Let me tell you exactly why I love this concept so that you can take a moment to throw something, scream out "I don't need that arrogant bloody pom's approval" and then you can go on to not care whether I like it or not
I believe getting to know people here is like putting together the pieces of a jigsaw... We see the small picture during individual interactions, gradually glean tidbits of information, some make us say "Wow! I did not know that about him/her."
Over time we get to build a far better picture of the people we engage with regularly, occasionally something surprises us ((like the time you told me you trained to be a prima ballerina...)) I believe I have built a fairly accurate picture of you regarding the important stuff, values, moral compass, integrity and suchlike, it will come as no big shocker if I tell you I rate you 'legit' and although I imagine irl you'd be a little brusque but a bloody nice fella... Hmm that's possibly how I'd describe me too haha.
Jeez all I was meant to be telling you is why I love this prompt, right? It helps me to fill in a couple of the blanks, that's why I think AMA's are an awesome concept.
Hmmm... From the whole gamut of questions that could be asked, how do I narrow that wide field of possibility down to just one... Uhmmm... I don't!
As a rebel, renegade and flouter of the rules I shall ask two as I think they correlate nicely with eachother...
Is there something you would consider your biggest regret? (Bitcoin related answers banned lol)
Is there something you would class as your greatest victory? (Other than matching up with the lovely Faith)
Oh wait... This is a quid pro quo right, so what to make up offer up about the legend in his own mind that is Steven Wood...
I am not nearly as extrovert, confident and self assured as I may come across in my scribblings here. I don't even always like myself. My lady is my very best friend in the world and always will be. I want WAY MORE for others than I do for myself, but have realised in the last couple of years that if I follow through with that, it may very well ensure I get great results and fulfillment for ME by default.
That's quite, quite enough being all 'sharey' and shiz for one day
Hope you are doing good Mr GKP Sir 🙂
Hmmmmm. My biggest regret.
I try to not over examine the past, and I've got damn few real regrets. I'm guessing the biggest of those would be not serving in the Navy. I enlisted, took the physical and was sworn in when I was 20. Before I went active I lost my right eye and that was that. I really think 4 years in the Navy would have helped me order my life at an earlier age. I was pretty lost in 1971.
My biggest victory? Surviving. I've lived pretty fast at times and taken some outrageous chances. I'm still here. For the win!
I think a few have this regret, not joining the military; It is a really good way to add perspective to a young person's life and some discipline. This is why I'm an advocate for compulsory military service like some countries have. I think everyone in Australia should have to do a year between 18 and 19 years old with a call up period of 15 years afterwards, should the need arise. Just my opinion.
I could go with that plan. Given the 15 year call up period, that would really work.
I've said often that any wars America fights should be fought with draftees. If the mothers are behind their sons and daughters fighting then you KNOW the cause is just. We have the most professional standing military in the history of earth, which makes it way too easy to use.
If you carry a hammer around with you everywhere you go, sooner or later you are going to find a nail that needs to be driven in (or back in). Too easy.
I really do like your plan.
Yep, you guys have some serious firepower; Luckily Australia and America are friends.
Yeah. I like the weapons and systems development I really, really do. But I honestly believe that the large military lends itself to 'problem solving' problems that really aren't ours.
There's that of course and America has a long history of doing so. I see it as good and bad but it also lends itself to corruption doesn't it. Wars for the wrong reasons.
Yes it does. My all time favorite is lobbing 173 Cruise Missiles (and thereby exposing for the first time the launch platform) into Libya to cover a blow job the President got in a closet.
I'm pretty much as you describe although I'm not sure brusque is the right term. I mean I can be, but it's not a trait...It's something that's brought on by a trait though...The fact I don't suffer fools. I can be as hard as fuck though, brutally hard, but most never see that in me, certainly not my friends. That's reserved for those who deserve it because, not everyone on this planet is a good person. Generally though, I'm a fucking great friend, funny and open, honest, humble and kind. That's the real me that some people get to see, if they wipe away their perception.
So...Your questions.
I always wanted to be a fireman. I did the pre-entry course, gained my first aid certificate and got my truck license which were pre-entry requirements. The problem arose when Faith was worried that the job was dangerous. In deference to her wishes I didn't go down that path. My regret is not having the ability to talk her through it, the skill to make her see what it could have been rather than the bad things about the job. I think she regrets the fact I didn't do so also now. She was young, had only lost her dad tragically several years earlier, a thing that stays with her to this day. I think she was just afraid. It's all good though, I'm over it now and I certainly feel being with Faith for all these years is a better reward than being a Fireman would have been. I'd make the same decision I think, if I had to again.
I came from a family that didn't have a lot and, whilst I'll not go into it here, was out of home as a seventeen and a half year old; I had to make my own way. It's not been an easy journey and there were wrong turns and false starts but now, at fifty, here I am still standing, thriving (pandemic aside) and a pretty well-rounded and successful person. I'll not go into all the reasons I think of myself that way, but I could very easily have been a different person. That is a victory I think, getting to this point in life and being able to look in the mirror and (mostly) like what I see. I also see my failings and failures of course, but generally I feel content that I've led a good life. I've done more good things than bad (did so many bad things) and have a good outlook on life, an ethos based on humility, kindness and generosity...I think one can't ask for much more.
So there you go...Your answers...Which probably only bring more questions.
I am not surprised that you're less self-assured in real life, not surprised in the least bit. It's not a bad thing though. We all have various personas we roll out when required and as appropriate. You at work, you with your daughters, you with your wife, you with mates at the pub etc. I think those with the ability to only present one persona may be limited in their opportunities. I am also not surprised to hear that your wife is your best friend.
Good questions, thanks for playing along.
!ENGAGE 25
Mmhmm... I did question the word brusque immediately after posting, thought you may correct me haha. Yup you went to to explain the perception I was referring to, not suffering fools, taking no crap etc.
Yes!!! I think not having at least some of that, leaves you incredibly vulnerable to the world and that is precisely how it should be handled, right? If everybody saw it constantly (we both know those people...) it would lose it's value as a 'go to' in the toolbox of who we are.
Perhaps the fireman think was destined not to happen for some other reason, who understands the mystery of life, right?
I use exactly this expression so, so often. So much of what you say resonates with me, I noticed this way back. I like that, although I am certain this is apparent lol. I left home at a remarkably similar time, before 18 after a bottle of whiskey and an experience of speaking my mind for the first time ever. I was told I would come crawling back... I won't tell you how many nights I slept rough before moving in to a hostel... I did not, do not and will never crawl anywhere to anybody ever.
Actually no, it did not raise more questions, not really, they were both very satisfying answers, I'm glad I chose those questions!
Take good care my friend, have an awesome week :)
It's interesting how people's lives run in parallel. I also think that the experiences we're both described go towards shaping how we think and act and therefore how we are then, now and in the future.
Everything happens for a reason, some we can affect and other outside of our control...It's what we do and how we act that makes the difference.
Have a great week.
ENGAGEtokens.