I'm retired. I'm 62. I'm not a kid anymore. My priorities
have changed.
Last night I work up around 1 PM and
started thinking about my life, my goals, my family, my faith and ultimately
about the end of my life.
For years I struggled with wanting to become
a comic book artist only to discover I didn't have what it took: the drive, the
patience and most importantly the willingness to dedicate the majority of my
life to a single pursuit.
Don't get me wrong. I've had a good
life. I managed to make a living in the graphic design and commercial art
fields and teaching. There have been some ups and down for sure but I
can't complain.
I married a wonderful woman, I have two
great kids, I live in a nice house (not luxurious, but comfortable), my
mortgage is paid off, my wife and I have our health and are living on a
adequate pension and retirement program and most important of all, we both know
that Heaven will be our ultimate destination.
I'm a Christian. I make no apologies for
that. I know that God wants everyone to be saved and go to Heaven.
Some people do bad things (and here's what's remarkable to me) he still
loves them.
Contrary to what is shown on TV and
movies, Christians (true Christians) don't hate anyone. We may disagree.
But we don't hate.
Ultimately we can't tell people how to
live. That's something that has be dealt with between God and other people.
We can only tell them of God's love and his plan for salvation and leave
it at that. What happens after that point is between God and them.
As I've grown older my priorities have
changed.
It used to be I was jealous of other
people's artwork and I didn't like to show off my own because I was afraid of
criticism. Both conditions stemmed from early childhood experiences.
But that's another story.
Now, I've finally come to peace with the my
life. Everything is OK.
God bless the people with tremendous
drawing, painting or artistic talent. Good for them. Especially the young
people.
I'm perfectly content dabbling in art.
If something gets done-great! If not, what does it matter in the
larger scope of things?
I'm enjoying spending time with my wife
and family. I get to sleep late. I don't have to be in a hurry.
And...I can be lazy if I want to.
My passion has shifted. Instead of
laboring and trudging through life trying to make a living and create, create, create,
I enjoy a good book, a pleasant walk, eating out with my wife and friends, attending
church and just being still.
My review website and blog have now become
my creative outputs.
There is nothing more satisfying and rewarding
than reading, perusing and examining various review items. I really enjoy
offering my opinion and from the burgeoning traffic numbers of both my website
and blog evidently my readers do to.
I'm so grateful for all of you who have supported
me over the years. Thank you to the various companies who have been so generous
with their review samples and to those readers who offer their encouragement
and constructive criticism.