What I've learned...

We have been in California 5 years. In our time here I’ve learned quite a few things. First, you can’t put a price on happiness. Living In a beautiful place does not compare to having a place I can call home. What I mean is this: while California definitely has its physical beauty, it lacks in all other areas. It’s nice that the weather is always beautiful. You can hop in your car, drive anywhere from an hour to a day and visit mountains, lakes, parks, beaches, zoos, forests, etc. However, on a day to day those things don’t mean diddly when you’ve got high prices on everything from eggs to gas to a decent place to live. Also, the people may be beautiful on the outside with the help of silicone, liposuction and a good personal trainer. However, most Californians, native and transplant alike, are superficial and ugly as can be on the inside.  People here seem to be angry all of the time which is something that I can’t figure out. You would think that with the weather, and scenery that we are blessed to have here, people could at least smile every now and then. Instead, most of the time I am met with scowling faces and dirty looks. There is no sense common decency or camaraderie. Forget about meeting your neighbors or talking to someone in the grocery store.

While living in the “Golden State” I’ve also learned to count my blessings and make the most of what little I have. Luckily, I’ve never been one that has to the need to keep up with the Joneses. Out here, more than most anywhere else, keeping up with the Joneses will eat you alive. For instance, if we were to try to live the California way, we would have bought a 2000 sq. ft. house for $750,000 when we moved out here and would now be drowning in debt from an oversized mortgage that we can’t pay. I’ve learned to be grateful for all that I’m lucky enough to have and humble enough to know that it can all be taken away in the blink of an eye. I’ve seen so many people throw their lives away on the material and superficial. Living in the now rather than looking toward the future and doing what’s best for themselves and their families.

I’ve learned a lot, and am still learning, about business. How to run one, and what NOT to do. I’ve learned that your future is what you make of it. You can NOT sit around waiting for others to dictate it for you. Your life is what you make of it. If obstacles get in your way, it’s the choices you make to clear those obstacles that determine your future. It’s up to you to choose the right path. Not choosing is no solution. If you choose not to choose, that’s still a choice that YOU’RE making. It’s never someone else’s fault.

As we head back to Texas and embark on our next adventure, I’m taking all that I’ve learned here and building on it. This path that Alex and I have chosen has great potential and we’re excited to see where it’s going to lead us. We know that there will be obstacles, but we’ll take them head on, one at a time and plow forward. Always forward. 

Comments

[Andreas Elofsson]

Hey Alex, took me a couple of internet-link-clicks to find you, but finally I did. just wanted to say that there is a whole community of gamernerds out there with a lot of love for your ,and Gabrels, work with the DX1 soundtrack, from USA to Europe (I myself am from Sweden).
When I saw your name as composer for Deus Ex 3 I put up a big smile in front of my computer screen :) (My girlfriend actually asked me 'what was so funny')

Good luck with your work, looking forward to listening to the soundtrack! (If you ever need inspiration, go out and read all the comments on youtube for your DX-tunes..people love them).

Regards
Andreas from SE

[Alex]

Hi Andreas,

Thanks for the kind words, but go to www.clubsilicononline.com to express 'em. Kinda strange for me to find this on a family site.

-Alex