Forever means forever, assuming all circumstances remain the same.

When situations and scenarios shake-up, forever is often short-lived.

I like to have something that I want to do “forever”. When I was a kid, I enjoyed playing soccer; I was going to play it forever, like an oversized, pasty-white, knock-kneed Pelé. Sooner than later, my forever ended. I was off to the next adventure. I needed a new forever.

When I discovered the thrill of skateboarding, I decided that I was going to be a skater “forever”. I built ramps, grew the skater bangs and walked around wearing Vans with my head cocked to the side. “Skate or Die” was my code. There was only skateboarding. Me against the world with a board being my only weapon…assuming my parents did not see my report card and ground me from skateboarding. Eventually, my passion shifted and forever expired.

Later, I discovered boxing gloves and decided that boxing was going to be my “forever” passion. I soon discovered that I probably did not have the quickest hands in the world and that giving and receiving of headaches with privileged kids in the gated communities of Germantown, TN was probably not the best setting to be the next Mike Tyson, my “forever” changed in a hurry.

I found my next “forever” in the sport of football. That would never get old. In sixth grade, there were cheerleaders and we could wear our little-league uniforms to school on game day. What is there not to love about cheerleaders, uniforms, and knocking heads? As you probably guessed, “forever” eventually expired. Somewhere between learning that I would have to wear cleats, stand on my toes, and hold my breath if I was going to ever be listed as 6’1″ and realizing that my flat feet would leave me waddling out forty-yard dashes somewhere near the 6-second mark. My football “forever” went away almost as quickly as it came.

Situations change. Forever is based on the assumption that things are going to remain static; fulfillment exists in a life that contains dynamics.

I have a need to find my “forevers” and work at them as intently as I possibly can, learning as much about the passion as I probably can. Finding that there is an end to that passion is not necessarily a bad thing. There is a lot to be learned by picking up the newest and shiniest toy after the thrill has worn off the old one. I don’t think that the problem occurs when you change toys, I think the danger is in not wanting to play.

Find your forever. Work at it, learn about it, enjoy it, and move on to forever when forever is over. Nothing lasts forever but you should forever have something you believe you will be forever passionate about.

Peace, Love, and all things Beef related,

Beefcake