To Infinity and Beyond

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. – Confucius

Happy New Year! December 31, 2013 was an unconventional New Year’s Eve for me. I watched football and honestly…it was fantastic. Watching my alma mater win in the Chik-fil-a Bowl was satisfying and even if they had lost, it was a heck of a game. I could have been cliché and gone out somewhere to a club or party, but I was content to watch a football game. The only thing that could have made it better was actually being in Atlanta to witness the game live.

2013

The fall started back in 2011. It was like flying and then having your wings clipped. A sudden drop that ends with a crash. The year started out great and then it all spiraled down and ended in flames. 2012 was a period of rebuilding. It was difficult, hopeful and heart breaking, promising and disappointing. I spent a lot of time feeling lost and unsure. Job hunting was brutal. There’s always someone wanting to tell you who you are and what you stand for, what you should be doing and where you’re heading. The only sure thing about me is that I went to law school because I want to be a judge and I was nothing but ambitious with my sight set on being an appellate judge some day. The only thing that stood in my way was being a lawyer. I did that.

My area of choice was, is, and will probably continue to be criminal law. I haven’t swayed. I’ve been an ADA and a defense attorney. I’ve been told I’m defense minded and then I was told I’m pro State. Well, guess what? I’m neither. I’m for justice. I want Prosecutors to do their job and that isn’t solely to send people to jail. Make the punishment fit the crime. As a defense attorney, my job is to hold prosecutors to that and make sure they don’t abuse the discretion that they have. It’s that simple and no matter what side I’m on, I will do my job to the best of my abilities.

I’m not perfect and I’m not beyond making mistakes, but I will never again let someone define me. I won’t allow someone to break me down again, making me forget that I’m capable. I paid my dues to get my JD. I clerked for judges and practiced my last year with a 3^rd year bar card. I passed the bar and got my license. I define myself and how people perceive that is just something I’m going to have to learn to deal with. Jesus take the wheel.

He guides me. I just need to follow no matter what roadblocks appear along the way. Life is ups and downs, lows and highs. It’s always been that way and it will always be that way. Life is different only in how we individually deal with the things that happen.  

2014

I hit a milestone this year. Thanks to Jay-Z, 30’s the new 20. I hear the 30’s are some of the best years of your life. I intend on making the best of it. I want to live fully. I’m going in like Nike. Just do it. No more making excuses for why this can’t happen or why this hasn’t happened. I’m just going to live and do it. I want to look back and say I did things I wanted to do when I had the chance. I traveled when I could. I took chances when I was scared. I loved even when it wasn’t returned. I was happy and I loved myself.

What’s a life if you’re not living it? Here’s to 2014 and living.