Another Year in the Books

Today, technically yesterday because I haven't been to bed yet, I celebrated my 32nd birthday. What better time to reflect on your life than when your celebrating it, right?

First off, I want to make mention of the people that are no longer with us. I won't make a list or mention names, because there are probably some that I would forget unintentionally. There are quite a few people I have met over the years and even shared part of my growing up with that are no longer here. I don't just mean family, but friends and acquaintances that I feel have passed before there time. Whether they were good or bad people, they still had some impact on my life, and most of them shall be missed.

Next, I will move on to the people that aren't here yet. Huh? Well, person, more so than people. I'm sure there are more people that I will meet through the rest of my time here, but there is only one that I am waiting for right now. I'm about 9 weeks into being a Daddy again. I'm so excited. I can't wait to meet him/her.

I was spending some time with my wife tonight when my best friend called to wish me a happy birthday. We usually talk for lengths of time and ply catch up on what's been going on in our lives. There's usually a portion of our conversations dedicated to reflecting on the past. Mostly about drunken escapades and basic tomfoolery while growing being young and free. I've been told that people would probably pay to listen to us talk because it would be so funny at times while remaining witty and intelligent. A majority of our talks end up being philosophical at times as we analyse our past and think about the future. I find it very therapeutic to have someone on the same wavelength that doesn't take offense to the truth, which I hope is given in return. I tend to drift off in thought about how things were just mere years ago, and how much has changed. How much I have changed myself. I was barely driving and helping babysit my little cousins when I swore I would never have kids of my own. Now I have a growing family of 7 (in July 2013). I think of past careers and compare myself to teenagers I see working today. I recall every stupid thing I can remember and just take a moment to rejoice that I made it 32 years, and that I learned my lessons thoroughly enough to make it even further. I look back at anything good that I have done or tried to do, and smile knowing that I tried to make things a little better where I could. I try to hold on to the inspirations I see in so many ways, like the entire reason I started this blog. I read a blog entry about "Baby Avery" whose parents documented her time on Earth in a blog which they still run and update even after their child's passing due to SMA. It reached out to me and inspired me to do something. I don't really know how helpful this is to anyone, unless they are using the few recipes I put on here, but it makes me happy and content, so I will continue doing it. If anything, whoever reads my entries to the end will always see the phrase, "Pay it Forward". I know I didn't create the phrase, but it is something I believe in and wish to pass on and maybe inspire someone else to do some good.

Now, on to the future. To be completely honest, no one knows what the future holds in store for us. I know I have sat here and written a little bit about my past and present. I had full intention of writing about my future. But the fact remains that dwelling on the past and hoping on the future only does one thing. It takes you focus off now. I'm not saying to forget everything you've ever done. I'm not saying that it's wrong to dream. Know where you came from and focus on what you're doing, and you'll end up where you're supposed to be. Learn from your mistakes and dream big. Keep your mind on what's going on right now because that's all you really have is right now. One second at a time. Grasp it. Cherish it. Own it.

And while you taking control of your own destiny, do something good for someone else along the way. Pay It Forward.

Who and What.

Who and what are "Critter and Buggy"?  Those are the nicknames given to my two daughters, among many others.  Granted this entire blog won't be completely about my daughters, but I also won't hesitate one bit to put something about them on here.  Like any proud father, I talk nonstop about my kids, so it isn't too far-fetched for me to name something after them.  This entry won't be very long, basically because I don't have a lot to write about right now.  I was getting tired of seeing a blank page where my blog should be though.  I decided to start this after I read about another family that was documenting their sick child's life.

The inspiration fueling this blog was baby Avery, a child diagnosed with SMA.  I still don't know all the details about the disease other than it is fatal in nature.  I'll include a link to their blog at the bottom of this article.  There, you can find out more about the disease and also see how moving the blog is.  I considered it both awesome and sad at the same time.

I didn't start this to copy their idea, and I highly doubt this is 100% original in concept, but I felt compelled to write again.  Whether it be about inspiration, a new recipe, my kid's activities for the day, or just plain old anything.  I've been trying to video different things through the years and put them on YouTube so that when they were older they could readily go back and see how things have changed, and hopefully show their own kids.  To go along with that, I kind of want to have written word for my kids, grandkids, and so on to read from me.  That way even after I'm gone, they can still get a sense of who I am/was.  Maybe even add on to what I have and start a tradition to keep on rolling through the family.

Please take a moment to read about baby Avery.  I hope you find the story as moving as I did.

Baby Avery Link: http://www.averycan.blogspot.com/

That's all for now.

Do something good for someone else, pay it forward.

Bill Shelton