A poem I just read and really liked, ideals we can all strive to live by I would think...

"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!" -- Kipling

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers."

Hey there, short update on everything!

1. I am back in my house, this time it will likely be for good and I couldn't be happier. The existence I was living was really wearing on me even though I did not know it at the time. It was cluttering up my life at work and my life with friends and family. It's so nice to be here and being able to focus on the things that are important in my life.
   
2. I got a promotion at work to Sales Manager, a job which I had been working for and wanting for a very long time. I started Monday and feel very energized and happy with everything so far. It's a great challenge for me, but one I am up for. I have never wanted to succeed more in a role than this one.
   
3. I have continued my volunteer work, both with the kids and hospice. On the kids front, it's really been neat to see them open up and trust me more and more. Hopefully I am making the impact on them that they make on me! I have taken on more work with Harbor Hospice, calling on the patients and families twice per week now to see how they are doing.
   

I love you all and hope everyone is well!

Justin

Move along, little Justin!

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." This quote sums things up quite well for me. I have been keeping very busy lately with exploring this beautiful city that most of us call home. As promised, went to the greenbelt Saturday and I must say that I am truly a schmuck for not doing that before. I will go a ton more now, only promise to bring a swimsuit the next time, it was torture to not be able to jump in. Oh well, another lesson learned.

As for this week, I have been working out really hard in the gym; my personal goal is to gain 12-15 lbs of healthy weight as fast as I can. So, now I get to fight my crazy metabolism in a winner take all control for my body.

Tomorrow I have my 4th counseling session which I am really looking forward to as always. I haven't been since before Spain so I am sure we will have a ton to talk about. I feel like I have 'built' myself on a solid foundation as I move forward which will allow me to continue to allow me to become the man I know I can be. I also still have a long way to go, one day at a time. That reminds me...I made it a personal goal yesterday to, no matter what, make at least one person's life better each day. It may sound like an odd goal, but if you break it down it really isn't. Whether it is helping kids where I volunteer on a Thursday or calling a family member that I haven't talked to in a while to tell them I love them, it can be a very simple but meaningful way to make this a better place for those I care about!

Well, time for me to head to bed now. I am moving back out of my house for a while to let the ex finish her transition to wherever it is she is going. I don't mind really, I can sleep/exist pretty much anywhere, but I am starting to look forward to having the house back full time. I get to make a kick ass life for myself here and I can't wait. Check my yard out after I mowed it tonight!