Q1 resolutions update... story time and some inspiration →[More:]

so, i made a semi-serious new year's resolution in january to quit being so goddamn negative about everything. so far it's been working. most of 2006 and '07 has been a near endless rain of bullshit, but i've managed to keep myself from dwelling on it. some days are better than others. when it all seems really crappy, i pull inspiration from my little buddy frye (flickr link).

now for the inspiring bits. frye quit smoking sometime last fall. now i know that's not a 'new year's' resolution, and it may not sound like much to some, but consider that he's been a steady, pack-and-a-half per day smoker since age 12 (he'll be 22 in May), and now you're talking practically half his life. that and i've read that addictive substance habits formed that young are stupendously difficult to break.

i talked to him over the weekend and the topic came up in conversation. turns out he's still going strong on the quit smoking resolution, despite a craptastic fall and winter that included a nasty falling out with a hopelessly alcoholic sibling, going thru some icky relationship drama, and worst of all, breaking his right collarbone three separate times since 12th november -- most recently a couple weeks ago at the mercy of a drunk driver. oh and the wreck totalled his favourite bike, too, which may not seem like much compared to the fact that he's (mostly) okay, but some of us bike nerds do get really attached to our rides. fortunately he'll be able to take the driver to court this time, as he has a strong case and it looks like he'll settle.

the hell of it all is that he owns a pedicab business, and works as a courier during the day to supplement his income. so being healthy is integral to his ability to make a living.

the most inspiring part of all of this to me is that not only has he held firm on the quit smoking deal, but despite all this adversity and his youth, he's remained steadfastly upbeat thru what to me would be a soul-killing amount of stress. he's soldiered on with the pedicab biz and even managed to grow it a bit. i mean, not to say he hasn't gone on a couple of fuckity-fuck rants to me and other close friends, but that, to me, is a part of getting beyond it all. if anything, all this bullshit has served to make him even MORE determined to succeed (he's a stubborn bastard... did i mention he's of irish descent?).

a few years back i cut ties with most of my blood relatives as i could no longer deal with their toxic batshitinsanity. frye, however, along with a couple of other noteworthy friends, has definitely earned a spot in my 'adopted family' circle. i so dearly wish i'd had half his drive, organisational aptitude and sheer moxie when i was his age.

frye, little bro, i lift my PBR to you.

anyone else care to jump on this thread, go ahead, i'm done with the soapbox here.