What so many people seem forget
anymore is that we’re young. We have our entire lives ahead of us. Stop
planning so far in advance and live in the moment now. That’s what college and
your 20s are for – enjoying yourself. Worry about the rest of life later when
it needs to be worried about.
As of today
I have 10 years that are solely focused on me.
I’m not
trying to be selfish, but I will admit that I spent the first 19 years of my
life, or at least tried to, pleasing others. I went to school where my parents
wanted me to go or pursued a career in order to please them. I said yes to
people so I wouldn’t let them down. I did things I didn’t want to do in order
to make others happy. And all along I put my own life on the backburner.
I’m not
doing that any longer.
There are
so many things I didn’t do growing up these past 19 years because I didn’t want
to inconvenience others or seem too self-centered.
Things are
different now.
Today I
turn 20. Hard to believe I’m no longer a teenager. But today marks the end of
something more than teenage years; it marks the beginning of a new lifestyle I
plan to live. This decade I’m living out for me. There are so many things I
want to try, and if it conflicts with what someone thinks I should do or their
thoughts on me, so be it.
There are
dreams I want to pursue, places I want to go, and goals I want to accomplish.
And dammit, I plan to.
When I
applied to Syracuse University, I did so because I wanted to get into the S.I.
Newhouse School of Public Communications. “My dream” was to be a sportscaster
on ESPN or the NFL Network. I did get in to Newhouse and I spent a semester in
the program. I could’ve gone through the motions, graduated with a journalism
degree, and been famous.
It took a self-revelation though to
figure out that’s not what I wanted.
I was chasing that dream for other
people. My parents, teachers in high school, colleagues, town “fans” who
followed my sports journalism career, and everyone else who had these
expectations for me. Granted, it would be cool to interview Peyton Manning, LeBron
James, Derek Jeter, Nick Saban, or some other famous sports star. But I was
blessed with the opportunity last summer to spend some time behind the scenes
of the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. I had lunch with Ike Taylor, my absolute
favorite player, and he made me realize something – he’s only human.
Ike and his
teammates are just like the football players I hung out with in high school.
They’re boys trying to prove who is manlier, stronger, has a cuter girlfriend, etc.
The Steelers are just a bit bigger and faster, and get paid to do it while
their every move is watched.
This was
the first incident that steered me away from wanting to get involved in this
industry. I no longer worship the ground famous people walk on because when it
comes down to it, they’re only human.
My dreams
are beginning already. I changed my major to psychology and am going to get a
business degree as well. I came to Syracuse for others and whether I remain or
not is still in question. After I graduate with my bachelor’s degrees I want to
move down south. Eventually I hope to get my master’s and then I’ll probably
move back to my hometown.
For most of my life I wanted to
break off from my family and the family business and forge my own path by myself.
Time at college and away from my family has made me change my mind and has
opened my eyes to the wonderful things my dad and uncles have done and the
amazing opportunities they have given others. I believe I now want to become a
part of the family business and continue the legacy my grandpa started.
Eventually though I want to open a
therapeutic horseback riding ranch. At one time it was strictly going to be for
veterans with PTSD, but I want it to be for all psychological problems and a
place for healing and counseling.
This decade
is for me to live out though. So here is my bucket list of 20 things I plan to
do/go/accomplish in the next 10 years:
20. Travel
I plan to travel just a bit. I have dreams of going to
Nashville, New Orleans, California, Alaska, Italy, Greece, Spain, and
Australia. I might not make it to all of
these places within the decade, but hopefully I cross a few off my list.
19. Motorcycle License
I’m going to get my motorcycle license, despite the vast
majority of people telling me not to because it’s dangerous.
18. Puppy
I want to get a puppy even though my parents will kill me.
17. Tattoo
Also planning on getting a tattoo that has a very
significant meaning.
16. Skydive
You only live once right? So that means I have to jump out
of a plane and soar through the air at least once.
15. Complete a Tough Mudder and Color Run.
Currently in training for a Tough Mudder and I just want to
get tie-dyed while I run!
14. Road trip across the country.
Honestly, what would be amazing and is my dream is to take a
photo of the sun rising over the ocean on the east coast, and setting over the
ocean on the west coast. It might take me a week to get from coast to coast,
but those are two pictures I plan on taking.
13. Drive a racecar.
Not only drive, but hopefully even race. Now I just need to
talk my uncle into trusting me with one of his cars…..
12. Jump off a waterfall/cliff.
It’s done in the movies all the time so I want to try it.
11. Complete a challenge featured on Man Vs. Food.
My family says I’m a garbage disposal so I want to see if I
can live up to my nickname.
10. Leave my mark
I want to either be able to walk into a place where everyone
knows my name or have my picture hanging on the wall for something I
accomplished. (Not a Wall of Shame though!)
9. Crash a wedding
Anyone feel like helping me come up with a back-story and
finding a wedding to attend?
8. Run a marathon
I guess I’ll start with a half, but I hope to work up to a full
eventually!
7. Put a message in a bottle
It was always (and still is) my dream to go to the beach and
find a bottle with a note in it. I want to write a letter and my contact
information and hopefully receive a reply.
6. Vegas
Everyone always says what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I
think it’s one of those places you need to go to at least once in your life to
experience.
5. TBD
Five is my favorite number so I figured I’d have to pick
something good. This one though is going to be my mystery number on my bucket
list. Eventually I’m going to take a leap of faith and do something I never
imagined myself doing. So for now I guess it remains a mystery?
4. Go horseback riding on the beach
With my love of horses you think I would have done this
already but I honestly never have.
3. Attend a game at every NFL stadium
I’ve been saying this one for years but I want to visit
every field and enjoy the atmosphere.
2. Finish one of the books I started writing
There are a few of them now. Some are close to being done,
others only have random ideas written across a few pages, and some aren’t
written down yet but are finished in my head. I’ll complete one eventually.
1. Make a significant impact on someone’s life
I hope to one day hear that I was a role model or a source
of motivation to someone. Maybe I stopped them from making a terrible mistake,
or encouraged them to go after their dream. Whatever it is, I want to impact
someone’s life in a major way.
At this moment I’m not sure what
else I want to pursue? I have ten years though to fill with adventures, fun,
memories, and lessons.
(I’ll let you know in 10 years how
many I crossed off this list)
