Shyzer.com

Well, I’ve finally made my way back to South Carolina after spending a fantastic week in Minnesota with my family. Sorry I never got around to driving those ten hours or so to see you Stan. I’m now sitting in Waynus’ room using my old computer and trying to get used to the new house that my dad moved into. It’s about a mile away from the house I grew up in and it’s odd being so close to so many old memories.

I finally got in touch with my bros earlier today, which turned out to work in my favor since Jeremy’s bachelor party is tomorrow night. The fact that Jeremy’s total nights of bachelorhood are now limited to two still blows my mind. Friday night is the rehearsal dinner and then Saturday is the actual wedding. I’ve already gone through a bunch of the First with my friends. First friend to have a baby. First friend to die far too early. And now, First friend to get married and buy a house. I’m still trying to think of what other Firsts I have to go through. First friend to get divorced? First friend to move to another continent? (I might be racing Elton on this one.) First friend to, uh,…be convicted of a crime? Hell if I know. I can’t think of anything else.

There was a brief moment the other day where I felt like I was falling behind on things. I’m in no hurry to get married, in no hurry to start a family, in no hurry to even settle down in one place. I’m still trying to move to another continent for Christ sake. Thankfully, that moment only lasted roughly 3.2 seconds, but it felt like forever. Of course, I’m not out trying to avoid all of these things, but I just don’t feel as if I should be trying to do them because “it’s the right time.” I’ve just never worked that way. Who says it’s the right time? What pattern or expectations are we supposed to be following here?

Hell, I can’t even conform to a set pattern in my every day life. Kinda like good ole’ Mao Zedong.

Ha, bet you didn’t see that one coming. I still remember coming across the following passage last year while reading one of my textbooks for a Chinese History class. “Mao Zedong had no concept of time. He ate when he wanted. He slept when he wanted. He worked when he wanted. He never allowed his life to be dictated by a clock.”

Now I’m not saying I’m going to lead a country through a Communist Revolution, but I wouldn’t put it past myself. I’ve never been able to follow The Clock and I’ve never understood why more people aren’t like me. Because of my sleep pattern, I’m called a combination of lazy, slob, bum, good-for-nothing fool, and my personal favorite, somebody who is out of touch with reality. I don’t have a set bedtime. I don’t set an alarm unless I am forced to be awake at a certain time. I’ve never set my meals to any set schedule. I wake when my body wakes. I eat when my body says “hey retard, feed me,” and I sleep when my eyes close. It’s as simple as that.

What’s that you say? You have a job? Well good for you! Some Most 99% of people will let a clock dictate their lives for money. I understand that I’m in the minority when it comes to people who would rather take a less paying job in order to be able to call their own shots. I’d much rather take a lower paying job that allowed me certain freedoms than a higher paying job that would lock me into a routine. A freelance ANYTHING would be the perfect job for me, at least for the next 10 years or so. As long as I can make above the poverty line, have freedom to move around, and enjoy every day to the fullest, I’m an extremely happy man.

Life is only as enjoyable as you make and allow it to be. If there’s one thing I wish I could get people to listen to me about, it would be how much more they could be getting out of life. Stop worrying so much folks, realize that happiness comes not from bigger TVs or cars, and start marching to your own beat. I promise you won’t regret it.