It's Time to Get Yummy.

I realize in order for me to succeed in achieving my goals, I must hone my skills and continually train these muscles to replicate a standard I wish to accomplish.  I've started numerous entries, ranging from a blank template, a simple title, to a paragraph with no direction but just a group of words meshed together.

I never envisioned or even considered for a second at 28 I would be right here, right now.  How could I? We are taught as a child to dream big to set goals and work towards them.  Rarely do we see these goals, these plans, pan out as we wish them to be.  We have many ideals we teach our youth and when they don't happen, we create excuses like "Life happens." to explain why we didn't get where we wanted.  Or so that fate has taken you on a different path.  We float between being dreamers and realist over and over and over again, millions of times throughout our lives.  We often times set ourselves up for failure but maintain that extenuating circumstances caused us not to get wherever it is we aimed for.

Don't get me wrong, I will forever consider myself an optimist, hoping and wishing only for the best in every situation and in every person, but understanding that we don't always get what we want and there are just some bad people on this planet.

I have gotten to the age where I am surrounded by weddings, marriage anniversaries, long-term relationships, and the ever growing group of friends and families having children.  As I am reflecting on  the path that has led me to where I am now and where I am headed into the future, I can't help but look back on how I was raised, how others around have been raised and how the kids I coach are being raised.  I often deflect an opinion over many topics that arise in conversation with elders, peers, and youth, I have realized I do possess strong opinions on how I would want to raise my children.  Hopeful that when that time does arrive, my wife will share my opinions on raising our children.

This segways perfectly to what I was listening to this morning on the radio while driving back from teaching my morning class.  R. Secrest was talking about a co-worker who decided to write a love letter to her future husband she has yet to meet, writing about her thoughts and feelings as a single woman, and what he would be like and how he would treat her, etc.  R. Secrest voiced that why couldn't be alone for a while, why was there a huge desire to be with someone, the need to have someone with.  I found myself a bit upset at his comment, as I internally explained, we, scratch that, I have this desire to share my thoughts, feelings, excitement, enthusiasm, motivations, and experiences with someone.  Someone I can be intimate with, make happy(ier), and bring something new/exciting or refreshing to their life.  Friends can temporarily fill that void, but could never fully replace it.  There is something about it that is unexplainable and an anomaly.

 At 28, I youthfully envisioned myself, married, with my first kid on the way, working as a physical therapist/sports medicine trainer for a university or sports team, living in a two story home with a beautiful backyard.  I would have already established my career early after graduation and financially supported myself and my family, especially giving back to my parents for putting me in the right direction and raising a son, grateful for everything he has received and earned.

In reality, it appears I may have envisioned myself in that situation 5-10 years too early.  My round about journey has lead me back to this path, minus the obvious.  But I am still a grateful son, who appreciates the lessons and direction my parents have guided me.  I work furiously to pay them back in anyway I can for what they have done for me, but I am focused now more than ever to get my ship right and be a that guy I envisioned decades ago.

It's time to get yummy.  Mentally and physically, to get to where I want to be, the hybrid dreamer and realist.  

Love is in the Air

Spring brings blooming flowers, Easter Sunday, Good Friday, warmer weather, "Spring Break," and Love.  In the last month, through the wonderful social media website we call Facebook, I have learned from the news feed that approximately 8 people who are my Facebook friends are engaged with their significant other.  Moreover, 6 of which were probably over the Easter holiday weekend.  As ecstatic as I am about the engagement of all my friends, it is rather bittersweet from my view.  Although, I quickly remind myself that it will come in due time, and I should and am focusing on my career first and establishing myself.  I can help but think of how sad this is for me on this end.  You can't say that I haven't tried, cause that would be a lie.  I have build up the nerve to ask people out whom I would typically never do and I have tried the dating websites (although, some may argue I have not completely given it a legitimate chance).  In due time, romance will find its way to me, I don't fully doubt it.  It just gets romantically lonely sometimes, however, I understand there is a difference between being alone and being lonely.  I love being alone, left with my own devices, time to write, time to read, time to get lost in my thoughts, and observe others.  Nonetheless, love is in the air (among my friends and politically), people are sharing the beauties of life and reinforcing the ideal that love is true, love is grand, and that we all need someone to share our lives with.

Beautiful time of the year and people are happy.  Can't ask for anything more.  Smile.

"Love is patient.  Love is Kind." - "Same Love" Macklemore feat. Mary Lambert

Spring and all it brings.

First, Happy Easter to those who celebrate such a holiday.  I have forgotten how celebrated this holiday is to many Americans across the nation.  Enough that Target, Costco, Sam's Club, and etc. have closed for the day and thus making my Easter Sunday a little less productive.  However, of course Easter is meant to be spent with your family and loved ones, whether it is relaxing, going on Easter egg hunts, attending church, BBQ-ing/picnic-ing at the park/beach, or just simply gathering together, it is a time of celebration and in each other's company.

Unfortunately, my Easter has consisted of nothing more than homework and studying, while eating lunch with my parents and grabbing Jamba Juice with my brother.  This as unexciting as it sounds, is a means to an end that I have chosen for myself and have begun the steps towards.  As many of you know, I had originally pursued a career I found myself unfit for after a year and spent another subsequent year in limbo, searching for direction and progress. In the previous year, I have found such direction and because of my ambition, upbringing, and discovered dislike of cold calling, I am pursuing this new avenue.

It is not a quick fix, nor is it attainable in a short period of time.  Rather it is, like my swimming career, a long distance race that will require perseverance, focus, strategy, and mettle.  So here we are, a path that should take me approximately 5-years to complete but the end will be very sweet and I will be all but guaranteed a job upon finishing.  I will be respected to the general public and I will be referred to as Dr. Duke.  No, an M.D. will most definitely take more than 5-years to complete because of residency and the such.  By the year, 2018, I shall be a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). One, many of you will see and consult with for aches, pains, and discomforts you have sustained from overuse of joints and muscles or an injury you sustained from exercise.  For those crossfit-ers who are in gyms that don't pride themselves in technique and posture, I will definitely be seeing you guys.

I can neither confirm or deny a family and friends discount for consultation and treatment when that time comes around.  :D If you know me well enough, you know the answer to that.

Beyond that update. My intentions here were to just begin to write again.  As I took the time previously to read past post, I realized I felt as though I had lost a touch of my writing style and skills, and needed to refurbish them.  What better way to do so as to resuscitate this defibrillated blog.