Another year...
Yeah, so I'm another year older today...
And fifteen minutes later, I'm back to continue this post. If you'd asked me last year "How do you think you'll feel about your next birthday?" I'd have probably said "Depressed about the aging process, but it still beats the only alternative." and I would have left it at that. Strangely, it's nothing like how I feel today...
And another ten minutes pass till I'm free to continue this. Yes, I woke up with a different ache in my shoulders and another year older. I went to work and spent my day just as if it were any other day at work.
Then I came home and reveled in the richness of my life. No, I've barely got any money to spare and I bought no new things on my way home. That does not mean that I'm sad for it though. Hell, if anything it underlines my happiness. I'm going to brag today, because it's my day. I'm the most content and happy that I've ever been in my life and I'm going to tell you why.
1. I have a beautiful, loving, faithful wife who completes me romantically and intellectually.
2. I have a baby daughter who has given me new eyes with which to see the world. Her smile can destroy any bad day like it never existed. She gives me hope that people aren't born judgmental fuckheads and assholes, and that some people out will always be worth helping and caring about.
3. I have a job, a home we can afford, bills paid on time and enough to see that we are healthy, stable and not worrying about losing all of that like so many others that I care about.
4. I'm creating something LARPing-wise that I can be proud to be a part of because I don't have to compromise with a shitty mediocre rules system, rehash and relabel ideas because a gameworld has been stagnant and dull for years or have to deal with a boss with the business acumen of a retarded hyena mixed with a used car salesman. My game is good. Hell, it's damn good. My staff are the kind of miracle workers that make dreams and nightmares come true. My players aren't whiney bitches that cry when they aren't having plot spoonfed to them. They can deal with adversity, pain and deadly situations because they get that rewards aren't supposed to be handed to them on a silver platter just because they paid for an event. They also get the satisfaction of knowing when they win, they really won instead of having an evil NPC go against the grain (again!) to save them or show them mercy. Amazingly, they treasure those wins and the rewards a lot more because they earn them. Not being the owner (and being a non-profit) means not being concerned about losing a player who wants to be whiney bitch because I don't care about losing their money, so I don't have to placate them for profit. This means the players I have are the ones I want to have. Watching them deal with the plot I craft is something that makes me proud to know them and drives me like money never could.
5. I've also seen the future of LARPing recently. Dream Park looms closer on the horizon, though this new stuff is still just the interim of what can be someday. While I'd love to say more about it, the NDA forbids. Suffice to say, even where I'm standing right now is like a dinosaur watching a tank being built.
So you see. This has been the best year of my life so far. I could die happy tomorrow save it would be sad because I want to see what comes next. I'm thankful for all the birthday wishes I got today and I wish you all the happiness I have for yourselves in return.
And fifteen minutes later, I'm back to continue this post. If you'd asked me last year "How do you think you'll feel about your next birthday?" I'd have probably said "Depressed about the aging process, but it still beats the only alternative." and I would have left it at that. Strangely, it's nothing like how I feel today...
And another ten minutes pass till I'm free to continue this. Yes, I woke up with a different ache in my shoulders and another year older. I went to work and spent my day just as if it were any other day at work.
Then I came home and reveled in the richness of my life. No, I've barely got any money to spare and I bought no new things on my way home. That does not mean that I'm sad for it though. Hell, if anything it underlines my happiness. I'm going to brag today, because it's my day. I'm the most content and happy that I've ever been in my life and I'm going to tell you why.
1. I have a beautiful, loving, faithful wife who completes me romantically and intellectually.
2. I have a baby daughter who has given me new eyes with which to see the world. Her smile can destroy any bad day like it never existed. She gives me hope that people aren't born judgmental fuckheads and assholes, and that some people out will always be worth helping and caring about.
3. I have a job, a home we can afford, bills paid on time and enough to see that we are healthy, stable and not worrying about losing all of that like so many others that I care about.
4. I'm creating something LARPing-wise that I can be proud to be a part of because I don't have to compromise with a shitty mediocre rules system, rehash and relabel ideas because a gameworld has been stagnant and dull for years or have to deal with a boss with the business acumen of a retarded hyena mixed with a used car salesman. My game is good. Hell, it's damn good. My staff are the kind of miracle workers that make dreams and nightmares come true. My players aren't whiney bitches that cry when they aren't having plot spoonfed to them. They can deal with adversity, pain and deadly situations because they get that rewards aren't supposed to be handed to them on a silver platter just because they paid for an event. They also get the satisfaction of knowing when they win, they really won instead of having an evil NPC go against the grain (again!) to save them or show them mercy. Amazingly, they treasure those wins and the rewards a lot more because they earn them. Not being the owner (and being a non-profit) means not being concerned about losing a player who wants to be whiney bitch because I don't care about losing their money, so I don't have to placate them for profit. This means the players I have are the ones I want to have. Watching them deal with the plot I craft is something that makes me proud to know them and drives me like money never could.
5. I've also seen the future of LARPing recently. Dream Park looms closer on the horizon, though this new stuff is still just the interim of what can be someday. While I'd love to say more about it, the NDA forbids. Suffice to say, even where I'm standing right now is like a dinosaur watching a tank being built.
So you see. This has been the best year of my life so far. I could die happy tomorrow save it would be sad because I want to see what comes next. I'm thankful for all the birthday wishes I got today and I wish you all the happiness I have for yourselves in return.