I Was Going to Be an Artist!!

This is the first post that will hit the airwaves on this particular blog that I have chosen to write. In a minute you will understand why I have titled it the way that I have. First, let me tell you a bit about myself.

I have never wanted to be "filthy rich" (which in my mind is like a million dollars.....once!). I guess its partly because I really have no clue how to go about it, but mostly, because I have observed in my life that most people who are filthy rich, get lost in their money, and I don't want to do that any more than I already do. In other words I don't think that I would be a good steward of so much money, and therefore, I sometimes count my blessings that I was spared the burden of having to be "filthy rich".

Well, while I can say that I have never wanted to be filthy rich, I can more easily say that I have always wanted to make enough for my family and I to live comfortably enough that whatever money we might have left over could be used at our discretion, and that would mean, to help others less fortunate than I. At one time I believed that $40k a year would do the trick. I have since learned that it is much harder for me and mine to live on that much than it was for my Dad and his.

In high school, I was considered to be about the furthest thing from a scholar as one could imagine. I was first, an athlete (track & field and cross-country); second, a fine artist (drawing, painting and sculpting); third, a performing artist (show choir and theatre); and fourth, insecure about myself around pretty much anybody who was considered cool by anybody else. For example, I didn't think there was any reason for "someone like me" to even waste my time taking an ACT test, because (and this is actually what I would say to myself) "Who gets into college with a 2.34 GPA?"

Well, as fate would have it, I did a little growing up during the immediate two years that followed high school. Those two years were spent as a missionary over seas in France and Switzerland. There, I developed a thirst for learning that I had never enjoyed in high school.

When I came home, I immediately tried to pursue my new interest in learning in about the only field I thought I could excel in-- Fine Art. I picked up an application to attend Aurora Community College, in Aurora, Colorado. I took it home and filled it out completely, or so I thought. After doing so, I hand delivered it to the lady at the admissions office. She glanced at both sides of the paper and said (literally, these were her actual words), "Thank you for bringing this in. You can schedule your classes in about two weeks, once we process your application." I was a little stunned. "Don't I have to get accepted first?", I asked. She replied, "You're breathing. So you're accepted!" I really had no idea you could be as naive as I was and still go to college.

Two weeks later, instead of receiving a letter telling me how to schedule classes, I received my application. It had yellow highlighter marks all over it, indicating information I had failed to provide when I "filled it out completely". The last highlighter mark on the back side of the application was in the place where I was supposed to have signed it. That's right, I had failed to even sign the dad-gum thing.

I thought long and hard about that. I figured maybe God was trying to tell me I was headed in the wrong direction. I had heard a lot of stories about "starving artists", so I figured maybe it wasn't meant to be for me, because I wouldn't be able to make enough to live comfortably ($40k/yr) like I had dreamed of, so I started looking at other fields. I ended up studying Sports Medicine, Athletic Training and Exercise Science.....and I am still trying to make enough to live comfortably! LOL

My schooling began at Ricks College in Rexburg Idaho. I was still naive, so I had no idea what it means when they say that 12 credit hours is considered full-time. My first semester I carried 17 credits. I somehow finished that semester with a 3.985 GPA. Since I did so well, and since it was so "easy" ( it wasn't really, I just hadn't figured it out yet), I went ahead and enrolled for 22 credit hours my second semester. That one I finished with a 3.5 GPA. I had every reason to (1) believe in my newfound ability to learn, and (2) have confidence that if I set my mind to it, I could accomplish anything. Within one year and three months, I had up finishing a 2-year Associates Degree in Health Science, with a Sports Medicine emphasis and managed to graduate with a 3.4 GPA.

From there, I transferred to Brigham Young University (Provo) and began my junior year. There I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with an Athletic Training Emphasis and a 3.1 GPA. I became nationally certified shortly after.

I first began working in my field as a Certified Athletic Trainer in Kansas City, Kansas. Ten years later I am still trying to do so. Most recently I have completed a Master of Science Degree in Physical Education, Exercise & Sport Science with a Fitness Wellness emphasis from the University of Central Missouri. There I graduated with a 3.62 GPA.

I am also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and an Instructor of Basic Life Support.

My schooling has taught me the things I need to know to live a healthy life. Nonetheless, I love fast food, and it loves me.

I recently discovered just how much.

I am on a quest to more fully practice what I preach, and to become fit and healthy. One problem though, I'm not 18 anymore. My joints and muscles are a little slower to do what "Simon says", if you know what I mean, and so the pounds have piled on, and I am trying to pile them off.

I have decided that it is ok to make slow progress. But progress is a must. And I am afraid I will not make any unless I track my progress, and I figure what better way than to let others come along for the ride.

So here is my first report.

I'm fat! Maybe not fat in some people's eyes, but I need to lose about 30+ pounds, and that is going to take some time.

I will be walking to begin with, because running would be hard on my joints at this point. I have learned this from expeience. My hope is to work up to it.

I want to weigh about 185 to 190, and currently I am over 220.

Well, there you have it. I have recorded my weight, and admitted my fault. Now, it's time for me to use all that bookworming that I did, for my own good.

Come along for the ride if you wish.