Untitled

Today I spent time packing up my life (see: Suicide/Rebirth #therapy) and in ferreting through boxes, I would say that I shuffled quite the collection of trophies, plaques, accolades, ribbons, metals, etc. and was slightly humbled by everything I had accomplished, if in nothing but my dancing stint.  This experience was buttressed by my grandfather visiting, who took it upon himself to recap my life, back from my volunteer organizations, to the dancing, performing arts, playing multiple instruments (well), my IB diploma (if you don’t know what that is, please ask), traveling to Europe, buying a (nice) new car, going to a UC, and finally managing for one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies To Work For” at the ripe age of 23 with a company history of less than 2 years —- among 30, 40, 50 year olds (and they just moved me to the largest store in the company, no less!).  I’ve nearly been successful at everything I’ve attempted (I say nearly because one thorn still remains in my side) and that requires an inherent assiduous nature and a passion to always come out on top…nothing I’ve done has just neatly jumped into my pocket, eagerly awaiting a debut.  Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen - I’ve had a good run so far, and this is all the result of hard hard work.  And the list is always worthy of expansion and improvement, but for now it’s healthy one to be proud of.  #narcissism.  In all reality, this pride is an oft-forgotten oversight, as I’m quite hard on myself.

After my intense academia/collegiate resumé prep, I went off to college and immediately fell in love.  #stupid.  This was #incrediblystupid.  I pissed on my peak years of social interaction in high school in the name of getting myself into a good university, and I was OK doing that.  I actually don’t regret that at all.  But in college, where people REALLY start to develop into themselves (away from the guise of mommy and daddy), I still chose to lie in the protectorate of an exclusive, long-term relationship, right out of the gate.  I arrested my social development (for nothing!! #bitter).  After the collegiate years, I moved home and started to work for #Nordstrom and suddenly found myself single, interacting with more people, and decidedly #awkward.  In 2010, I was still the huge square that had departed from the loving arms of my parents in 2005 (sidenote: recently during a visit, a manager from San Marcos shared with me just how much of a square I was back then, and said that I didn’t possess the same charisma that I do now.  A backhanded compliment…I always forget these people knew the old me and have watched me grow and change so much!).  At any rate, in typical Jflow fashion, I worked at it.  I pushed myself to exponentially compound my social circles and forced myself to interact with a myriad of humans.  I analyzed people with great social charisma (hi Mishana and Chelsea) and took notes of situations I was awkward or reticent in and vowed to improve them.  And guess what, I’m no longer the quiet weirdo in the corner (most of the time), although you’ll probably never be able to pry my smartphone from my hands. 

After tackling my smarts and the social skillset, I was on to place the final nails into the coffins of my #insecurities.  First, I decided to get the body on point.  I’ve never had a bangin’ body…if anything I’ve been fat or skinny enough to not be taken seriously.  So I hired a personal trainer, got the sh*t kicked out of me on the regular for MONTHS, worked out religiously, and ate like a health-God.  HELLO BANGIN BODY.  My last remaining insecurity was my hairiness, so in a foolish act, I decided I would put myself under the laser.  THAT MESS HURTS! It hurts so badly (in some spots).  I just got my chest done, but It feels like someone is repeatedly stapling your body.  But the hair eventually falls out and hairy Justin is a thing of yesteryear. #accomplishments

I finally have my list narrowed down to three more things I would like to do.  If anyone can name all 3, you’ll get a special something from me (hey that rhymed, can I add that to my resumé?)!