Some thoughts to start off the New Year

Since college began, I've become a bit more mature - or at least I'd like to think so. And as I mature I've begun to understand a lot more about life. I try not to make a big deal out of little things like I would in the past. I mean, what's the point? You don't always get your way, and you can't change how other people are. That's life, and you just have to bear with it.

Most of my views on life were shaped by personal experiences, either with friends or family, while the rest were influenced by the way I was raised by my parents. I'm glad they didn't hand me everything on a silver platter when I was little. Having to work hard for things has really helped me appreciate what I have.

Every once in a while, my dad and I have these deep conversations about life. They're usually about life in general - his past, family, friends, school, the world, and sometimes (surprisingly) women. These talks show me how similar he and I are in a lot of ways. The way we feel about family, school, and women are nearly identical, while our views about friends are a bit off. I won't go into much detail about that, though.

A lot of times I tend to stray a bit from my goals, but these discussions always seem to put my life back into perspective.

I think if my dad was around my age he'd be a pretty cool guy to hang out with.