– Thomas A. Edison
As each day draws closer and closer to my departure, I find myself falling back into the ambitious dreams of my youth. Last Friday, I was talking with my friend Lindsay from New Jersey–don't start judging too early, just because she spends her Summer's at the shore and can fist pump like no other–I was telling her that I felt like I was seventeen again, where I had my entire life in front of me instead of approaching an endless plateau of mediocrity and routine. I told her that I plan to enjoy life with the unexpected possibilities that each day can bring in not knowing who I may meet or what that particular day may hold, but to appreciate this renewed sense of life.
At one point in our conversation I had to ask her if she remembered how we met, and before I could finish she told me that her parents still ask about me. I had to laugh and remind her what a great impression I always make, especially with parents. At the bar in an art deco hotel off Collins Ave in South Beach where we both just happen to be staying, it was here that I was escaping my current depression over a recent breakup with my girlfriend with, but of course, a previous ex that just happen to have two free roundtrip tickets that needed to be used by the end of the month. Laura's tactful skills to persuade me on a weekend getaway was only successful after convincing me that she would also pay for our hotel. Done and done! Unfortunately I'm not nearly as suave as you may think, but rather humorous than agreeable due to the timeliness of the surrounding circumstances. Within hours of arriving at this quaint beachfront hotel, we found ourselves at the bar striking up conversation as to where to spend our first night out, and it was here that I met Lindsay's parents. Immediately they showered me with praises, all the while, the plan to entice me into introducing me to their daughter! You just have to love sarcasm, I think that last sentence was more for Lindsay than anything else.
Three years later and it's impossible to get rid of me. I have always appreciated Lindsay, even when she drove out last Spring by herself to meet me for a wedding in Pennsylvania after our one and only encounter in Florida. I continued our conversation by asking her what it was that has caused us to be such good friends, even years later with primarily only phone conversations to keep our friendship alive? She told me that I was just very easy to talk to, to share with and to open up to. And the fact that she felt that I wasn't going to rape her was another plus...hmm thanks I told her. Haha, no she continued to assure me that she is very happy for me with this newfound sense of adventure she can see in me and told me that I will have no problem meeting people along the way. I told her that I am also inspired by her, in pursuing her goal of achieving her master's degree at Rutgers University and seeking to fulfill her dreams. Time for yet another movie quote, "dreams are what makes life tolerable," from the film Rudy. I couldn't agree more, so often life can become less than what it can be and more than we anticipate it being. So with the subject line of this blog, I challenge you to revisit your childhood imagination and don't just dream but strive to achieve all of your God-given talent and aspire to be...