As I reflect over my 36 years I have to reflect on the triumphs, experiences, and mistakes made. Some of the best and worst still are effecting my life today. My choices in life brought me to where I am today and made me the person I am. I have to say, I really do love myself! I do not say that in an egotistical way, but in an appreciation to everything I have done to get me to this point.
While I have been blessed with a mostly awesome family (a few need to pull their heads out of their asses and realize some things about life and family), I have also been blessed with some really awesome friends too. Some have come and gone over the years. Some have left and I am glad, others I have been blessed to reconnect with this year (thank you FaceBook!). All in all, the people surrounding me are a blessing to me. They help to shape who I am. They help to keep my in line. They shoulder my needs at times and give me wonderful, uplifting words of wisdom. They accept me for all my faults and all my good attributes. Thank you to them!
Major things I have accomplished and done in the past 36 years? Well, here are the highlights of some of the coolest and most interesting and life-shaping things I have done:
1. Kindergarten - Yes, lame as it is, I learned to tie my shoes there (which I still use today unlike Algebra), socialize there, play well with others, and paint. MAJOR things I took from that first year of school.
2. Family camping trips - I learned (the hard way) what plants not to touch (like poison ivy/oak) and began a love for the outdoors and what it had to offer. You can probably couple this to my move to Utah which only enhanced my love of the outdoors and hiking. It too away the beach, but gave me Zion's National Park, one of my favorite places to spend a day to this day.
3. Cooking with mom and grandma - Yes, it all began there. My mom use to let me make my own scrabbled eggs after kindergarten as my lunch, a skill I still have today! LOL While I never progressed to open my dream restaurant (mind you I was like 13) Stephen John's, the foodie in my is still cooking and loving trying new foods and learning new skills. This year, the goal is to learn to make the things I love, but in a healthier way.
4. My mission - Odd as it sounds to some (and to others it is a surprise that such an anti-religious gay man did that), my stint as a Mormon missionary was one of the best experiences in my life. I learned so much about myself, other cultures, life outside the U.S., other religions, and keep many friends from that experience. I miss my other home of Slovenia and the people I love there.
5. College - Probably not in the same way as most. My college experience started in 1995 at the University of Utah. I completed exactly 5 classes there, dropped out, came out moved to Las Vegas, continued there off and on until graduating from UNLV in December of 2007. Not only did it teach me to not procrastinate, but also to follow through with things I start and that if I want to accomplish something, I can do it even in tough times. There I learned to voice my opinions no matter how unpopular they were because others can learn from it. I learned to listen and learn, but also to challenge things as part of the learning process. Who knows, maybe a Masters Degree might be in my future. We will see.
6. Hollywood Parties - Yes, thanks to a dear friend (which I won't mention in case he could get in trouble even after all these years), I was able to get into the Miramax parties at the time of the International Film Market 2 years in a row. It was awesome. Great food. Stars everywhere. High up industry people. I was even able to share it with my little brother. It was great times and awesome to remember.
7. Travel - maybe I have been blessed, or maybe I made my own destiny, but I have been blessed to see amazing places through travel with friends, family and on my own. Here is a quick rundown of places I have been in order from childhood (not including small domestic towns and not repeating multiple visits): LA, Las Vegas (lived there too), Alberta/Canada, Australia, Tahiti, Germany, Austria, Slovenia (lived there too), Italy, Croatia, Chicago, England, Scotland, Hungary, NYC, Hawaii, Dominican Republic, Austin (live there now). Places I still really want to go...Greece, Egypt, India, Hong Kong, Vancouver, Toronto, Alaska, Peru, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Sweden, Czech Republic, Turkey, Fiji, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Iceland, New Zealand, and I am sure there are others I cannot think of off the top of my head.
8. Relationship - Yes, the one with Walter. While I could not tend to date anyone for more than 2 months (I don't believe in wasting my time with something I could not see going long term), I suddenly found Walter. It took 2 years for us to actually connect, but when we did well, here we are 9 year later! Can't say we have been perfect, but we have never gone to bed mad. I love him so very much and am blessed he is in my life.
9. Art - while it is a passion like cooking, like cooking, I do it mainly for my pleasure. This year, for the first time I have sold my artwork to someone other than friends. There are 2 people in the world that own something I did. It feels awesome. I need to pursue it further. Just getting the ducks in a row.
10. Jobs - while I have been everything from a bus boy, to a card dealer, a pit boss, to a sales manager, I have been blessed to have a job. Now it is time to settle in a career and that is my hunt this year. I love all the experience that makes me well rounded for all situations, but now is the time to focus. Hopefully I will be blessed with that in my 36th year!
Anyhow, just a few things that formed me over the past 36 years. I hope there are more and more exciting things I do in the future to continue shaping my being. Here's to 36 years of life!
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