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So I'm 34 now and looking back at the goals I set for myself 10 years ago, I'm nowhere near where I pictured myself being at 34.
It's been one setback after another. Two steps forward and three steps back. Given the way things are going, it looks like I may never achieve what I set out to do, so I figure it's best to just give up and reorient myself before I go nuts.
*post edited to change tone since it seems some people can't differentiate between hair-pulling frustration and wangst*
I'm good.
I'm way better and way more than I ever thought possible. I don't know how it happened but it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
the vengeful and spiteful bastard that god is, he probably is laughing.
Why wouldn't he be? One of His creations moping around feeling sorry for himself over not making some petty mark? That's LOL shit for sure.
I'm 26 tomorrow, drawing storyboards for a living at an animation studio, living in a decent city with lots to do.
Not rich, not even well off exactly, but getting by. Lousy apartment, bunch of roomates, very little disposable income. Many loan payments! However, I am exactly ok with paying my dues at this stage, everything else will come to me as I earn it. My main principal in this life for everything else is just serendipity.
Things are pretty ok, I think. Learning to play the banjo, which was bought with money that would have picked up a 360, had I cared enough to do so anymore. This was the correct choice. Progress makes me happy!
Good call.Quote:
Originally Posted by YellerDog
Yeah, thanks. I'll be sure to behave like an asshole when you're just expressing frustration.Quote:
Originally Posted by PaCrappa
Hi, have you been to TNL before?
Hi, can you read?Quote:
Originally Posted by Othello Harrington
Quote:
Originally Posted by Master of 7s
The only thing I called was the steady career. The hot fiance is icing on the cake.
I am pretty happy with my life. I could make more money but who couldn't? Main thing is that I have a beautiful daughter and a wonderful wife. And Gears night. :D
:tu:
I'm alright. I moved out of my parents' place, I have a decent career going (may change in the next few years), and I'm having fun.
I'm 24 so I'm trying to do what I can before I die. So far so good.
:tu:
No.
I don't think I ever will be. Things are just too uncertain and subject to change.
I'm working on this. I would just be happy with a job that was even sort of fulfilling.
Nope, not in the least. I need to travel more I think.
I thought I would be at a better university, but on that note, I also thought I'd have a lot more debt. Considering I'm very close to graduating debt-free, I can't complain. Ended up with some awesome opportunities here so it worked out for the best.
I'll revisit this topic in 3 years for grad school angst.
I'm better off than I thought I'd be at 25. Got a degree, can drive now. I thought it would be way later in life before I learned to drive. I just never wanted to. I don't like it. I was thinking 30's.
But yeah, job hunting with a ba at 25 seems about right. Got to say I didn't see the marriage or subsequent divorce coming.
I'll be 34 in a few days, and my life rocks way harder than I ever thought it would. Honestly, I thought I'd be homeless, incarcerated or dead by now, but I've got a really good job, I'm healthy, I'm married to a beautiful/amazing woman who makes more money than I do and I've got the most awesome little son a guy could ask for. Never thought it would turn out this good.
I'm doing better than I thought I would be. Hooray for low expectations.
I've never had expectations in life honestly, but I'm doing pretty good.
I didn't really think about where I would be at 20, more like close to 30, but so far I think I should be happy with where I'm at. 08 was the first shitty shitty year I've ever had, there were a lot of set backs, but I got through it. Having a semester away from school though sucks because I'm not really doing anything but saving money and waiting to go back, so there's this really stagnant feeling.
Things have gotten/are getting better though. I'm happy.
Hmm...hard to say. Honestly, back in High School I figured that I'd be married with a house and maybe kids by now. But back then I was an idiot and I'm glad I didn't buy into that stereotypical bullshit. I'd probably be miserable if I had.
The thing I'm most happy with is that I've done a lot of traveling to some very interesting and beautiful parts of the world. I've scuba dived with giant sea turtles, mountain biked down 10,000 foot volcanoes, watched ships pass through the Panama canal, flown in helicopters under 1000 foot waterfalls, watched the sun set on Caribbean islands while kicking back in a hot tub, swam in a river in a rain forest, partied on Burbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and been inked in the face by a octopus while exploring a giant coral reef, just to name a few experiences. In this sense I've had a lot of opportunities that most people don't and never will, and I'm very thankful for that.
