First world problems

"FML, I stepped in a puddle without my rain boots." I love most everything in life, but one thing I hate is negative people complaining about things that they shouldn't be complaining about.  Seriously, get some perspective people. You missing your metro ride or missing a hair appointment is not an FML type of problem. You not being able to go out because you are studying means you are more fortunate than 90 percent of the world and can afford an education.

Look, we have all complained about something at one point. It is human nature and bad stuff happens. It can be healthy to vent. At the same time it seems, especially with Facebook and Social Media, that the chronic whiners are out in full force. I don't really understand it to be honest. How does a person not realize how ridiculous it sounds when they complain about such minuscule things.  Is it a cry for attention and help? Or are we just that nieve.

Look at what kind of horrendous stuff is being done to people all over the world from Syria, to Iraq, to starving people in Africa. They would love the opportunity to miss a hair appointment or get the wrong type of coffee at Starbucks.

The one thing I always do when I complain is look at myself first.  I hold myself accountable. I think that is what we lack in the modern age, accountability. We complain and blame, but never hold ourselves accountable for the situation we are whining about.  Prime example are relationships.

I always hear both guys and girls complaining they keep ending up with the wrong guy or girl. Maybe that is a pattern you should recognize and change? Is that really coincidence? Maybe you have the worst luck in the world, but chances are it just means you aren't doing anything to change the situation.

Let's all be thankful for what we have instead of complaining about what we don't. Look, I am a very fortunate person and have had my share of luck in my life but I've worked hard and made my own luck too and nothing is perfect. Let's all stop complaining and saying FML. Perspective people, perspective.

The Top 7 Movies of all time

Hyperbole is what I do best even if it is over the top(which it is). I truly believe that life without passion isn't really life. Don't like things, love them. This applies to movies especially. This was an impossible list to put together, though the top 3 were easy.

Please note that I know Ace Ventura is probably not a better movie than "Citizen Kane" or whatever boring movie critics like, but I liked it more. Please also note that if a movie doesn't have a romance angle to it in someway I probably won't like it. When I leave a movie I want to feel impacted and/or happy.  Movies are entertainment and supposed to impact your life in a positive way and make you feel happy. At least that's what I think.

I think being a great actor is probably the best job in the world.  Movies are awesome. No one will agree with this list but please comment on what you think because anyone who blogs loves comments(or why would we write?). Enjoy.

7. Ace Ventura-Pet Detective

The scene in the dolphin tank when he starts speaking with a german accent is one of the greatest comedic sequences of all time. Jim Carrey is a genius and one of the top 4 people I'd like to have a beer with.  I basically quoted this movie everyday for most of my childhood years.  By the way, Dumb and Dumber is probably #8 as it is the second most quotable movie of all time.

6. Good Will Hunting

Of course I need a Boston movie in here and there is no better Boston movie(and there are tons of great ones) than this incredible love story.  Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck(his best acting role ever) are amazing.  If you don't like Matt Damon chances are you don't like Santa Clause or sunsets and should probably take a happy pill.  The script in this movie is impeccable. "How about them apples" is probably the 8th greatest movie quote of all time. Just an amazing flick all around.

5.  Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade/the entire trilogy

Harrison Ford is my #1 man crush of all time. Last Crusade is my favorite of the trilogy because of the relationship between Connery and Ford, two of the best actors ever. Also, when the hot blond Nazi turns out to be a Nazi and terrible person it was one of the most traumatic times of my childhood. Indiana Jones is the greatest hero of all time and it really isn't close. No super powers, no crazy ninja stuff. Just a bad ass archeologist that fights the worst people on earth(Nazis). The Holy Grail final scene is probably my favorite movie scene ever.

4.  The Fugitive:

Can you tell I have a man crush on Harrison Ford. This movie is the best revenge movie of all time and revenge movies are the best genre in the wide world.  Tommy Lee Jones is spectacular in this movie as well. The best actor duo of all time? Yup.  This was my favorite movie of all time for about 10 years and it is really hard for me to put it at #4.

3. Office Space:

This movie gets better and better as I get older because it is part autobiography part fiction.  Don't get me wrong all in all I like work more than school for the most part. I like my job, but some parts of it are really like this.  We all have known a Lumberg or four in our lives. You know what though, you have to find hobbies outside of work. Most of us can't be what we want to be. I want to be a professional kayak blogger but recruiting is awesome so I am making the most of it. What a movie.

2. Love Actually

I love rom com's and this is the king/queen. So many different complex relationships going on. Not all end up happy but its all realistic. What it says at the end is that Love happens in all different types. Never give up on it.Why isn't there an American version that I star in?

1. Forrest Gump:

The most rewatchable movie of all time. Why is this the greatest movie of all time? Easy. Combines action, romance, comedy, fantasy, and life all in one.  We all wish we could be Forrest Gump and just go running without a care in the world. Go dreaming. We all sympathize with him as well. Plus, the quotes are amazing. The quote about seeing Jenny for the first time on the school bus is the greatest quote of all time.

