Inspired by the Efforts of Active Minds, Dedicated to Holocher & Cornpop

I can remember a lot of things when I actually put my mind to it. I can remember a lot of good things, a lot of bad things; I can remember a lot of things that I’d rather not remember and a lot of things that I wish I could remember better. Truth be told, it really does matter, what you can remember. All of our life experiences up to this point have had an effect on us, and sometimes it’s okay to recollect on everything that’s gone down over the past 16 years (more or less). 

Here’s a small list of some of the most important things to me that I can clearly remember: 

• I remember the astronaut wallpaper I had as an infant, which made me want to reach for the stars. 

• I remember the first time I walked into the woods alone, which sparked a sense of curiosity and wanderlust inside of me. 

• I remember the first time I put on a record, which set off a chain reaction making me the music guru that I am today.

• I remember the first time I got into a bad fight, which made me realize how vulnerable I really was. 

• I remember the first time I started bleeding and didn’t feel the need to cry, which helped me realize how strong and hardened I really am. 

• I remember the first time I felt like I loved someone and wanted to be with them forever, which when looking back on it makes me realize how innocent I once was. 

• I remember the first time I actually truly did love someone, and would have been genuinely happy to be with them forever, which made me realize how strange life can be. 

• I remember the first time I’ve given a hug to someone, just as I remember the last, which has helped me learn how quickly things can change and fly by. 

• I remember the first time I kissed someone with more than just infatuation, which helped me realize how much of a romantic I really am at heart.

• I remember the first time I pushed someone away for no real reason, which helped me realize how cynical I can be at the worst of times. 

• I remember the first time I tried to push for change when I should’ve waited for things to occur naturally, which taught me the virtue of patience. 

• I remember the first time I lashed out at someone who didn’t deserve it, which made me realize how cruel I can be when absorbed in myself. 

• I remember the first time I tried to lift someone else up before myself, which made me realize what kind of person I truly wanted to be at heart. 

• I remember the first time I looked back to my past mistakes, which helped me understand all of the bad decisions that I’ve made and the responsibility of needing to bear them.

• I remember the first real time I looked forward into the sunset, knowing just how bright the future can be when you put your heart and soul into it. 

• I remember the first time I fell, and didn’t get back up. 

• I remember the first time I fell, and landed on one knee. 

• I remember the first time in which I refused to fall. 

There’s a lot of things I remember, all of which have shaped me into the cynical-romantic, soulful-gift-giver, bad-joke-making, puppy-and-people-loving, stone-faced-yet-emotionally-mellow, equally-helpful-and-useless news writer that I am today. 

I don’t regret one bit of it.