Decision '08

“I had to find the passage back To the place I was before”

--Hotel California, Eagles

I’m about a month away from my 39^th birthday and something that a friend said recently really resonated with me…

“I’ve decided that if people don’t share my passions, then there’s no more room for them in my life and I want nothing to do with them.”

As a knee jerk reaction, I agreed…then I got to thinking that it isn’t fair to shut people out because they don’t share your exact interests or passions. I feel that you can always learn something from others no matter what.

For example, as a writer, I enjoy bad movies just as much as I do good ones because you can learn what not to do when writing your own. However, I learn and then move on because what’s the point in rehashing something that doesn’t continually add to your life?

I can apply that to people that I meet (or in some cases, know)…I give some a chance to get to know but if they don’t keep in touch or tend to drain my time for no good reason, why maintain a relationship with them?

It’s unhealthy in the long run, because ultimately, you have to take care of you first and foremost before you can give yourself to those who matter most.

I have many good friends that I enjoy talking to on a daily or even semi-regular basis because I find them interesting. Not all of them share my passions but they bring their own to the table and that, in turn, interests me.

But I still have to look out for me and, somewhere along the line, I lost sight of that very thing.

“Ending lights fade away
Searching for your soul
Beginning of the end
Searching of your soul”

--Beginning of the End, Into Eternity

As I draw closer to 40, I find that I can tolerate less and less in life…so while I didn’t have an epiphany of any kind, I sort of put the pieces of the puzzle together and decided what I want to do in the next year before I reach that milestone.

There are things I want to accomplish personally and professionally that will push me beyond the crossroads I’ve been lingering at and hopefully lead me down the path to where I want to be. Somewhere along the line, I reached a stalemate…a rut…and, in a way, I lost the faith of the voices of my own little realm that once guided me and allowed others to take over instead—the ones that add nothing to who I am, where I am and where I want to end up.

“One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand”

--Viva la Vida, Coldplay

“No one’s gonna drag you up
To get into the light where you belong”

--The Sign, Ace of Base

So I thought to sum up my point, what better to use than an election analogy to get my point across?

I’m tossing my hat into the ring!

I’ve decided to run for leader of me…lol.

I think I’m the best person suited for the job until someone else comes along because I know what I want (though sometimes I do lobby for other things outside of my comfort zone).

I’ve even decided that the platform I’m going to run on is total and complete honesty--even with myself.

There will be no flip flopping on the issues, though new information brought to light may make me skew my perspective a bit.

You can’t be an effective leader if you can’t accept alternate ways of thinking!

And what are the issues?

I begin with a bold swipe at my adversaries and opponents--the little voices that have seeped into my subconscious and have swayed me from my path—and continue with several others…

1) I literally have no use for you if you continue to distract me from the path I’ve chosen. Not that I won’t give of myself, but when I do, I expect something in return. If I notice a pattern of anything that deviates from this plan, I will terminate said relationship immediately.

2) Professionally, I will have at least one, if not two, books written and one totally finished screenplay. Right now, I have some of several completed (and one done that needs a drastic rewrite) but by the big 40, I will have them completely finished and being shopped around.

3) I will never punch a clock again and toil away at things in which I have no interest. During the past year, I made a move towards that and I am part of the way there. Now I need that one final step.

4) I will remain in Las Vegas to complete these tasks. Though several people have made mention of possible relocation, circumstances in my life or theirs prevents any major move right now. So, to remain fully focused and do everything I need to, this is where I will stay until I reach that milestone. I have the perfect set up right now where there are minimal distractions.

5) My hopes are that I can dabble in other related business ventures that interest me because, no matter what, enjoyment in what you are doing in life far surpasses the money you make…though it would be nice to have both for a change! ;)

So that’s it for now…and for those whom I know that require further clarification, please feel free to ask. But everyone in my life (including yours truly) has the next year to get shit together until my birthday. Since it isn’t until August, I’ve even been nice and given you a head start!

It’s just time to bring forth a new era because a Skitch divided among himself cannot stand!

Now…there’s one question left to ask…and I wonder who will come up with it first?

“I'm shaking the past
Making my breaks
Taking control
If that's what it takes”

--I’m Free (Heaven Help The Man), Kenny Loggins

By the way…I’ve even given you a soundtrack…see how cool I am? ;)