I've had various jobs, most well paying, some more pleasant than others, but I'm not where I want to be in terms of a career yet. I've got some college under my belt, but I've always regretted not getting my degree and am still playing with the idea of going back to school. I've had plenty of relationships but never found the desire to get married yet. I'm currently dating a fantastic girl and am very happy with her. I've lived on my own, early on in a fairly shitty studio, but later in a much, much nicer one-floor walk-up apartment with the works.
I have tons of skills and hobbies that I'm very proud of, abilities that I've picked up through a lifetime of teaching myself things and reading. I also manage to keep myself in pretty good shape.
So, am I where I want to be? No. Could I have done more in terms of education/career? Yes. But have I enjoyed my life thus far? Hell yes.
You guys are getting divorced? Shit, that didn't take long.Quote:
Originally Posted by M
Pretty far off currently, but I didn't have the most realistic aspirations. Even my fallback career is mired right now, having to fight for jobs I'm way over-qualified for against other over-qualified schmucks (and all the adequatey qualified as well, which are more likely to get the job). I'm getting increasingly unemployable...having been creative lead and worked on collaborative, creative team projects, plus all my home office freelance work...I really can't tolerate the whole 8-5 workerdink stuff anymore. Physically, I've stopped progressing and injuries take longer to heal.
The only thing that's gone better than expected is my relationship, closing in on 7 years.
Dolemite's life sounds like a Tomb Raider adventure.
I'm about where I thought I would be, there's just more of me here than I thought there would be.
I'm happy, there is a lot of shit that needs to be done that I always wanted to do i.e. places to see, career objectives... and I know I will get them done. Overall I am happy but would srsly like some more consistent vagina in my mouth.
I really am quite fulfilled in the traveling I've done. And you should see my ass in my Lara Croft shorts.Quote:
Originally Posted by kingoffighters
That's really awesome, I do wish I travel more. Forget ass, Lara Croft is all about the silicon tits. How are yours in comparison? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Dolemite
Juicy.
Hallowed be thy name.Quote:
Originally Posted by PaCrappa
Kid, as a child did you ever dare to dream that today you'd be wrestling countless sweaty young men to the floor while not finishing Washed Ashore?
NEVER.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dolemite
My goal was to pretty much be "retired" by age 30.
In my early 20s I decided that retirement meant to me that I would be working a job that I enjoyed that I really didn't consider "work".
i.e. something I hated.
I've been pretty successful with that for the last four or so years, so I'm pretty much where I think I'd be.
I'm almost dead on my plan. I did change focus from management to technical, which was a good choice, but it did not set me back at all time-wise. My next checkpoint is scheduled for 2010, at which point I should be the third highest technical "rank" in my company at 33 or 34, depending on timing. Considering most people never reach where I am now, that's pretty good with either 30 years or an early retirement to go.
I am honestly not even close to where I "thought I'd be", but then again I have a loving family and a few good friends, SSJN, and therefore as much as I wish I'd made different descisions and acted differntly in certain situations, I'm alright with where I am and am only looking forward.
I thought I'd be dead, so there's that.
You failed! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by icarusfall
LOL!!!!
Seriously that was great.
10 years ago I was 12.
Most of my goals from that time involved touching boobies.
SUCCESS
I've banged more women than all of my uncles on my dad's side combined. There are six of them.
That goal of mine has been destroyed.
Weren't you in the movie "Kids", Razor? :lol:
Drunk girls are easy. Unconscious girls are no sweat.
I was hoping I'd have dunked hard enough to break a backboard before age twenty-six. The closest I'll ever come to the backboard-breaking "Oops, sorry," combined with a little bit of "What's up now, bitch," is clogging the toilet at work. I guess I am okay with this.
