Just curious (watching the recent GoPro highlight reel has me thinking)...how many of you look at your life at this point, in the past, and possibly in the future, and assess how much you've truly "lived" based on the adventurous things you've done so far? If you haven't skydived, bungee jumped, traveled to extremely exotic places, swam with dolphins, scuba dived, kayaked, etc., do you feel they're things you should do before you die? If adventure's experienced isn't a measure for the life you lived (aside from the obvious "have my health," "have a great family," "have a great job, etc.", what is your measure?
Recently, I've been reading a book that has made me further realize that this life is temporary. We're here on this Earth with a green card, it's not permanent. Does this further realization mean I have a stronger desire to do things I haven't, not really. It makes me want to do things and live life in a manner more befitting where I believe my permanent home is. I know. Kinda deep. It's how I feel though. There's things I'd like to do, but realizing my true purpose and fulfilling it trumps those things.
I feel there are an infinite amount of things I should do before I die. I don't really measure my life by "extremes", although I have skydived, backpacked deep into the wilderness, went on spontaneous road trips, driven way too fast in a cars, plan on completed an 100 mile ultramarathon, etc, I just do things that make me happy. If they seem extreme to some people, so be it. I enjoy seeing what I can accomplish/do.
The more I look back on the things I have done and am currently doing, the more I realize that my soul seeks out excitement and challenges. Linebacker in college (whacked outnutty position), fought in MMA fights after college, bowhunting, working with emotional disturbed kids and in juvenile lock-up, and now on to police work. I like challenges and I guess I just naturally gravitate to some more of life's extreme situations as compared to others. Not saying I am any better or worse than anyone else or my style of life is any better than others, that is just the way it is. I don't think I could be the guy who farms out in the middle of nowhere and feels good about life. I am not saying that is a bad living or life, it just would feel empty to me on my death bed.
I've been through enough to keep me reminded there are more adrenalin things than what I do today. I've loved and been loved, been blown up, shot, mortared and even given up briefly as dead. At this point in time... Just having a good ole country bowel movement in the morning makes my day and is the measure of a good life. Making the perfect cast with a fly rod would be nice but I just don't have the skills. No regrets.... life was what it was and I''m living my days just enjoying. No desire to sky dive or run with the bulls. LOL.
I want to be able to write a book about my life...and actually have people read it. After all the things ive seen in my short life, ive realized A) You cant take money with you B) You can die at any moment and C) Dont waste time, its the only thing you cant buy. Some people are okay with going to school, getting a "good job", buying a house with a white picket fence, getting married, having a family and living a happy life....Ill probably end up doing a few of these things as well, but i sure as hell ain't going to have a cookie cutter life.
Interesting topic. One I could on with for a long time. Personally I don't need a life filled with swimming with dolphins, running with bulls, skydiving etc..... My life is more about accomplishments and being (trying to) the absolute best at everything I do in my life. I think my biggest attribute/goal is my self motivation and drive. I'm probably the most competitive person on planet earth. Not really for competing against other people or to make myself look good. More for myself and self satisfaction. To be honest with you, whatever is inside me I think is a curse at times. I need to do EVERYTHING to the best of my ability. And if that's not good enough I have to find out how to do it better and wont rest until I do. May never get there sometimes, but I'll die trying. I'm not only talking about big things either like job, main hobby, sport. EVERYTHING from cutting up a deer , decorating a christmas tree, making sure my windshield wipers are set on delay perfect during a drizzle lol, etc.... Yeah yeah it may be labeled obsessive compulsive but that's how I roll. My feet hit planet earth in the morning and i''m going 100mph trying to perfect the day. I dont' look much in the past because I can't change it. I've already learned from it and applied it to the future.
Being only 18, and just starting to figure out what I want to do with my life, it's really eye opening to read your guys' posts. I've always been told I have a few screws loose upstairs, but I think that's just me being young and dumb and living my live flying by the seat of my pants. I've always been a pretty happy fellow and I think that's largely due to my outlook. Like Siman said, don't waste time because it's the only thing you can't buy. I know I have a lot to learn about life yet, but reading what some of you older and wiser guys have to say is pretty neat and I've definitely taken what you guys said to heart. Thanks!
Rick Warren .... good stuff .... Ben, if you ever want to read a great Christian fiction book .... Riven ... by Jerry B Jenkins .... it is a book that will rivet you to the pages from first to last .... and it is so convicting. .
But it's a fiction book preacher.... we're talking real life here... not touchy touchy feel good crap. NO way should a fiction book be declared riviting unless it's by W.E.B. Griffin. LOL
There are about 16 in the Reacher series so far. Read any one of them and in a month or two you'll be asking for a 17th.
I shake my head when I hear there are people who play video games every waking moment of their lives that they can. Then I realize that I sit in the woods, by myself, and wait for animals to walk by. I guess I can't really say that I'm any different. When I'm not hunting, I'm usually either working on side projects, doing work from my actual job (more hours than I'd like to think about sometimes), practicing for hunting season and finally, idly searching the internet. I like to travel and visits my friends when I have a chance. They're so scattered that I have no shortage of people I haven't seen in awhile.
I don't worry about measuring my life by the "extremes" that I have and will do. As Long as my two daughters can speak of me with pride and know that I loved them. As Long as my wife knows that I have been a faithful husband and realizes how much I love her, than my quality of life has been measured to it's fullest. I will/plain to build and fly my own aircraft though unless the Good Lord cuts my life shorter than I expected.
Call me weird, but i havnt played a single video game in probably 4 years. Mario Kart doesnt count Books on the other hand suck me in. I might have to check some of these out.
