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This looks like his correct site: Here
Yeah I saw that site as well which for some reason didn’t work in his sig as it added a %21 to the end of the Url. I do finding interesting that the avatar here and the pic of the dog on the site I linked is the same. Just some interesting “coincidences”, that’s all.
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Hey, you sound like you’ve got a lot on the ball, and have a great future ahead of you. You’re smart, introspective and articulate, and talented. Believe me, kind–you’ll be making the kind of money one day that those blockheads could only dream of. And you WILL get girls–lots of 'em. Girls like sucessful guys. And you WILL be successful, if you keep the proper attitude.
When I was your age, I was suicidal. Literally. I wanted to kill myself. I was the target of bullies who made my life m-i-s-e-r-a-b-l-e. I was the skinny red-haired kid who was invisible to girls, had no sports talent, no athletic ability, and was rebellious and brooding. I got into drugs from the one kid who saw something in me to befriend–the paperboy. By the time I was 13, I wanted to just escape the feelings of worthlessness.
Then I discovered the guitar.
When people ask me now what it was that was my inspiration for becoming the professional musician that I am today, I always say, without hesitation “It was hatred”. I hated those #@$%!%$!'s so much who tormented me and made my life hell that I made myself a promise: I said to myself: “Some day, they’re going to WANT to know me!”. I quit drugs, and drinking, cold-turkey. And I channeled that hatred and emotion into endless hours of practice and dedication. Obsession, really. Just to redeem myself, for myself. By the time I was 19, I was one of the hottest guitarists in the area. I had more girls than I could handle. It was a glorious redemption.
Today, I look back on that time and realize that it forged me, like steel in a furnace. It prepared me to deal with issues now that might drive others into self-destructive behaviors.
The truth is, people who are popular and who get things easily in life never really develop that character and strength that people like you and me will and have, kid. It’s just like heartbreak in love—if you never get your heart broken, you’ll never know the strength of picking yourself up when you’re broken into a thousand pieces on the ground. Been there too, and I’m grateful NOW for every guy who ever abused me and every girl who broke my heart, because I wouldn’t be who I am and WHERE I am without their … “inspiration”.
Stay strong, kid. I believe in you. [;)]
Agree with everything others had said. Here are my two cents…In my old country (I live in Canada now) there were 2 main sports: soccer and basketball. If you don’t play one of those or if you are not that interested in them people would look at you as if there is something wrong with you. So what? So this: not only that I didn’t particularly care about them, I couldn’t even play them. I was just a klatz with two left hands and two left legs [:)] and was often ridiculed and never picked for a class team. Then I discovered that there are other sports…I figured that I was pretty good swimmer and after few medals clasmates (and girls) started paying attention. Later I got into sailing and the coolest thing was windsurfing. Everybody and his dog kicked the ball on the beach, but a buddy of mine and I were there carving the waves…we become cool, man [:)] And few more medals, we made them pay attention. Of course, the dickheads didn’t stop, now they bullied because they were jelous and envious and that was the only way to “get to me”. But by now I had my shields up [:)] Then came triathlon…swim, bike, run…Try a tri and you will fall in love with the sport. You will be Mr. Fitness, the douchebags can’t touch you. I was a sponsored athlete, qualified for pro card. What was driving me? Among other things, a red hot desire to get back at all those who were bullying me. Whoz da man now mother#@&%, whoz da man? It was awsome. Success is the best thing ever and you can have it. Find something you love and kick ass in it. Don’t worry about the chicks…dude, you are 13 yrs old. Be kind and respectful, be yourself and they will find you.
Cheers…and don’t hesitate to come to FSM forum, it is a good place
Just to add to your self esteem, you have no idea how much courage it took you to post your original post, OK maybe you do, but that’s not the point. My input is listen to the folks who posted before me. Life does suck 13, 35,47 whatever your age but it only sucks because you let it. You sound like you are on the road to having it figured out, once you accept your position in life you can strive to be the BEST at whatever your heart desires. NEVER settle for less than your personal best, YOU are the only one you need to worry about impressing, so what if you can’t catch a ball, maybe you can lick your own elbow, I can’t do either but I helped my co workers make a tablet talk to an airplane. Don’t worry about friends you will only have two or three GOOD friends your entire life, their names will change but you’ll know who they are. Girls, Hahaha way more important things to worry about, don’t worry she’ll come too and with any luck she will enjoy the company of a nerdy glue sniffer, found mine 16 years ago and she is AWESOME. Hang in there LazyFortress, love your dog, study hard, and be proud of your accomplishments because YOU achieved them.
