Lately I've began to realize how much of a fulfilled and priviliged life I have already led at the age of 23. I have the greatest family that a person could ask for, loving parents, and fantastic and successful siblings whom are all unique and awesome in their own ways. I'm both proud and grateful for having them as a base for my endeavors and adventures in life.
As a young man at 23 years old, I am able to say that I have accomplished, experienced, and endured many scenarios in my life. I have traveled to different places in the world; I've stepped out onto the colossal Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and drank in the small towns and big cities of that country. I have traveled across the countryside of Ireland with my father and indulged in the roots of my family's historical trees. I have experienced death at a young age and learned from the grief and despair that no young man should have to experience at the ripe age of 16. I watched our nation crumble at the hands of terrorism from my classroom windows on my third day as a high school student. I walked to the crime-ridden train station in the freezing night every night after 4 hours of grueling wrestling practice finished. I have starved myself and pushed my physical and mental boundaries in the name of sport. I have went into combat against another man in front of a gymnasium full of people and come out victorious on more than one occasion. I have encountered the overwhelmingly deteriorating feeling of being beaten in aspects of strength and determination by another man in front of a large crowd of people. I have swallowed the harsh reality of being cut from a team solely based on the fact that I was not good enough. I have comprehended the ideals of hard work, determination, commitment, and victory through high school athletics. I have canoed 60 miles down a Central American river which was infested with crocodiles and other types of hazardous factors. I have camped on the shoreline of the Carribean, snorkeled one of the most spectacular coral reefs in the world, and explored Mayan ruins in Guatemala. I have looked back upon my younger adolescent years and realized my stupidity and immaturity. I have realized the importance of maturity. I have made mistakes, been arrested by the law on multiple occasions, and disappointed my parents and family on numerous occasions and on various levels of disappointment. I have worked in a corporate office, washed dishes in the back of a restaurant, and worked in construction warehouses. I understand the concept of hard work, which I am currently applying to my potential career. I have an ambition for life that many people envy. I have spent nights in New York City that were based upon no sleep, explored the city of Boston on many occasions, and partied in San Francisco the night of the 2010 World Series when the SF Giants won the world title. I was there for the 1999 World Series when the Yankees beat the Braves to win the title during the last game of the century. I have a mother who would trade the world for her children and who I often under-appreciate. I have a father who is the most successful and loving man who I have ever known or even heard of in my entire life. I have friends in any major city across the country, great friends in New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. I have watched sunsets that would stun most humans. I have hiked many of the New Hampshire mountains within the presidential range. I have met Ronald Reagan and John McCain. I have explored incredibly deep caves in the jungles of Central America. I have done insanely idiotic things during my college career which labeled me with a reputation for being crazy and fun to party with. I am not proud of said things. I have been first in line at Disney World after a night of staying up all night and partying in Orlando. I have experienced and party’d in Vegas in the most proper way imaginable with 8 of my New Zealand friends. I have resided in more than one place that is considered to be a highly regarded tourist destination. I have thrown legendary house parties. I have spent a New Years Eve in NYC drinking alcohol out of a paper bag on a door step in the suburbs of the city. I have observed a night sky that most people will never be able to see in their life. I have jumped off of buildings into trees. I have almost died on numerous occasions. I have Dj’d at a bar party and have had people partying uncontrollably to the sound I was producing. I have ski’d on mountain slopes that presented deathly obstacles and looked to be suicidal, I’ve ski’d off of 100 ft jumps, and pushed myself to levels in skiing that I never thought I would have been able to in my life. I have lived at 10,000 ft above sea level, resided in the Rockies, ski’d snow that was chest deep, and lived in Lake Tahoe California. I have driven across the country, twice. I have road tripped up and down the northern part of the east coast on many many occasions. I have ice skated in Rockefeller Center NYC and have attended Christmas Eve mass in Saint Patricks Cathedral. I was the problem child in both middle school, high school, and part of college. I have done backflips off of bridges and rope swings, backflipped into the Hudson River off a pier in downtown Manhattan in the early hrs of the morning, canoed rivers in Maine, pledged a fraternity, and met everlasting friends throughout my life who would do anything for me on the drop of a dime. I have produced skiing edits that have captured the attention of my friends and peers. My path in life is not only supported by my family and friends, but also by my college professors and high school teachers. I have a self-motivated view towards life that enables me to achieve whatever I want. I have loved a girl with all of my heart. I have been heartbroken and moved on from the experience properly. I am unbelievably and exponentially thankful for everything that I have been provided with in my life, and everything that I am absorbing from this life I live. I will continue to spend my time on earth in the most seemingly righteous way and keep all of the experiences, people, and ideals that I have picked up with me along the way.
Remember to always live your life the way you feel is the most appropriate, fulfilling, and passionate way you possibly can. We only go around this thing once, we should not waste a minute of it. Live the life you love, love the life you live. Finish off your days on earth with no regrets and a smile on your face.
Gerard
This entry is especially for Gavin B…Welcome to Tahoe and living the dream buddy! Seems like yesterday you were dropping me a msg about dropping the b.s. and living the life you truly want to live. Heres to some awesome times ahead my friend! Glad I could be an inspiration.
