Although it has been quite some time since my last post I have been periodically writing about my life and documenting it in word files. A lot has changed in my life and every time I sat down to write I found myself overwhelmed by the content that I wanted to cover. When I finished writing for that day I found myself unable/unmotivated to finish the tale due to its grueling length. So in short here is the summary of my existence:
I live in Charlotte (Pineville), NC 28226. I work at Oerlikon Balzers located in Rock Hill South Carolina. I have been here since December 2008. I don't mind the location but I can't say I am overly enthusiastic about the job. It is a pseudo-engineering job that i thought was going to consist of a lot more "actual" engineering work. I work as an 'applications engineer' and I mainly take new product and run it through the preliminary coating processes until both parties are happy with the coating results and then transfer it to production. It holds no real significance to myself or any goal I hold in the future besides to learn as much as possible in the time granted to me.
You could say that I am still at a point in my life, the "quarter life crisis", where I am trying to figure out exactly what I want to do. It is a struggle to separate the ego from the heart. A very good college friend recently (May 15th 2009) sent me a poem that I harmonize with, at this moment. I read the words and things start to make sense. My mind clears and I begin to think rationally about what it is in my life that is missing. It is not a complex poem, by any means, but I have an urge to share it with you.
It goes as follows:
GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying;
And the same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And, while ye may, go marry;
For, having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.
Robert Herrick
This is my examination of the poem and what it means to me, probably similar to yourself and unoriginal but the meaning is still true.
Time is still on my side, I have not let it all gone by (there is still a chance, but don't hesitate)
But opportunities come and go, each day they will pass us by
It is not worth letting them sail by unnoticed
The faster you realize your dreams the better
For time does not halt for you to contemplate
Don't fret about the future but look forward
Don't let these opportunities pass by,
for you may forever regret not trying
To me it has a simple meaning: get your ass in gear and find what you love because every day spent not seeking or doing what you love is a day lost.
The first words that came to my mind after reading this poem were "adventure and exploration". This is what I seek in my life right now and it just gives me more inspiration to continue with the planning of my bike trip and start conjuring up ideas for an European excursion. When I lose track of this mind frame I start thinking about stability and working a job I don't exactly like. I don't know if I should settle for a median or go for the gold. Something is telling me to go for the gold...
This is all I have to write at the moment. The next few entries will be compilations of my past writings that I have not posted because they were not complete. They may be scrappy and all over the place but I don't know if I will ever post them if I wait until I have finished them.
