Reflections

Sometimes it is fun to look back and see what has changed over time and see how you have grown and see what things you may have forgotten about. I will admit, I like getting my nostalgia on. I enjoy year books and old journals (I have a journal that I wrote in almost every week of high school, it is one my cherished possessions). I like photo albums and old stories. They all give me chance to smile and laugh and remember some funny moments in life.

I don't know if this is a good thing or not. We are told to live in the moment and plan for the future. We're also told to learn from the past, but not let the past define where you are headed. Sometimes it is hard to imagine not letting your past define where you are going. I wouldn't be who I was today, if it weren't for my past.

Growing up I liked to play the jobs that I wanted to have someday. For the longest time, I wanted to be a train driver. It was a great game to pretend to drive the train around the country and stop in the many different parts of the land and experience their towns in my make-believe world.

Later on, I wanted to be a sports reporter. I would pretend to have my own sports talk show, called the Sports Closet (because I had made a studio in my closet), and give my thoughts and insights to the pretend world listening to my own pretend radio station. I also enjoyed writing. I liked to write emails to people and I liked the idea of writing a book (that task seems more daunting the older I have gotten though).

Somehow, I've actually tried to make money doing some of these crazy dreams I had as a kid. I have had the chance to be a sports reporter. It was fun and gave me a lot of great experiences. I haven't gotten the chance to drive a train yet, but the train drivers at Disneyland once let me ring the train's bell when the train was pulling into the station (I'd say that is close enough). I did get the chance to have my own radio show when I was a DJ, and now I am writing articles for a newspaper. I did have a dream to be a professional basketball player for about six months, but I don't foresee me being able to pull off that adventure, and I'm okay with that.

The last month has been a great experience for me. I was quite nervous on my first day of work at the newspaper, but every day after after has been a great experience for me. I've been blessed with the chance to meet some very interesting people and a chance to write on some topics I find fascinating. I'm grateful for the opportunity this is turning out to be.

The funny part about it all is when I think of where I've been, and where I am now going, most of what I've wanted to do when I was a kid, I've somehow turned into a job as an adult. I wouldn't say I set the bar all that high, I never pretended to be the President of the United States, or anything like that. Most of the time, I dreamed of working in a job that dealt with being in the media in someway and that would provide enough for me to have time to be with my family.

I think and I hope, that I am now finding my way into that position of my life.

I know some of the other pretend games included being a rock star and running a hotel. I don't know if those will ever manifest themselves in my life, but if they do, I'll try to remember to enjoy the adventure.