The Mind: My Own Personal Idea Factory

I’ve been away for a while but now I’m back. I’ve neglected the site long enough.

An update is in order.

(Note: The following pictures were taken when I was really bored a couple of days ago. Hey, when you have a camera and have nothing else to do, why not take photos of yourself, right? ^_^)

For those of you who have been patiently dropping by the site every so often to check for updates - thanks a bunch for staying. I’ve already mentioned via "tagboard" that work has been keeping me quite busy. Although that statement is true, it’s not ENTIRELY accurate. I’ve been doing more that just work, work, and work.

Ladies and gentlemen: I’m getting a life.

As some of you already know, I work at an Italian establishment that makes and sells Italian ice cream (or "gelato"), and it’s summer right now where I am so business has been quite good. I work six days a week, 10-11 hours a day.

At least I get Sundays off. I’m not gonna overwork myself, y’know.

Anyway, that has been my life routine for the last 4 months since I moved out of my parents’ house: get to work, do my job, go home, get some sleep, do it all over again. The pay is quite good, I can’t complain.

But I suddenly had an awakening while I was at a local book store a few weeks ago. I read a quote by US Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. These words were so instilled in my mind that I totally changed my perception towards life and what it was all about.

The quote reads:

"There is nothing wrong with making a dollar. But when all you want to do in life is to make a buck, then that’s not much of an ambition."

(Powerful words, ain’t it?)

As some of my friends (and even a handful of my readers) already know, I’m a self-confessed workaholic. I can honestly say that I love my job. I work at a company that has already made a name for itself as one of Toronto’s premier summer hotspots. I get to work with professionals who are at the top of their field and have been doing it for 20 years or more. Working with the best is great and, for the last 5 years, each day has been a learning experience for me.

But too much of something can be bad. It took me 5 years to realize that there was more to life than work, work, and more work. I barely had friends outside of work (they were more like acquaintances), and on the days that I wasn’t working, I would spend it here in front of the computer. I never had a decent social life.

All that has changed. Just last month, I have changed my 5-year routine and finally made time for some after-work fun. I’ve made new friends, rekindled relationshps with some old ones, and even found some free time to get back on my reading. I’m currenly reading Michael J. Fox’s memoir "Lucky Man".

THIS HAS BEEN THE REASON FOR MY ABSENCE - I’VE BEEN GOING OUT AND ENJOYING LIFE.

It’s amazing how one’s life can change for the better just by reading a few select words. But don’t get me wrong: I’m still the same Johnny and I still will always have time for the site. The only difference is that I’m much more alive than ever before.

And for me, that’s always a good thing.                                                                                           

WHAT ABOUT YOU: Do you have a life philosophy? Have you recently read or heard any quotes that made an impact in your life?

Share it here. ^_^