Perspective

I know again, it has been a very long time since I have done any blog entries.    This year I turn 30, and quite honestly, I thought this year wouldn’t come for a very long time.  I, like many, had a different idea of where I should of been during this time in my life.  Hell, six years ago I had different plans, and expectations of where I should of been.  So I sat done and thought about my life thus far, and yes, did some googling about it.  So I decided to look back as early as 18 to see some of the expectations I had then, and  compare them to what has happened presently.

Eric Weiss’s Expectations at 18:

• Travel The World
• Get in Better Shape (I was a fat boy in high school.)
• Marry my current high school sweetheart (at the time)
• Run my own studio (I was actually working in field at the time… it made the career expectation that much worse.)
• Retire by the time I turn 30 (Ha!)
• Live in Los Angeles
• Leave Vegas and never come back (I truly hated that city growing up.)

Well the plan did not pan out exactly to what I expected. It was actually a bit depressing remember that young man with so many aspirations.  Then I took a look at what I truly have in my life and where I am now.

Eric Weiss’s Reality at 29:

Travel The World

Well apparently I did travel the world.  I just did not think it was going to be every place that no one else wouldn’t want to go.  I went into the Army Reserve in 2002, just in time for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Grant it, I did some sight seeing in some parts of Europe (briefly), but I spent the majority of my time in the middle-east.  So looking back I did get a chance to see the world I just never thought it would be through the sight of an M16 (and eventually an M4).  The war taught me a few things:  For the most part there is no valid reason to sacrifice any life to wage war onto another nation (or for any reason at all).  I have become more of a pacifist because of the experience and have grown to embrace humanitarian action. The war has taught me the importance of living to help others and most of all the beauty of life.

Get in Better Shape

I have to say I did accomplish this when I joined the Army.  I was in awesome shape after my first tour, and it has been a bit of tug of war of keeping in good shape.  One thing I thought was amazing for me, currently, was the fact that I was able to survive the Tough Mudder, which is a 12 mile foot race of with  all sorts of obstacles.  This one part of my life I have definitely have done pretty well, taking in consideration the fat mess I was back in high school.

Marry My Current High School Sweetheart

Ah yes, I remember my first girlfriend Jessica. We dated for two years and I even purposed to her, I was sure I was going to marry her.  This all changed when she broke up with me.  I have to say of all the things good that anyone could of done for me, this break up ignited some of the greatest adventures of my life.  If she never broke up with me, I would never joined the military, and would never had so much fun in my younger years.  All I can say, is thank the universe for letting me dodge that bullet.

Run My Own Studio

For a brief couple of years I did have my own studio built out at my parents house utilizing the third car garage.  I used the studio for my photography and videography during my early years of figuring out my path professionally. I even produced a full length feature film, which was a 119 minutes long. It was called “One Step Behind”, the film title seemed more of a life theme at the time, but during this time (which was from the time I was 21 – 24) I really built myself up as a media specialist.  I did an array of projects from promotional DVDs, to live film sets for concerts and events.  I worked for PBS and even did editing work for various of companies, that I wouldn’t even think I would do work for in my whole entire life.  I eventually did a second tour to Iraq (yes more world travling), and then got into web programming.  I was about 27 when I came to Orlando, and I remember I was hard up for a job.  I started doing IT certifications to get hired in a field that was paying a decent wage during a recession.  At this time, I told myself that I was done with my dream of having my own studio, or even working in video production.  My first job in Orlando was with a web firm and I was a Jr. Web Designer.  I did one website for them, and did ok, to say the least.  Then one day the firm needed someone to edit some video packages for a client.  I did a few packages and my employer at the time was really impressed.  It seemed at the time, no matter what I do, I can never run away from the media industry.  Again in my next job, off a Craig’s List job posting for an IT Assistant, I was surprised to find out that they need someone that had video experience.  Apparently the company did regular video podcasting and need someone to do production work.  I also do their web, and IT support to boot.  So now I am currently building a $60,000 studio for that same company and I am blown away that this is how my dream has panned out.

Retire by the time I turn 30

This is such a stupid expectation. Who the hell wants to retire at 30?  Life is to fun to live, to lay around like a couple of old people this early in life. I have so much fight and energy left in me, I really can’t imagine ever wanting to retire.

Live In Los Angeles

California in general has some very beautiful places to visit, Los Angeles is not one of those places.  If California was a human being, LA would be the anus of the state.  For starters, anyone that lives in Los Angeles can tell you that it cost an arm and leg to live there.  The beaches are always busy, and the people are out of their mind.  Instead, I found myself moved to Orlando, Florida.  One of the most beautiful places I have seen, and the beaches here are the cleanest I have seen in comparison to the west coast.  I can tell you, never in a million years I would ever thought of moving here for any reason and I am sure the hell happy I did.

Leave Vegas And Never Come Back

Most movies are about leaving Vegas, there’s a good reason for that, it’s a bad place to live (for obvious reasons).  I did leave Vegas once when I joined the Army at 19, to only move to Tucson, Arizona (yeah, big improvement).  The only real reason I did this was to be close to Jessica.  It was a good learning experience about people and in the process, I met some really awesome people.  I again came back to Vegas in 2004 to live their for a few years. After my second tour in 2009, I left both the Army Reserve and Vegas all at once to embark onto what is becoming one of the best adventures of my life.

Looking back, I have to say I have accomplished more than I set out to do.  I traveled paths in my life that I never thought I would take.  Pursuing my dreams, I had my moments when I lost faith, but by chance I found myself right where I needed to be, and surprisingly enough some of my dreams did happen, but in the way I did not expected them to happen.  After looking back, I have to say turning 30 won’t be so bad after all.  I am so thankful for everything I have and for everyone that came and gone in my life.  Sometimes when you think you are going the right direction you usually find yourself on the wrong path. Just like an old country road, no matter how lost you get, the road will always bring you where you need to be.