I haven't really accomplished a whole lot, but living on my own in a nice place with a girl I love and enough money to do the things I want is a much better place that I would have expected at 23.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dolemite
And to think, when you die all those moments will be lost, like tears in rain...
http://www.fearthegooberzilla.com/pi...derunner04.JPG
Geographically, I'm definitely not where I thought I'd be, but that 's because I had naive expectations of what certain places would be like.
I've never really set any specific goals for myself, aside from being self reliant, staying healthy, and pushing myself to try new things.
I could have earned more money or gotten a more extensive education, but I didn't see the point then, and I don't regret it now.
I've always had more opportunities than ambition, and that has yet to change.
I'm not a full-blown alcoholic, so no, I'm not where I thought I'd be.
At least you can dream!
I've found that from 15 to now, if you asked me where I wanted to be in the future each year you probably would get a different answer. That said, despite being newly unemployed i'm probably closer to any goals i've had now then ever, I'm in the midst of writing a movie script aswell as co-funding another movie and getting to know some people in the business.
So since I know you can I get a free copy of both?
I'm very content with where I'm at and where I believe I'm headed mainly because of the knowledge I've acquired over the past ten years. As long as I keep acquiring and applying knowledge, I'll go as far as my health allows me to. I see no limits so I choose not to set any limitations on myself. I never really had a concrete ideal of who I'd be at age 30 aside from winding down my NBA career, but that didn't pan out so it's been Plans B - Z since then.
I'm the same. 10 years ago I never thought I'd live to see 30... and here I am turning 30 this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by icarusfall
Don't jinx it...
My life couldn't be more different. At 20 I was certain I'd be dead or in prison before long, and in all honesty there is no reason other than extraordinary luck I wasn't.
And really, now that I'm 30, from all the external factors I'm at an all-time low: I make less money now than I did at 16 and am barely scraping by, I'm single , no health insurance, and academic career uncertain, etc. Yet I feel better about my life than I ever have. Last year I faced more challenges than I had in all the years preceding combined, any one of which would have broken the kid I used to be: the onset of my 'illness' and subsequent halt in my academic career, the end of a 6 year relationship, loss of loved ones, addiction, etc. But I have dealt with all of them, and dealt with them surprisingly well. And I know that life has a bit more to throw my way before it's over, but I also know I can take it.
Internally, I'm at an all time high, and for the first time I'm hopeful. I feel like through consistent effort at self-improvement I'm going to find peace. I was never 'lost' because I never had a direction to begin with. But through trial-and-error I'm getting my shit together at last.
Since you know me can you buy a copy of each?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pineapple
Not where I thought I'd be.
Not happy with where I am.
Not happy with... anything. At least I know I have good friends. Now I just need to rekindle that drive within me to change and I'm good.
Yup.
In second grade I wanted to go to the University of Florida. At that back-country elementary school the other kids would talk about their dreams of getting an athletic scholarship in; actually having the academic record to get in at that point was unthinkable for them. I'm at the University of Florida. I need to remember this more often so I don't let go of school before I get my degree (like I have been doing the last couple of semesters).
It's 2 am and I'm drinking whiskey. I'm almost there!
Can't say I'm thrilled with where I am right now. Figured I would have travelled more, have a higher (read: proper) paying job, have my own place, and be all around happy. But the year is still young.
Then again, as a child, my future always appeared murky; I never knew what I'd do or where I'd go.
Career wise, I'm not even in the same ballpark I would like to be. Other than that, all of my high school friends are married, most have children and are miserable. Everybody keeps asking me when I'll "settle down". I keep telling them when I find someone that won't make me as miserable as them.
Not having any severe problems in my life right now gets me by. You really can't ask for much more.
I planned to have 1000+ TNL posts by now but I fucked it up.
Lots of somber stories here. WTF TNL. Enjoy this mutha fucka called life.
I'm in a far better career position than I ever expected myself to be in. Working on huge projects for huge clients, in a different industry than I expected, but enjoying every second of it. I'm really putting myself in a great position now to do whatever I want within my industry given a few more years experience.
