HOW DID I GET HERE?

2015 has been a real whirlwind. So much good, but also so much bad. Not just for me, but for the world.
I lost a lot this year, my closest friend disowned me, I lost my job, and reputation over the most idiotic mistake. I lost out on a chance with someone whom I thought was out of sight. I was ignored by countless companies looking for designers, because in today’s society there is no HR department. There are recruiting firms like Creative Circle who think they know best. Because we live in a society that has been tampered with so businesses can’t afford to employ enough people, and rather make one person do the job of many.

But then there were amazing things, an opportunity to try a new profession, which I enjoyed. I got to work with my best friend every day, and play with diamonds and gems all the time. My younger brother got married, and I got to spend time in Denver, where I am set to move to in a few weeks! I got three tattoos, climbed mountains, and spent time with some amazing people. I finally went to NYC and enjoyed myself, and I broke out of my shell with a little help. I saw Aaron Freeman (Gene Ween) & Mickey Melchiondo (Dean Ween) as both of their solo acts, and was surprised and ecstatic to learn that Ween was reuniting, and I had tickets to see them play their first show in 4 years as the original line up thanks to my good friend, Thom.

But…

The world and this country have got to change. The racism, hate and xenophobia that exists today is disgusting. I was raised to love everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, what god or gods they pray to, or don’t, whether or not a man loves a woman or another man, or if a woman loves a man or another woman. Perhaps if people did the same for their kids, and stopped forcing poor ideologies and ignorance upon them, things would be different. We are all the same, we are all here together on this planet.
Things need to change, we need to reevaluate our law enforcement, we need to stop blaming inanimate objects for the deeds of sick minded people, we need to stop enabling people to think they don’t need to work, we need to stop giving to those who take advantage of a broken system and instead give them an opportunity or some semblance of a chance to survive without aid. We need the greed and corruption in the government and in our broken capitalistic society to cease so we can all live the way we were intended to. We need to stop imposing our will on other countries, and trying to police the world.
We need to love, and laugh and cry. We need to talk more and type and text less, we need to relearn how to make eye contact, we need to make major change.

I hope 2016 is the year for this. For me, for everyone.

Godspeed in 2016, and keep an open mind. Don’t buy into the bullshit, rise above it all. Think for yourselves. Ignorance is bliss until the bubble pops and the truth hits you like a speeding train.