[snStpd]
That’s it, my man!!!
That…and…YOU are the only one that you can truly rely on.
I, as most, have had HUGE ups and downs…as will you(most likely). I’ve had my dreams, right in the palm of my hand, only to have them smashed, by so-called “friends”. Like Doog…guitars “saved” me, in my youth. Years later, my band was offered a contract, with national and world tours included…my DREAM!!! The night of our “signing” party, we played a huge club in Kansas City…AMAZING show, packed house, everything was PERFECT! We finished our set…as I walked over to the table to “sign the dotted line”…our singer…my “friend”, said the wrong thing to the wrong guy…contract ripped in half and dropped on the floor. Boohoo…move on. Dream #2…went to school to get a flying gig with the airlines(or anywhere)…spent a LOT of money, crammed “commercial/instrument/multi-engine” ratings in 9 months…long story, short…my father in law (not paying his share, in my house) cost me a pilot gig. I got back into building models…which “saved” me again.
Life is a struggle…we all have our demons. Getting through the “downs” makes us that much stronger. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into the woods (deer hunting), that I had absolutely no intention of walking back out…the only thing that ever stopped me was knowing the aftermath for my wife and child. Ya never know what life has in store for you. I’ve had an up/down relationship with depression my whole life…going back to my early youth. Now, at 40, I just started my own business (just started working two weeks ago) and have already made more money this week than I ever did in a month, working for someone else! Life is good, again!!! I thought my best years were well behind me…who knows…they may be yet to come!!!
I know, it all sound kinda negative…not my intension. You seem to have at least some focus on where you want to be someday. Don’t lose that. Find people who are where you want to be and talk to them, ask questions. Above all, heed their advice! Forget about all the distractions. Easier said than done, I know…someday, you’ll be thankful that you did!
Now, you can see that you are not alone experiencing this dilema. You can also see that those of us who suffered as you did moved on and became good solid members of this great society we call humanity.
My story, well it took place later in my life. Let’s just say that when I returned from Viet Nam the welcome home was “lacking”. I sought out those in my peer group and well, the ones I saw who were coping, they all seemed to be policeman. I had a 35 year career on the Chicago Police Department because of that.
Take all of this advice and use it to your advantage. We wouldn’t steer you wrong. We have all been there.
A couple of things…
- Hold on as best you can. One thing you will learn, when you graduate from high school, is that much of what seems important, to you, and to everyone else, is absolutely meaningless. The Popular Kids, the Jocks, the Brainy Kids, every clique, all of that goes out the window, generally speaking, when you graduate, get a job, and start building a life for yourself. Because it’s all essentially childishness. You will make new associations, the associations of adults. And while being an adult brings with it a new set of worries, the latst thing you have to worry about is people giving you the same kind of nonsense that they gave each other on the playground or elsewhere, while they were in school.
- Don’t let this specific experience sour you on sports and physical exercise. It’s important to your health, to get out and move. Again, when you’re an adult, you’ll find it easier to pursue physical activities that you enjoy, and to find others who share that enjoyment, and they won’t give you a hard time because you’re not as fast/strong/agile as they are. OK, you might meet some Scheissköpfe in softball leagues, who behave like big children, but generally, most other adults are too busy to be that childish to one another. I wasn’t an athlete when I was a kid, either–that was my brother. But I took up running when I was in college, and played intramural softball and football, and took up riding bike. I also got Red Cross certification to be a life guard (it was a PE credit in college), so that took care of my summer job after my freshman year. And after I graduated, I started playing slow-pitch softball, on teams where I worked. It was fun to be part of a team, and I played with a good bunch of people. And after I got too slow to play ball, I took up cycling as my main exercise. At 40, I rode my first century ride, and I’ll keep doing it till I’m too old to get up. And I have friends who share this same interest, and we enjoy riding togther. I think you’ll find the same thing, if you don’t let your high school experiences scare you off.
