 loves: sports and music. The harsh reality of sports was brought apparent once I neared the 7th grade as I broke my leg playing baseball. I was honestly too scared to play again, but I did it anyways. The next season I was put on a team that lost every game, and I'm sure you all know what I did after that.

However, I continued on my musical track through middle school and onto high school. Freshman year was a turbulent year for me, as I struggled with the lack of friends and had a brush with suicide. Music kept me going though, and I continued to play in the school orchestra. Throughout middle school, I had participated in solo competitions for music; I played the contrabass clarinet. Every year of middle school I entered these solo competitions and won every time. I played in junior symphonies and orchestras and was invited to many musically themed schools. During the middle of my freshman year I had letters sent to me from colleges telling me that they were very interested in my musical abilities and wanted me to go to their college when I graduated. I was set up as far as high school and college opportunities went, and I couldn't have been happier

Freshman year changed all of that. I switched schools near the end of my freshman year because of my suicide attempt, which really was for the better for me. I started at a small private school which, unfortunately, did not have an orchestra. Obviously, I missed playing in orchestras; but I didn't DO anything about it. I didn't tell my parents that I wanted to continue with something that I loved so much. And so life went on, without music in my life.

I picked up playing the drums after all of this had happened, but it never was the same as playing in an orchestra. I missed the feeling of my instrument in my hands.

Looking back, I wonder what I could have become. I wonder if I had stayed at public school if I could have become something that I had always wanted to become.

[Chilled Man]

7 year old version would have wet dreams about what I have done so far

I am 10 years ahead of what I planned I would be.

I wanted to work in the construction field from when I was a kid .

Started in the field for 6 years , moved into the office did that for 3 years then the last 4 as a manufactures rep and such.

Granted now I am working for someone else but doesnt mean in the future I cant do my own thing again.

Granted I probally wont since its such a freaking pain in the ass.

[Mesoam]

The only thing I can remember wanting to be from my child hood was a paleontologist. I can't complain about my life, I could have it a lot worse. I am all about setting goals and attaining them

[Hippicus Rebuildacus]

architecture, designing buildings & homes, and cars. getting my masters is my goal and being a licenced architect with my own firm somehwere down the road

i got a nice check mark next to all of them somehow. minus the down the road parts

i work in an architecture firm doing what i love.

i have a jeep thats always breaking so i get to wrench (out of nesessity and some love)

i have a volvo that occupies all my money made in architecture & i work on it myself until my hip implodes for the 3rd time.

cept for my hip bein shitttay i cant complain.

plenty to oh yeah! about but its the small stuff nothin serious.

if i knew then what im doing now i wouldnt change a thing. i just wouldnt spend my money as soon as its made haha

[Hippicus Rebuildacus]

i somehow regret nothing because if i did then i wouldnt be what i am today. i do look back on things and say if the chance ever comes up again id do it differently but the past is the past and you can only learn from it.

i played soccer for 1.5 years in extreme pain but ignored it or played it off as a muscle pull because of my love for the game from age 4. I was pulled from it after finally accepting i crushed my hip and realize i could never run fast again & kick peoples a**es so i changed my form of going fast and kicking a**es. Would i love to play soccer again?... i would give up many things for it but i enjoy what i have now so it would be hard to go fromt he life i transitioned into. Things wouldnt have been different if i could still play soccer. i would still wrench and work on cars and do everything i do. i just miss kicking a ball around. slide tackling p*ssys, and bein the smalled kid on the field handing kids their a**. I actually decided to coach my little 7 yr old cousins soccer team to keep the family soccer ties alive and also to get back into it mentally if not physically. plus if shes famous some day she can buy me my cleats (that i cant use). yes i buy cleats yearly and walk around in them all dressed up because i miss it so. i have played and its always worth not being able to walk for a few days in extreme pain again. if theres something you miss and cant do get back into it at least mentally. i cant play soccer physically but i can teach young kids including my cousin in hopes they can enjoy it as much as i did.

