Living the Dream

I ran into my high school A.P. Psychology teacher at a local girls fast-pitch softball game after being in Kentucky for about a week.  He looked a little shocked to see me and then he asked me how I was doing.  Before I could answer he grinned a bit and questioned, "living the dream?"  I nodded in agreement and just replied with a simple, "Yep."

I have been haunted by that little cliche ever since that moment five weeks ago.  For one thing, everyone here including my 23 year old brother uses, "living the dream" in response to the question, How are you doing?

I really was living my dreams even if I was too dumb to realize it at the time.  My patience wore a little thin in Taiwan because of a series of events including, not getting paid for a couple of months due to governmental changes to the program I was working in and a severe scooter accident.  Even in a country where everything is relatively cheap compared to the U.S.A., not getting paid will cause stress and setbacks.  However, I look at my pictures and listen to my ownself describe my experience and all I can think is, Damn, I was having a great time.

Great People, Bad Idea

I met some interesting people and great friends from all around the world.  I met the man of my dreams whom I was just happy to sit next to and talk to everyday.  I have never met a person who I enjoyed so much and was just easy to be around all the time.  My biggest fear for myself is that I never find someone I love as much as him.  Sometimes I just think about hopping on a plane back to Kaohsiung just to hear him laugh.  We speak often and I miss his quirkiness and ability to make me laugh without trying.  He really is the missing link in my life and I appreciate him for everything he has ever done for me.

What pulled me away from Taiwan was a life-long dream to work in baseball.  I finally got the chance to work for my favorite team's single-A affiliate in Brooklyn.  I was so excited and everything was happening quite fast.  I made the decision to leave and chase another one of my dreams.  After working a couple of days my position along with several others were cut and became the responsibility of interns and the other staff members.  I still keep in contact in case something else pops up with the organization, but things are looking pretty grim.

I came back to Kentucky after two months of unsuccessful job hunting in the New York City area.  I am currently working as a Jack-of-all-Trades at the golf course where my dad is the executive chef.  It's alright for now, but it's micromanagement hell and I'll only be able to take it until the end of summer.  I'm trying to keep my head up in remembrance that things always get better.

I am currently in the interview/processing phase of getting onto a cruise ship with several industry players.  I would like to leave after my cousin's wedding on October 1st, but I really can't afford to turn down a job if they want me sooner.  All I know is that I don't want to stay in Cincinnati.  The only good thing about living here is my family and a few old friends.  I really enjoy getting to see my little cousins they are incredibly cute and their personalities are hysterical.  However, I really want to keep traveling and seeing the world, and I really can't do that if I take a normal job and stay here.  Two weeks a year just isn't what I'm looking for.

Most cautious 3 year old one will ever meet

So, yep I guess I am living the dream...My dream.  I know I have not lived my life by "normal" standards, but what is normal?  My dreams do include children and a husband eventually but for right now I'm just trying to survive everyday.  I will not put my children what I went through as a kid.  I am a big risk taker and do live my life with reckless abandon, but growing up in the environment I grew up in sucked, and I refuse to put kids through it.  For now I'm going to keep exploring and possibly seek further education.

What are your dreams?  Do you attempt to reach them or you see them as a futile task and just settle for whatever you can get?  What's stopping you from taking a chance?  Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone.  There are no rules to this.  Get out there and live your life.  Down periods and lulls of activity will happen, but they are temporary, don't give up.  Whatever you do, keep dreaming.