REINTRODUCING

Over the past few months, certain occurrences have prompted me to begin posts, and others have forced me to abandon each attempt. My readers have certainly heard my take on the notable events in my life during this period of non-blogging, so I will not revisit these observations.

As my sister graduated high school this weekend, I've been thinking quite a bit about my future. This includes: performing satisfactorily on two essays and three exams, graduating from UCLA (de jure, not de facto), taking a course I have already passed to satisfy the ridiculous requirements of the UCLA Department of Political Science, travelling to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then...

Well, that is yet to be determined. I may move to Portland. I may move to Memphis. I hope, still, to move to San Francisco. At this point, I think it's more than likely that I will end up somewhere unexpected.

So, as I sit here and fret over my academic performance over the next two weeks, I can't help but be very excited. I have lived a privileged-or, in the vernacular of my newly rediscovered Catholicism, blessed-life. I believe-or, have faith-that this will continue, whether as a result of my own doing (good karma), my family's desire for me to succeed, or good fortune.

All I know is that in six months from now, I'll be living somewhere I likely never suspected I'd live. Most likely, I have never been to this mystery destination.

After a disappointing run through four years of college, I am determined to conduct myself differently. I have not yet discovered my passion, and this is my quest. I hope to revisit some of my former exploits, and to try new things as well. I know, without a doubt, that I will volunteer wherever I live. Apart from the past four years, philanthropy was a large part of my life. It's rewarding in more ways than is easy to fathom, so I won't begin to list them now.

I also want to play baseball again. I haven't in six years, and I think my time away from it has made me fonder of it now than I was when I played it. I watch baseball almost daily now, and have reignited my love for the game.

I have played drums a bit, and have been rewarded by my efforts. I think, given how little I've actually played, that I'm quite good, and exhibit a lot of potential. Again, this is something I hope to revisit. Music lessons are almost definitely in my future.

I'd also like to train in the martial arts again, but I'm not sure I'd realistically have the time. That's because I'd like to do one of the following that I've never done before: take cooking class or dance lessons.

All of the above serve many purposes: broadening my horizons, exposing me to other people, helping make friends, improving myself or others or the community at large, and other individual purposes (making me a better cook, helping get me back in shape, etc.)

I'm not sure if this is an appropriate time to end this post-I feel there is much more to be explored. However, I'm tired. I may decide to amend this tomorrow, but I feel good after having written an entire post for the first time in 2011.

Darren.