Lifewise I'm only okay. I have a good core group of friends, but only a few of my very close friends still live in Cleveland. None of my friends from college live here, they are all in the NYC/Boston areas, but I at least visit them a few times a year. The only reason I'm staying here is because of my family and my job. And no serious womenz in the life right now, which I'm actually indifferent about. It's great because I have the 100% freedom in both what I do with my career, and my life, without the need to think about another person when making decisions. But also kind of sucks because I got so used to being in a relationship during the past few years that it's a little weird.
The most important thing to me is that I'm happy, which I am, so I have no complaints at all.
I wish you and I would hang out sometime :(
This is the key to long-term success. You have the right attitude about things. It doesn't seem you have a sense of entitlement that a lot of people have. Good for you. In this life, you get what you earn. Nothing is handed to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by YellerDog
At 24, my goal was to be making six figures by the time I turned 30. Well, I'm almost 30 and I'm not even close to that, but I'm happy as shit nonetheless. I'm dating the girl of my dreams right now and have a good job in a rough economy, so I'm content with where I'm at in life.
Well...
I never thought I'd be a candidate for divorce, but it happened. Can't say I regret it. I'm still deciding what I want to be when (if) I grow up, but I'll do the beer store thing for now. I never really spent a lot of time planning the future - I just take each day as it comes. If I look back then there's a lot of things I would change - but who wouldn't? I guess my biggest "disappointment" is that I'm somehow STILL living on fucking Long Island and really, really, don't want to be here. My goal is to get the hell out of here when my daughter graduates H.S. or decides to come with me earlier. My GF is (a little) younger than me and will have a great job down the road, so maybe my future is to be a Mr. Mom in a decade from now. Who knows? So much can change.
All in all, life is good and all of us should focus on it as a gift and realize that the train will pull into the station a lot sooner than you think. I can't believe I'm 42. I can't believe GameGo! is coming up on being eight years old. So much has changed since the VGD/GG days. I'm amazed. Life is good.
I would have to say that I had no idea where I wanted to be in life... until I met my current girlfriend soon to be fiance and then wife. My parents tho they took care of me didn't really give me any kind of push in what to be in life. When I graduated high school I applied to colleges but never followed through with them. I basically worked at Media Play bought lots of video games and anime and watched and played them with friends. 4 years after I graduated I hooked up with my current gf. By that time I was working in a pharmacy(which I still am) making more money than most college grads when they graduate. I bought my own house my own car and I've been going to school part time, though next year I cranking it up to full time cuz I'm tired of school. Trying to move from pharmacy tech to phamacist. Create business that can hopefully bring some kind of industry back to this broken city. I'm not there yet, but very thankful I found someone that helped me put my head on straight.
I think I've decided to go to grad school in fall 2010 back in Virginia and my girlfriend wants to work in and eventually run a bed and breakfast.
I didn't really expect these developments.
I just recently cracked the 1,000 post mark. Really pleased.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bojack
noob
Is it Smiles, the girl Burg and I met?Quote:
Originally Posted by Type Ryan
I guess the operating question is which projection of the future to use.
When I was in high school, I never thought I'd be where I was. I probably should have, but at the time I had a different view of the world and the opportunities available to me. Most people were expecting me to be a fuck up and my only concrete goal was to go to college and prove them wrong.
In college I think I was enjoying myself too much to dwell on the future. I think graduation kind of snuck up on me, and I suddenly realized that all the lines I had been reciting about what I'd do when I graduated were lies. I didn't want to teach, I didn't want to go to grad school...
So I decided to turn my focus to writing. In some ways it's been harder and in some ways it's been easier than I thought it would be. I've been more able to focus on the kind of work I like doing and reaching an audience than I ever thought I would. That said, I've been freelance for a while now, interviewed with IGN for like 4 times (probably 5 soon) and I still can't get a staff position.
I've been a bit frustrated this week in particular, because I've taken a lot of assignments, done work that my editors have tell me they like a lot, but now if I apply for a news editor position I get "Well aren't you more of a features/reviews guy?" sort of response, and I've been doing features and reviews because that's what they've been paying me to do. I've also gotten "Well aren't you more of a retro guy" or things like that and I feel like I'm getting typecast out of jobs just for doing the work they've asked and doing it enthusiastically.
