Life Aspirations

I suppose everyone has them, even if we don’t think about them very often. I’ve had three major life aspirations that I can remember. The first was graduating from college, which I’ve already achieved. To be honest, I never understood why this was so important to me. Maybe I wanted to make my father proud, or maybe I wanted to be the first one in my family to do it. Whatever the case, I remember feeling like I wouldn’t be complete without doing it, and that feeling drove me to graduate.

That, I think, is the real definition of a life aspiration. It is a goal that may be passed on from time to time but continues to motivate long after its initial conception, the kind of thing you can’t rest until you’ve finished. I have two other such aspirations that I have yet to achieve. Before I die, I’d like to publish a book and build my own house.

I’ve been thinking about the first since last weekend, when a friend said I should write a book after having read my short stories (and knowing nothing of my desire to do so). To hear he and my brother describe it, I’m a born author. This blog stands as testament to my writing ability, if nothing else. Perhaps one day I’ll find the time and the stamina to start a story and actually finish it. If I can do it once, I have a feeling I could make a professional career of it.

The last is a goal that I don’t see myself accomplishing any time soon, if only for financial reasons. I don’t so much want the hands-on experience of construction as I do the planning. I want to sit down with an architect, design a house to my specifications, and see it built from the ground up. This will be the house my family lives in for the rest of my life, and hopefully an heirloom that gets passed down. I smile whenever I think of “the house that Stephen W. built.”

These are humble goals, perhaps, but everyone judges lifetime success by their own standards. I have no need to be famous or accomplish world-changing feats, in part because I care little for what other people think. If I can fulfill my potential and leave something behind of lasting value to those I love, I’ll be happy. Everyone should be lucky to accomplish as much.

Stephen,

Congratulations! Not having seen you for a while now, it is good to hear things are going the way you deserve! Congrats on the new residence and especially the new job! Give your lovely wife a hug from the old barbarian and your precious boy a kiss from the man that makes him cry.

I, too started a new job… the day after Christmas. More money, better benefits…and I heard from Greg at Iron Liege..he says he owes you a weapon for all the work you did for him but, due to a virus, has lost your contact info. Drop him an email.

Take care my friend. Hope to see you soon!
Barton