jubaji

How do you today compare to you 15 or 20 years ago? (yes, this pretty much excludes the young 'uns)

In what ways are you better?

In what ways are you worse?

In what ways will you be better and worse 10 years or so in the future?

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Mike Brewer

Goodness, Jubaji, that fifth green box is getting to you.

I'll bite, though.

The "me" from 15 years ago was a know-it-all that really didn't. I had a lot of audacity and conviction, which allowed me to Forrest Gump my way to a lot of successes, but the simple fact is, I thought I was a lot wiser than I really was.

The "me" from that time period was also pretty naive in some areas. Not the big areas like street sense that some people are, but the areas no one really thinks are important. I always fit in well pretty much everywhere I went, for example, but I could not conceive of a time when the same skill set wouldn't get me through. I was immune to getting older, immune to other people's faults - I was bulletproof.

The "me" today has a far more detailed sense of self, both for better and worse. I've sloughed off a lot of my youthful naivety, and I've thankfully managed to do so without becoming cynical. I'm still an irrepressable optimist, but now I have a much more refined ability to accept the good and bad people, occurrences, circumstances, and intentions for what they are - and I can see them coming a lot more easily than I once could.

The "me" of today also understands sacrifice to a much greater degree than I did 15 years ago. I've watched a lot of people close to me give up and check out without ever achieving what they wanted to achieve, and I've stepped forward and served my country since then. I have found myself gladly and cheerfully willing to sacrifice for the things I believe, and for the country in which I live, even while looking into the smiling eyes of the people back home. That was a step I never would have understood 15 or 20 years ago.

Most pronounced, I've become a husband and a father since then. Neither of those things is something I could have explained to a younger "me." The obligation I feel in both of those roles, the importance of being a strong and successful provider, partner, teacher, friend...it's immense and redefining. It's taught me that real strength is not the ability to go through tough times, but the ability to choose to do it when you don't have to, just to make the lives of those who depend on you a little better.

If I had one hope, and if there's one ever-present ideal in my mind for where I'll be in the next twenty? I think that's pretty easy. I hope I'm standing next to my son, looking at a strong, optimistic, courageous man of character that I have equipped well to go out into the world and change it for the better. I hope I am still looking at my wife with the same love and passion I now do. I hope my efforts will have made their lives better, and frankly that my efforts will have made lives better on a much broader scale, too. I hope I'll be waking up and going to work at a job that I love, and one that matters truly to the good of my country.

And I hope that's just the beginning.

As much as I've changed, grown, suceeded and failed over the last 15 or 20 years, I suspect I'll change, grow, succeed, and fail over the next 15 or 20. The big difference now is that I really do want to do it for others instead of for myself.

aseepish

15 years ago I was just about to graduate from high school. I'm better educated now (one year away from my third degree), and hopefully smarter.

I didn't particularly want to go to college, but instead wanted to focus on music - playing guitar with my band (I was a much better guitarist then than I am now). But my parents persuaded me to go.

My French and Spanish were excellent at the time but I haven't had the occasion to use either much in the past 15 years. But I've managed to pick up some Chinese and Japanese.

15 years ago I hadn't traveled outside of North America, and the furthest south I had been from the Canada/US border was Minneapolis. I'm a lot more worldly now.

My martial arts training wouldn't start for another year, so I could definitely take myself of 15 years ago now. Plus I've got about 30 pounds on me now (but not the good kind of pounds).

I was a better skier back then though.

15 years ago I didn't drink alcohol because I didn't like the taste, especially beer.
That probably explains those 30 pounds.

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"It was about that time I realized that searching was my symbol, the emblem of those who go out at night with nothing in mind, the motives of a destroyer of compasses." -Cortázar

eXcessiveForce

15 years ago, I was just entering college, Teaching martial arts in my own school full time, and still thinking I had all the time in the world. I was too smart for my own good, and had a lot of fun letting people know exactly how much smarter I was. I also was at the top of my Martial arts game headed to be world champ of the system I was studying.


How am I better, I am pretty educated, 2 B.A. degrees and my MBA. New Career path. I stopped teaching children MA because I found I just didn't get anything out of it anymore which has let me devote more time to personal development. I have a lot more experiences and a greater understanding of things that I really thought I had down back then. I also have gone through hardship and have grown stronger through it. I am much more combat efficient than I was, and by skills are more developed.

How am I worse,
I had brain surgery + 6 follow-up surgeries to remove a tumor. I have a second spot inside my head that may kill me one day but no one really knows what it is. I wasted a lot of time and made some decisions that were not good for me in the short term which have put me behind in achieving my goals. I learned while in the hospital bed one night that I was willing to give up and die because I didn't really want to fight anymore. A lot more injuries i've accumulated over the years have taken their toll.

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eXcessiveFORCE.

If you must use force, make it excessive.

Michael Wright

I'm the same person I was 15 years ago, I'm just worse at admitting it, and a lot better at hiding it.

Mike Brewer

XF,
That was one hell of a post, my friend. Talk about baring your soul...

My admiration of you is well founded, brother.

Ghost

XF sorry to hear that man, genuinely sorry.

On a lighter note though, im waiting to see dick hardmans reply.

Was a dick 15 years ago.
Still a dick now.
Will conitnue to be a dick for the next 15 years.

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Skills: Numchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills.
Favourite animal: Liger, bred for its skills in magic.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

John McCain promo vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS-F...eature=related

eXcessiveForce

No need to get down guys, Life is about self discovery. It is through hardship that we are tested.

There is a song I am reminded of that I listened to in highschool.

The mighty mighty bosstones

The impression that I get

Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have
Have you ever felt a pain so powerful
So heavy you collapse
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
that's the impression that I get
have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don't possess
Or has it ever come down to do or die
You've got to rise above the rest
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
that's the impression that I get
I'm not a coward,
I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was,
I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go
I might be a cowards,
I'm afraid of what I might find out
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get


And in the end, Even for the bad things I'm probably better than I was before If only because I have an appreciation for things that others may not have.

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eXcessiveFORCE.

If you must use force, make it excessive.

Tant01

... amen brother.

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"In all countries where personal freedom is valued, however much each individual may rely on legal redress, the right of each to carry arms - and these the best and the sharpest - for his own protection in case of extremity, is a right of nature indelible and irrepressible, and the more it is sought to be repressed the more it will recur."

James Paterson