The kid who believed

 As the Summer quickly arrived and left, I found myself walking through the quad at Illinois State University thinking about so many memories, so many stories and so many people I've had the pleasure of meeting and learning something from. 

One kid in particular sticks out from the rest as I'm walking down memory lane, but this story doesn't begin at ISU, but rather several years ago. We had a history of memories, from when we first met in high school, to morning runs, shenanigans with the Leyden cross country team and his reciting of Rocky Balboa quotes, to his jokes about Will Ferrel, "Panda Jerks" and our adventures at Illinois State. He was notorious for being a number cruncher, and a milk chugger, but what made him stand out from the rest was his passion for believing in other people. 

People come into your life for a reason, a season, and a lifetime. Whether that reason is to fill a void, or help you or someone during a difficult time, until you're ready to get back up on your feet. Whether that season keeps us together for a short or extended period of time and brings us joy, happiness and memories to cherish. Or if that person comes into your life and shows you life lessons that can be carried on for years to come. One of those lessons he showed me.... or rather recited to me was this

"You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life,

but it ain't about how hard you hit.

It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward,

how much you can take and keep moving forward,

that's how winning is done!

Now if you know what you're worth, go out and get what you're worth,

but you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers

saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her or anybody.

Cowards do that and that ain't you, you're better than that!

Until you start believing in yourself, you ain't gonna have a life."- Rocky Balboa (2006) 

The first step to living your life is believing in yourself. He believed in me, and showed me I could believe in myself. 

Kevin Michael Kriston came into my life for a reason, and although our season is up, his impact on my life will be carried on for the rest of my days. 

I love you Kevin. Rest in Peace. 

and always remember..... 

"Trials of Miles, Miles of Trials"

 

 

 

EDC Las Vegas :: Electric Forest 2014

Several months ago I wrote this :

"In the realm of reality we see "the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them" according to the dictionary definition, but it's something that's constantly looked over and taken for granted everyday. The harsh realities of the world with starvation, wars, inequalities, nuclear weapons, natural disasters and death is what's truly holding the world back from a future that we can strive from. Very few people realize this and for those of us who do not acknowledge it, tend to "go through the motions" of life whether it's to become "successful" as a loosely tossed word or simply work until retirement and start a family, but there's a select group of us who want more out of life. We strive for experiences and adventures to create new memories in the hopes of eliminating all negativeness in the world to come together with Peace, love, Unity and Respect and taking responsibilities for our actions we over look from time to time.

So we choose to leave reality behind us, and celebrate life for what its brings us. we choose to cross the gates into a realm that's full of all those characteristics we choose to live on. Where the only worry in the world is "what stage do I go to next" or "what ride should I get in line for". A land that we loose sight of once we make the transition from childhood to adulthood."


After gazing at the memories I gained several months ago while journeying into EDC Orlando, I never thought it would be possible to have those same people carry me another half year from communicating through social media, and cell phones to visits through out the year all while planning our next adventure together, despite our separation with hundreds and thousands of miles between us....

The days left as quickly as they arrived as if to say we witnessed a blink of our life paused on this master screen of a movie. There wasn't a specific moment, instance, scene in this celebration of life, that caught my eye, because those days and nights that I spent with some of the most amazing people from around the world was all I needed to let my whole trip in general stick to my collective memory. The unison of hundreds of sights, sounds, personalities and feelings alike shared for several days. Something bigger than all of us as individuals.

As the years go by, the music, the trends and fashions will come and go, but the collective energy is what stitches it all together, it gives us hope. It gives us that silver lining we can all relate to because we're all connected. It inspires us to strive for more out of life and share that love with the real world to bring us all closer together for the years to come....


thanks again for the memories everyone, until next time this was one for the books!!

sooner than you think ;)