Greetings and happy Veterans Day. Thank to those that have served and continue to serve. RIP Dad. Anyhue, today I'm a year older and like most years, I take a moment to reflect -- to think about how I've grown or haven't grown, what I've accomplished, et cetera. All that introspective, existential sorta stuff. For a person now at my age, I feel 25 is a year of major importance in terms of that time of reflection. But there's the issue... I've accomplished absolutely -blam!- all. Any goals I've set have yet to be accomplished all 'cause I fear the possibility of failure. I've subscribed to the notion that they're out of reach, so I should just fall back in line... But, that's precisely why I've wanted to make this thread for awhile now. To tell all whom this may be applicable to -- [b][i]don't be like me[/i][/b]. Some of you are at the time in your life where you're in your last year of high school or turning 18 and about to step out into the real, cruel, uncaring world. You might be asking yourself, "this loser is only 25, the -blam!- does he know about the 'real world' or life for that matter that I don't?" but I've been through and seen enough stuff to know at least some semblance of "a thing or two". Keeping more on topic though, the world can only devour you if you let it. Don't get caught up with other people's definition of "success". Success is setting a goal and meeting it. Simple as that, guaranteed fact. Don't feel like your goals aren't worth pursuing 'cause someone says you won't be as successful as that guy who did such and such. "More successful" is a stupid phrase that people put too much weight into. The only time someone can be "more successful" than you is if they've accomplished all their goals or if you both have the same ones and they accomplished them whereas you didn't, but them getting more monies or material things than you ≠ more success. In keeping with that theme, don't waste time trying to find something you're inherently good at and trying to make a career out of it. I'm not saying it's impossible, but the time spent trying to figure out what you might be the next prodigy in could be better spent cultivating your weaker skills and talents or rather lack thereof. Find something you suck at and get really -blam!-ing good at it. This will build strong strength of character, good work ethic and turn you into a driven and determined lean, mean bastard / bitch that get's shit done. I'm going to cut this short as it's already starting to reach tl;dr territory for some of you blessed creatures. I'll end this by saying -- Live your life to the fullest and without regrets. Though I'm only 25, my life has been filled with nothing but regrets since the age of 13. To pawning off my responsibilities to take care of an absolute character and irreplaceable companion of dog I had on to my brother to the point he wanted to get rid of her - not handling the so called "stress" of school well enough - not telling a girl I liked how I felt for fear of my own feelings and rejection - not going to college - most recently, not reconnecting with my father before it was too late. There are many other things between, but you get the point. Again, [b][i]don't be like me.[/i][/b] Chase your dreams and goals even if they seem out of reach. Don't duck your responsibilities. Don't be afraid to tell that girl, boy or other how you feel. If you can't allow yourself to be potentially subjected and vulnerable to the pain of rejection, how would you fair with the various ups and downs of a relationship? If I may quote a certain child labor using shoe company's slogan and overused dead meme -- [i]Just do it.[/i] You lot are our future. You carry the torch to light the way for the next generation. It's a heavy burden, but you can do it. I believe in you. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you for your time and have a good one.