I could write 9 paragraphs on each of these movies but the fact is all of these movies will always have a special place in my heart and have all changed my life for the better. I am going to watch all 7 of these movies in a row this Sunday.

Life gets better as you get older

Life keeps getting better as I have entered my last year in my 20's. It just keeps getting more fun. I don't know if I have just have a better, or rather more optimistic perspective on what is good and bad or what it is. For me, as a 29 year old I am more established and know more about what I want than I did at 22. Every day for me is pretty awesome. I think we equate getting older as life getting worse  because we hear that is what is supposed to happen. Sure, there are things I wish I could do now that I can't. I can't play 6 games of basketball in a row anymore without feeling that I'm going to have a heart attack. I can't eat 6 bagels without knowing I'll have to work out for 17 hours the next day to work it off. I can't wake up after a bender and run 5 miles.

Notice, what I said before were all physical symptoms.  Mental is more important in life, and as you get older most of us get mentally stronger. We start figuring stuff out. I know what I want to do for the rest of my life, but more importantly what I DON't want to do.  I'm as confident and comfortable in my own skin as I have ever been. I know what people I want and don't want in my life. I'm done with school and understand and accept  what I want for a career. It is all coming together.

It's funny, I remember 5 years ago or so my Dad and I were kayaking and he said to me, "Life is better now, better than ever." My dad is my idol and someone I try to strive to be everyday even though I can never be as great a man as him.  Anyway, when I heard that I chuckled to myself thinking this was just something a Dad would say. Could that actually be true? But youth is gone? Now, as I reflect on that I can see why he said that and why it is true. He has done everything he's wanted to do. He is fulfilled, which I think is basically what we all want as humans. We all want to be fulfilled. What a cool place to be.

Let's not think of getting older as a bad thing. Let's reverse that thought and realize that we are older, wiser ,stronger, and able to build more lasting relationships(I know I sound like Dr. Phil). We get to become experts in our field of choice. We don't have to choose between getting food and beer. We realize who we are. I don't know about you, but bring on 30,40 and 50. Life keeps getting better and the dream lives on.

2013-What a Year it was

I can't believe it has been 6 months since I wrote in this blog. Unacceptable! 2013 was truly one of the best and most interesting of my 28 years on this earth. Like any year it had a few downs(getting laid off), but even that turned out for the best.

Simply put, a ton of life events happened. I got let go from the only job I had ever known since college, then jumped into a completely new field all within 2 months. I graduated with my Masters during all of this all the while learning the ropes in my NOVA SHRM Volunteer role. There were few dull moments, but that is how life should be. We only get one of these so we might as well do stuff.

What I am most happy about is not the actual events, parties, kayak trips, Dunkin Donuts Ice Coffee's,etc I had. Rather, it is what I learned about myself. I've always been a person that is extremely open and relatively confident in who I am, but this year I think I reached the pinnacle of accepting who I am and who I am not and not feeling bad about it. That is not to say there aren't things I still want to change or rather improve on, but I am okay with knowing I will always have my faults.

I've always been hard on myself, but I realize now that I can't change who I am and frankly I wouldn't want to.  I am an incredibly forward, honest person who has little to no shame. Does it frighten off some people? Probably, but they aren't worth it anyway. 2013 was the year I completely 100% realized who I am and what I value in life. This is something I don't take for granted as I realize many people never figure it out. I am one of the lucky ones.

Life keeps getting better with age. I always hear people say they hate getting older, but I am having as much or more fun now than I ever had. I also feel more stable than ever knowing what I want to do in my career, finishing school, and realizing what is most important to me both in my personal and professional life.  I always tell people when they ask me how I am, that I am "livin the dream" because I am totally free and at peace everyday. Nothing is holding me back from what I want to do and if that isn't living the dream I don't know what is.

2014 is going to be a great year where I will keep improving and keep realizing things about myself. I look forward to new friendships, maybe even a love interest if I can find a girl that can handle my ridiculousness, and new career opportunities. Life is unpredictable and shit happens, but if you stay positive and put yourself in the position to succeed things usually turn out alright. Here's to hoping for another epic year.

Favorite Moments

Day long kayak trip with my Dad
Receiving Academic Excellence Award for my Grad Program
Karl on the Kayak video sessions with my best friend Dan
Representing NOVA SHRM at the State Conference
The May Kentucky Derby Party in New York
Sunday Funday in Boston in September with 3 of my best friends and basically every Boston trip
Sunset Kayaking on the Potomac
Red Sox and Patriots Meetups and the people I met

Goals for 2014:

Lose 25 pounds
Eat healthier and be healthier
Handle my money better(See Mom I listen)
Learn to say "No" more often
Take more career chances