- Stick with modeling, but if you do give it up, probably when you graduate, you’ll be like 95% of the rest of us modelers, who did the same thing. Because something else that may very well change for you, in the next couple of years, is that other things will start to demand the time you’ve spent so far on your hobby. That’s OK. Most of us discovered the opposite sex, beer, etc, when we hit our late teens, and left our modeling benches behind. When that happens, the chances are that you come back to it a couple of years later, after you’ve established your life, and have time for the hobby. You may stick with it the whole time, too, some folks do.
- As long as you’re still building, join a modeling club, if there is one near you and it’s practical for you to do. Going back to my first point, this is precisely the kind of activity that you will see, is carried out differently from the way gym class works. Well, OK, again, there may be those who act like babies, but again, some adults do. Generally, though, most of the people you meet will be receptive. And there are few things that we old-timers like to do better than to give you young kids advice [:)]
Hope that all helps!
Best regards,
Brad
hi Fort, All of the above is good advice.
The part that the bullies will always be around is true. One time at work a few of us were talking about going to college, the the bully came over and said “Going to college is the dumbest thing I ever heard”
Everyone turned and looked at him like he was nuts. I don’t remember what was said in relpy, but it shut him up for a while anyway. this was when we were working at Pizza Hut. soon after he got a good job at a steel mill. They told me he quit that job and came back tp Pizza Hut. I think he couldn’t screw off there. or else the mill woirkers were riding him. At another job i had, they hired him, I waited til he seen me,. then I turned my back on him. He didn’t come back the next day.
So hang in there [H]
I believe the same thing happened to Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, and probably Steve Jobs.
Keep getting good grades. Water always finds its own level.
Hey, there is some great advice in the previous posts and I have nothing unique to contribute, except don’t worry about the girl thing. Be a nice guy, and wait for the one who loves you as you are, instead of how she thinks you should be. There’s no rush. Hang in there, be true to yourself, and be open to new opportunities and go have fun. Don’t let the negativity wear you down.
John
He must have gotten grounded from the computer, lol. He hasn’t responded in over a week.
I saw your post when you first put it up, and have wanted to add my two cents, but now is my first real chance to do so.
Like all the other guys here, I had my good and bad times growing up. But I got past the bad ones and put them behind me. There have been lots of tales related here and plenty of good advice here written down. To all that I have read I will add this- you said life is unfair, and I will say ‘yes it is’. There was a saying we used to have in the Army. “Embrace the suck”. Things will be hard in life at times, and you will have to learn to cope. I would suggeast that you grow some thicker skin towards the words of the dumbos. You do not need their approval in life. And unless your dream is to become a professional athlete, who really cares about how well you play a particular sport. There are plenty of sports out there, solo and team, that offer plenty of enjoyment once you find those you have a knack for. Do not turn to self destructive behaviors like drugs to do that. Bad times pass, they always do. Like many guys here have related, find things you can do, and learn to master them. You will gain your own satisfaction there, no matter what it is. Thru the internet and social media, I bet you will find like minded people of your own age range who can help you thru the rough times in life. You’re lucky to have the good freinds that you mentioned.
Tomorrow is a new day. Do not dwell on yesterday’s bad events and have it drag down your today.
This is something that I live by. Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow aint here yet. That leaves you with…well…today. Today is the best day of your life simply because…you’ve got it. Be thankful for it and splash those that try to ruin it for you, and people will if you let 'em. Hang in there tough guy, you’ve got this! [Y]
I agree with everyone’s advice. Me, myself, I’m a kid at heart even at 51 years old. I still love roller coasters. Heck my family & I went to Disney over Spring break and I could not wait to get my son on a few roller coasters. He loves every one of them. Kinda puts a tear in his daddy’s eye even he shares the same type of music as I do (AC/DC, Aerosmith, KISS, to name a couple). Live will get better in time. Enjoy life and have fun. Ignore the bullies and idiots. Oh yeah… keep on modeling. We all love to see some of your builds here.
Hello ;
I have to tell you , even in 1946 that same thing was going on .I got teased and bullied because , Number one ,I was the smallest kid in any grade .Number two , because I didn’t look " Boy " enough !
Funny thing though , I could row and run and that’s where the bullies ( Jocks) got their comeuppance . Two seasons -Undefeated in single scull and two seasons undefeated in track.
The "Little Guy " came through after all . It all worked out in life though, and after a good Military Carrer and Maritime career, I was a very good businessman till in my sixties . No more teasing then . T.B.