Someone You'd Admire

Today I was lectured on the importance of preparing myself to be the man I need to become. Some of the characteristics where strong willed and willing to fight for what they believe. I'm 20 years old... I'm suppose to be becoming the man that I'm suppose to be. Easier said then done. I'm still in a stage where I miss the old days of being a kid without a care. Also, as I look at "men" around me I continue to find flaws that I want to avoid. I feel like I have the loyalty thing down pretty good... maybe I'm wrong though. Everyone tells me your 20's are when you discover who you are. I'm still trying to figure it out and the more I think about it the more my head hurts. I'm not ready to get married, I'm not ready to be financially independent, I'm definitely not ready to become a father. The thoughts of those things alone is pretty intimidating. I wish I didn't have to grow up, but that's where every kids path leads. And either we can stop going down the path and settle or keep moving down it without looking back. Even though I'm afraid of the future I'm also excited for it. Mainly because I get to pick the paths of my life. Sure every now and then I will get lost, but that's part of the adventure. If you never stray from the path and take a new route you will miss opportunities to discover new things. I'm still not sure where my path is headed, but I want to keep moving forward. I want to discover new things. I want to live a life and never look back, and when I reach the end be able to say it was the best journey I could have asked for. In the meantime I follow the path with my close friends. Sometimes we mess up and let each other stray from the path, but that's how you learn and learning from mistakes helps make yourself into who you want to be. I love my friends, they are a group of people that keep me balanced. When I go off the path or just want to stop moving forward they are always there to pick me up. I hope they know I will always be there to do the same for them. So we walk the path together, hoping for the same outcome... a life that was worth something. We'll get there. (Marsh, Jimmy, Pete, Matt, Daniel)