Forged in Fire

As I approach one calendar year keeping up with this blog, I figured it might be fun/interesting/cringey to take a look back at my first post here on Forged In Fire.

It has been all of these things, no doubt. But, (maybe surprisingly) it has been incredibly rewarding.

I began this venture on a whim, with no real tangible concept of where I intended to take it. I recognized, first and foremost, that I am a deep thinker – to say the least. My mind is unique and perhaps more introspective than most. I’ve enjoyed reading and writing for most of my life, which ultimately led to my decision to start posting my rambling ideas and thoughts onto a public platform.

So, here we are now. But, where is “here” exactly? 

That’s the real question, and it’s why I’m sitting here, staring at this screen, wondering what It is that I’m hoping to accomplish. This is something I wrote about – many moons ago, near the beginning of F.I.F – my initial intention behind choosing to share my writing with others. Within that post, I had this to say:

“With a mind full of stories to tell, experiences to expand upon, lessons to share – here I am. 

I suppose, in many ways, my aim is to be authentic, to be honest and to be vulnerable through my writing. My goal is to connect with anyone who takes the time out of their day to read. To connect by means of telling a story that is relatable, because it’s real. 

To offer up any source of enlightenment – of knowledge from learned experiences – to impact any one person’s life in a positive manner, above all else, is the driving force behind any writing that I’ve done and will share in the future.”

Ultimately, all of this remains true today. My goal stands as working toward serving as a positive influence on a life or two by taking the time to be honest and open.

In reflecting on all of this, it has made taking a closer look at my first blog post all the more valuable and enlightening. 

It has reassured me that there is value behind what it is that I’m trying to do.

Here is what I took away:

I had no idea what I was doing. Aside from doing what I could to strike a balance between compelling and direct – avoiding an aimless ramble at all costs.

Despite this, I chose a solid foundation for what has now become a pretty substantial body of work. 

“Pathways to Character” was the title, and its purpose was to highlight the difference between “resume” and “eulogy” virtues … in other words, the vast difference between those who live for materialistic pleasures versus those who go through life with real purpose and act in virtuous ways. 

In doing so, my end goal was to make this very point:

“To answer the question of “what is character?” You must first understand that character isn’t some “thing,” but rather a plethora of experiences, motives, decisions and actions that compose an individual’s current state. Where they stand in relation to the humans forming society around them. Character is what sets someone apart from another. To take the path(s) to truly profound character is to legitimize what it is that you want to be remembered by, and to carry those standards with you in all that you do.”

Man, does that hit home. 

Though I didn’t realize it at the time, that very quote has become what Forged in Fire is all about, and what I stand for as a human being.

Once with no direction, this thing is gaining traction and taking form. 

As my life and the world around me continues to evolve, this platform will do the same. In many ways, my hope is that this will continue to grow and morph into something bigger and more complex, with greater outreach and more opportunity for outside involvement.

Here’s to closing in on year one, and to the endless possibilities that lie ahead for Forged in Fire and those who believe in our mission.

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