I used to walk down my street every single morning in high school to catch the community bus so I could get to school. While walking down the street, I made a habit of saying in my head, "Here I am, in 2009..." and finish the phrase differently depending on what I had to do that day, or felt about a current event, or sometimes just a "crazy how times flies" after thinking how old I was. It's 2014 now, and I have had a few occasions that I get to walk down the same street and say the same words. I have noticed I do more retrospection than looking at current or future events. I finished the phrase a few times with "look at where God's taken me" or "I wonder what God's doing with some of the things that have happened." These thoughts were usually in consideration of something work or family related.. so hopefully I can prove my point to you (and myself) by some of the family/work events that have happened.

I was about to say that if I had to give a personal example of the Gospel, it would be this. I can only say that because now I see the whole picture again. I was sinning, avoiding family, getting myself in trouble; God opened my eyes to see all my problems and shortcomings - this was painful and frustrating. But fortunately the Gospel doesn't end with me seeing all my mistakes. God forgave my mistakes by having Christ die for them (Christ's righteousness is mine now). I still have consequences of the things I've done, but God gives me a new heart and mind, the Holy Ghost, and the Bible to deal with them... I can start a fresh new segment of life. I am a work in progress. I have potential. I have opportunity and ability to do great things. I couldn't have done anything for this; God just did it.
I think home is also where you get some motivation. Not having my family really affected me. I can relate to LeBron James going back to Cleveland. "If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left. Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now."
Since I have been back to who I should been, where I should have been, I feel so different. I can be me again. I can think for myself. I feel like a contributor at home, work, and society. While hats are a part of my life, I've learned that there is way more to life than that.

Outside of work, I have been playing soccer, working out, and going on adventures with friends. I live in Colorado, so camping and hiking are some of the obvious things that go along with the adventures. Some of the other highlights have been shooting guns, line dancing, watching movies, and painting. I have surprising become interested in politics (you may want to watch out for me now) and reading (crazy, right?).
Ultimately, I have to give all the credit to God for turning my life around.