Growing Up is Hard to Do

The second section of my list will be titled, Growing Up is Hard to Do. These are the things that I can't just check off of my list after one experience. This is going to require some time and development. Old habits and urges must be controlled on overridden, while new ones must creep in and take over. I know myself well enough that I can't realistically expect all of these to happen immediately. I am far to compulsive for that. So I will work through them slowly but surely, stopping in and reflect occasionally to see how its going.

•Develop and institute daily morning and evening rituals,
•Meet the minimum fitness requirements for the U.S. Navy (3 pullups, 45 crunches, 29 min 3 mile run),
•Redefine my wardrobe- Less like college, more like real life,
•Learn to lose with dignity, and win with grace (don't be THAT guy at the game),
•Volunteer regularly,
•Learn the art of delayed gratification- don't be so anxious all the time,
•Make a significant decision that is unpopular but necessary,
•Stop going through the motions, and start learning from them,
•Clean up my "virtual" existence,
•Learn to be intrinsically satisfied with successes,

Creating Purpose

I had a really great suggestion from a reader to divide my list into larger categories in order to better understand the purpose behind my endeavors. Its not that I haven't thought about these things, but if I am going to chronicle my experience, perhaps others would like to understand my logic. Perhaps, the key to this whole process is going to be the articulation of my thoughts, and the interaction with those that are reading.

That having been said, the first category will be called: Act Your Ed.

I was in college for 6 years, I triple-majored as an undergrad, and have an MA. The issue is not that I don't use my education, nor is it that I don't speak articulately. I just don't have/use/exhibit that sort of sophisticated intelligence. Don't misunderstand what I am saying here. I am not trying to be the obnoxious know-it-all, in fact, it is quite the opposite. I have often looked up to those that can quote a great literary icon or leader, or those that can site great moments in history during a life lesson. I can't....or maybe I don't. So this first category will help me take some steps to get to that point. When I have kids, I will likely appreciate this ability a little more.

•Finish one of the many books that I have started, (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintanence, Les Miserable, Crime and Punishment)

•Watch a an academy award nominated movie, and pay attention to the things that make it so outstanding,

•Make a list of classic novels, and read them,

•Listen to an opposing opinion with an open mind (this will show up again!)

•Memorize 5 passages of famous lit, poetry or speeches,

•Become a connoisseur of something (this will also show up again),

•Build something

•Read at least two presidents autobiographies

Writing A Journal Regularly

I have found that I simply do not have the discipline to sit and write a traditional journal. Honestly, I don't really have the interest either. I find it quite frustrating, since I want to log the events of my life in some way. Facing this little quandry, I decided to get technical.

I have set up a secret email account, to which I can text, email, send pictures and links, and add my thoughts randomly and on my time. When I am sitting on the metro, when I have a thought at work that is worth saving, or when I am getting ready for bed and want to decompress. I nearly always have my phone or computer nearby, and thanks to the modern securities of the internet, I know that my thoughts are always safe (from destruction, not theft). Using this method, I have found that I am far more active and engaged in my writing, which also leads to much more thoughtful interactions with that medium. I would love for my future wife and children to have something to look back on someday that lets them understand my thoughts and my life as I grew and developed as a person.

For this part of the list, I found a modern answer to my lont-time excuse. That won't work for the entire list, but I might as well utilize it where I can.

Revisited

I let this get away from me... kind of. It was in the back of my mind, and I remembered most of what was on it, but now as I find myself getting back into a real life existance, I am going to revisit this, focus on it, and continue my development into a real-life grown up (said with a bit of sarcasm).

I have inadvertantly addressed some of the things on the list as life has passed over the last six months, and over the next few days, I am going to talk about that. I am also going to put together an action plan for the next ones on my list. Stay tuned for that.

The Genesis of this Project

I am really not concerned at all about the impending 30th birthday, its more of a benchmark than anything else. Thinking back on the past decade, I can't really complain about the things I have faced. In fact, the hardest part of my 20s is happening right now. For the first time in my life, whether justifiable or not, I feel like I am failing to meet expectations. The economy, a terrible boss, and strong moral stance have me looking at the back of the heads in the unemployment line. This, of course, creates a chain reaction that leads to sitting around the house, finding excuses to continue the laziness, and even worse letting the self-pity manifest itself into actions.

This isn't me, though. That's not how I was raised, and its not how I will allow myself to live. So, here I find myself bootstraps in hand, ready to pick myself up and get my act together one line at a time.

The first item I am going to attack: Finish one of the many books that I have started.

That book would be Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintanence. I started it a very long time ago, and it is a great book for this situation, so I am going to finish it, and then write a review of what I have learned.

As a side note- feel free to comment!

The List

•Cut the clutter- Get rid of the stuff that I have, which I never use,

•Develop and institute daily morning and evening rituals,

•Finish one of the many books that I have started,

•Meet the minimum fitness requirements for the U.S. Navy (3 pullups, 45 crunches, 29 min 3 mile run),

•Learn how to give myself a straight razor shave,

•Redefine my wardrobe- Less like college, more like real life,

•Write a letter every month and actually mail it,

•Watch a an academy award nominated movie, and pay attention to the things that make it so outstanding,

•Learn to lose with dignity, and win with grace (don't be THAT guy at the game),

•Volunteer regularly,

•Ask a woman on a date, and follow through with something intersting. Stop being so complacent.

•Spend a weekend in a tent,

•Find an artisan, and get a lesson in a "lost art,"

•Make a list of classic novels, and read them,

•Listen to an opposing opinion with an open mind,

•Shoot a gun with a high level of accuracy,

•Cook a traditional dish from all inhabited continents and be creative about it,

•Hone my culinary knife skills, learn to both use it effectively and sharpen it properly,

•Learn the art of delayed gratification- don't be so anxious all the time,

•Memorize 5 passages of famous lit, poetry or speeches,

•Learn to recognize my weaknesses, and address them in a constructive and timely way,

•Have and "Iron Chef" party.

•Make a significant decision that is unpopular but necessary,

•Stop going through the motions, and start learning from them,

•Clean up my "virtual" existence,

•Become a connoisseur of something,

•Host/attend a "guy's night,"

•Tryout for Jeopardy,

•Learn to be intrinsically satisfied with successes,

•Learn to polish my shoes

•Build something

•Write a journal regularly

•Read at least two presidents autobiographies