[TM850R]

Sadly I became what I wanted to be as a child but its not paying the bills right now so I may have to figure out something else.

[Hippicus Rebuildacus]

my mom said i could be president or an astronaut... b*tch lied to me! but i have to love her because its prolly a law

[mojojo]

TM850R, on 11 June 2010 - 03:38 AM, said:

Sadly I became what I wanted to be as a child but its not paying the bills right now so I may have to figure out something else.

This. Though I wanted to work on motorcycles, and build choppers before OCC was around, it's not helping now.

...Though, I did just get hired over the phone at a dealer across the country, now I'm selling most of my things and packing up my wife and two month old daughter, to go live the dream... again.

[Fudge_Brownie]

I'm really disappointed how few replies this thread got. Is the News section just not read?

[czar]

Fudge_Brownie, on 27 June 2010 - 04:13 AM, said:

I'm really disappointed how few replies this thread got. Is the News section just not read?

I never read the News section. but for some reason it caught my eye tonight

Not thrilled with where I am but over I would not say things have been bad.
Have raised, along with my wife, three intelligent young adults (conservatives) hard working and industrious.
have 1 grand child (even though I am only 47).
saving is not where I would like it but, debt is very low
currently unemployed but I know I will find something soon.

You know what? Today's society is always telling us to be UN-happy with our lives.
Our jobs should be better,
Our marriages should be better (for the women),
Our houses should be better.
our cars should be better.
We DESERVE this and that ....blah, blah, blah

i don't really think we always need to aspire to levels of greatness like we thought when we were young.
I simple life, a basic's life, love, hard work, Family, Faith, Freedom..

nuttin' wrong wit' that....nuttin' wrong wit' that

[Fudge_Brownie]

If you aren't thrilled with where you are, where is it that the 7 year old thought you should be?

[TorqueSteer]

For those who feel that they are on the right track, you can expand a bit on this subject.

Every year during Thanksgiving time, people probably mention, "What are you thankful for?"

This year, try to turn it around, and ask yourself "Who is thankful for me?"

Start now, so that by November, you can have a few answers to the question.

[Dermy]

TorqueSteer, on 28 June 2010 - 08:46 PM, said:

For those who feel that they are on the right track, you can expand a bit on this subject.

Every year during Thanksgiving time, people probably mention, "What are you thankful for?"

This year, try to turn it around, and ask yourself "Who is thankful for me?"

Start now, so that by November, you can have a few answers to the question.

this^

as a kid i always wanted to follow in my father's footsteps and become a mechanic, so in that sense i've lived up to my expectations. unfortunately, the job itself has not. i've tried dealerships but felt lost in bigger shops so i recently settled into a mom and pop garage a mile from my house (4 mechanics including myself). i can't say that i'm unhappy with my place in life so far. i just turned 20 three days ago so i hopefully still have some time ahead of me to figure out where i'm going. i'm also a full time student but i've stuck to community college so far for a few reasons. mainly because i have no idea what i want to do for a living so i can't justify spending big on classes i might never need, and it also allows me to hold a full time job and afford the toys i've always dreamed of.
i think the real problem is that i expect to much from everything around me. when i was younger i dreamed of having project cars and motorcycles like my dad, and i do now. i have a mazda that gives me endless headaches and keeps me up late at night, just like i remember my dad doing with his camaros. i'm really not going in any direction with this post. i guess after giving this thread some thought i'm really just coming to the realization that even though i wish everything would work out better sometimes, i can proudly say that i have fun owning, working on, and driving/riding cars and motorcycles. that's really all i ever dreamed of as a kid, so i think i would be proud of myself. not even in a sense of occupation or hobbies either, i also feel as if i've retained a good portion of my childhood morals (right vs. wrong) and i try my best to be these for those who care about me. i'm going to give this some more thought for the next couple nights and report back. this is really the first and only unorganized post i've made here (other than the drunk/hungover thread ) so i'd like to try and tidy up my thoughts at some point

to too*
these there*