So yeah, I think the short answer is "no" but maybe because I never thought enough about it to begin with.
Move into porn. You got the stash.
probably not
3 year old me wanted to drive a garbage truck because they are cool and they smash things
12 year old me wanted to make video games
18 year old me wanted to build giant robots of death
Its only around 23 or 24 that I decided on the current path.
What's the best way to learn an instrument? Obviously playing it, but I mean are there any recommended techniques or books you can take other than just playing every day? I want to learn the harmonica and other than picking it up and blowing I don't know where to begin.Quote:
Originally Posted by YellerDog
Try websites for it. Most musical instruments have devoted websites with free lessons. It's how I learned guitar at first. I can't tell you shit for chords anymore but it helped me get the proper hands for guitar.
PRACTICE IT EVERYDAYQuote:
Originally Posted by Drewbacca
But in all honesty, thats a pretty open ended question. It changes per instrument. And it depends on how you learn. For some people a book is best. For others, lessons. Some people like videos. Some need music theory, others hate it.
The big thing is to practice a little everyday and to try new things until you find something that clicks. 30 minutes a day will do you a lot more good than 2 hours every weekend. And also try out instruments and gear from different manufacturers. Sometimes a change in instrument can be an inspiration.
I guess my best advice is to get on amazon and look for what the top rates books are and look at the lowest reviews they have and buy like $50 in books. Then google for some forums.
I'll just google it, then, and I guess research books on Amazon. I plan on playing every day. Man I want to quit my day job. That would give me so much more time to do awesome stuff.
On topic:
I'm happy where I am, somewhat. Personally I want to be self employed. I have a job where I get to play with colour, illustration, design and layout all day long. It's low-stress for me. Luckily for some reason I don't get stressed by deadlines. Which is good since this profession is full hard and soft deadlines (6 projects on the go currently under the gun). I also have a small business on the side designing around my day job. I actually earn more money outside my day job than inside it. If I get one more company to sign on and give me work on a monthly basis I'd quit in a heartbeat. The downfall is working some nights until 5am and getting an hour and a half sleep overnight (I get up at 6:30 every morning, usually). So professionally I'm comfortable and successful as an art director in a highly competitive field, which isn't easy to be at 24, but I'm still doing it on someone else's terms and I don't like that. My girl is everything I want in a woman and then some and someone I'm comfortable talking with openly about anything.
So I'm happy. But I'm not ready to settle for good when I know great can be just around the corner if I haul ass harder.
After a couple of false starts, I'm finally on my way to fulfill one of my life goals of obtaining a Master's degree. I always wanted to work in the video game industry, and if my studies go well in Digipen, I'm on route to achieve that. I have an interview for an internship at Microsoft in a few weeks, and if that goes well, I have increased my chances of getting into the industry.
A few years ago, I wanted to enter Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center program, but my plan to gain the materials needed for a good application didn't pan out (especially since New York City surprisingly didn't have many opportunities to build video game development skills). After realizing that my GRE scores were going to expire last year, I changed my plan and took a gamble at applying to Digipen. I'm happy where I'm at right now, even though achieving my goals is taking longer than I anticipated.
Don't feel bad. That happens to everyone. Just try to learn from the set backs. And remember, there is normally good from even set backs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowdisease
Also Drew, there's a TON of shit on YouTube for every instrument, which is very helpful if there's a particular thing you're getting stuck on.
I find sitting on the porch + whiskey helps me concentrate, AND I sound fucking great by the end of the evening.
Nope. That ship has sailed. I'm dating a co-worker. I know, totally against my "company ink" policy, but she's a keeper.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razor Ramon
or so you think, Blues Dog, YellerQuote:
Originally Posted by YellerDog
"I'm draw'n cartoons"
Bu duu du du
"Not getting paid enough"
Bu duu du du
"But it is still fun"
Bu duu du du
"But I like money too"
Bu duu du du
"One Mickey, One Bugs, One Astro Boy"