Where in the World is Justin?

So ok.  Really, I’m right here in Hickory, NC.  Big let down I know.  I should have said Doha, or Sarajevo, or somewhere cool like that.  But no, world travels have not been the excuse for my neglect of this blog. 

Some of you know that I’ve been struggling with a bit of depression/anxiety/OCD, a possible move to Michigan to live with family there, and a general all around lack of direction in life and especially career.  My dad actually called it my personal “doldrums.”  (Which is quite funny considering how nutty for all things nautical and Age of Sail I am.) 

A decision has been reached!  I am staying in Hickory.  My fiancee Amber is here.  I don’t want to move 11 hours away from her.  And since I haven’t been able to find a direction on my own, I’m seeing a Career Counselor tomorrow afternoon.  My one aspiration that I can really lock on to is that I want to help people.  I definitely want to talk to the counselor about setting aside my Political Science Degree and possibly heading back to school.  Maybe even looking at Radiography (X-Ray Technician.)  If you have seen my earlier post about Nursing School, well that’s part of my lack of direction.  Also, everyone around me keeps telling me that with my OCD, Nursing probably isn’t the best choice.  I can see their point. 

Wish me luck.  Hopefully my sails will soon be full with a stiff breeze.  (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)  I will definitely be writing more articles about Hickory, North Carolina, and the South as I explore and live.  Well thanks for reading this way too personal and more than just a little bit uncomfortable bit of sharing.  But I guess this is what blogging is supposed to be. 

 

(Picture: alexanderdrachmann)

Going Back to School to Pursue the Dream!

Well, I’ve gone and done it! I’ve been flirting with the idea of going to Nursing School for a while now. Ever since I was back in Community College working on my Associates Degree I had toyed with the notion. I even became an EMT for a little while there. I got turned away from it and ended up getting a Bachelors Degree in Political Science instead.

Now that I’m here in Hickory, North Carolina, I have applied to Catawba Valley Community College to enter their Nursing Program. I have to get my CNA first, but I’m getting registered for those classes straight away. Once that’s taken care of, I should have no trouble with final acceptance into the Associates Degree Nursing program which will lead to my becoming an RN.

One cool benefit of going back to school is that I’ll be able to take a couple of those classes that interest me that I never got around to taking the first time around. Anthropology, Microbiology (a requirement), and check it out… CVCC has a course just on the Civil War!

“HIST226 The Civil War

This course examines the social, political, economic, and ideological forces that led to the Civil War and Reconstruction. Topics include regional conflicts and sectionalism, dissolution of the Union, military campaigns, and the War’s socioeconomic impact, aftermath, and consequences. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in the United States during the era of the Civil War.”

How cool! And I can’t wait to get started on the nursing classes! Wish me luck! :0)

The Bucket Meme

Chris Brogan has a post where he lays out “The Bucket Meme.” Based on the new movie by the same name, this blog meme is essentially a list of things you want to do before you “kick the bucket.” The point of the list is to remind you that life is not as long as we like to believe, and to get you started on all of your wish list items now instead of waiting for some future time that may never come.

My Bucket List:

• Visit Florence, Italy. See the Renaissance Art I studied in college.
• Trek the Himalayas in Nepal. Would love to see Everest with my own eyes.
• Climb Mt. Rainer in Washington State. My Uncle Bob started me on a day hike up past the glacier line when I was a kid. I’ve always wanted to go back and finish the climb.
• China: Great Wall, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and as bad as it is… take the train to Tibet.
• Africa. Photo-Safari. I want to see the lions of the Serengeti, giraffes, elephants, and the rest of Africa in the wild.
• New Zealand. Adventure Capital of the world. ‘Nuff said.

• Wreck Dive in North Carolina’s “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”

• Dive tour around the Caribbean.
• Dive Hawaii and then check out the volcanoes.
• Skydive
• Solo Pilot a Sailplane.
• Get Master’s Degree.
• Work in International Relief.
• Learn to sail.
• Volunteer with the Peace Corps.
• Learn to speak Mandarin Chinese.
• Work on a paleontology dig.
• Teach people to read.
• Become a living history interpreter. (Civil War Navy, Marines)
• Do a complete study of early stage magic.
• Perform my own magic routine.
• Be accepted (as a member) to the Magic Castle.
• Become a Freemason.
• Continue study of maritime history, focus more on piracy.
• Golf around the world.
• Spoil my niece and nephew.
• Set up a mini-rescue shelter for stray dogs.
• Begin “tech-ing” (backstage crew, building sets) for a community theatre group.
• Culinary tour of America.
• Culinary tour of the world.
• Compete in the Memphis in May BBQ Competition.
• Open a BBQ catering business.
• Attend a NASCAR race car driving school.
• Get a tattoo.

As I work on this, I realize that this is only a beginning. What does your bucket list look like? Post it in the comments!

The Happiness-Project Project:

Role models: Thomas Jefferson, Lord Nelson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Marco Polo, Magellan, Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay, Mercury-Apollo Astronauts.

Mission: Be happier now. Build Self Esteem. Become the person I want to be.
Motto: Fortes Fortuna Iuvat.
Symbol: Ship at Sail.
Patron Saint: Saint Jude.

The Two Splendid Truths:
1. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow doesn’t exist. There is only right now.
2. You must forgive yourself before you can grow as a person.

Happiness Project: The Self-Esteem Workbook

The Self-Esteem Workbook (Paperback)
by Glenn R. Schiraldi (Author)

I’ve started working on The Self-Esteem Workbook (you can get it through the link at amazon-no associates program) in order to boost my self confidence and bring things under control.  If you have some experience with this book, or this subject…please post here and let everyone know how you are doing with it in the comments.

My 12 Commandments!

This is a project that is inspired by the work done by Gretchin Rubin over at The Happiness Project. The idea is to come up with your own personal 12 commandments to live by in order to live a more healthy happy life. Here’s mine:

1. Forgive Yourself.
2. Treat Myself As I Would Treat Others.
3. Be classy
4. Experiment—get out of the rut; boredom will kill you and your relationships.
5. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.
6. Get Outside.
7. Become the Person You Want To Be.
8. Baby Steps
9. What Other People Think of Me is None of My Business.
10. Breathe, Relax.
11. Keep Learning.
12. Lock away the past, and forget about the future. All that exists is now.

Here are some tips for creating your own set of Happiness Commandments.