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Seven Years Ago...


JSmith

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Wow. So it's been a while since I've written a blog. Time seems to be flying by faster and faster lately. It feels like it was just yesterday when I was lurking around GA for the first time trying to decide if I should join. Turns out that was 7 years ago. I've been here for seven freaking years. I basically grew up on this website. The people I've met through here have changed my life so drastically that I couldn't imagine what I would be like today had I not joined.

 

I know a lot of the 'regulars' on GA are unfamiliar to me now, and many of you probably have no clue who the hell I am. But that's alright. It just means there's more people to meet! If you ask some of the 'older' members on GA that knew me back when I was 15, they'd probably be able to tell you all sorts of stories about me. Mostly though, they'd probably say that in real life I was shy, timid, and somewhat weird. Not that I'm not any of those things still, but every single person on GA encouraged me to expand, to find myself, to follow my dreams, to put myself out there, to explore all that life had to offer. For that, I am eternally grateful.

 

For a while in life, I thought I was on the right track. I went to college, came out with two degrees, moved across the country to Los Angeles the day after I graduated, and was the GM of a restaurant making $50K a year at age 22. Successful? Maybe. But I wasn't happy. Far from it actually. I hated my job, hated my boss, and hated the fact that I wasn't doing anything about it. And then I snapped. During one of those 15 hour days at work, I had a mental breakdown and finally realized that I couldn't continue going on like I was. So I walked out. I told my boss where he could go and what he could do to himself and never looked back. The next two months I spent trying to figure out my life, which led me to where I am today.

 

Back in November of 2007, we had our first ever GA Get Together in San Francisco. The trip itself was awesome, but the people that went were absolutely amazing. To finally meet the people that had influenced me in so many ways was a huge honor. It sucked because I was the young one and the trip seemed so short, but leaving there to head back to Texas was beyond painful. I had literally left my heart in San Francisco. I fell in love with the city. Every year after that trip, I made it a point to visit SF at least once. I couldn't get enough of it. So after I finally realized that I wasn't happy with life and I needed a change, I decided to grow the fuck up and follow my dreams.

 

Though I've only been living in San Francisco for two weeks now, I can feel my life finally pulling together. I have a new job that I'm happy with, I'm in the city that I love, and every day I meet new people that I'm happy to call friends. I went from being miserable and pessimistic in life, to actually enjoying every single day. I can finally stop rushing through life watching the days go by like they're nothing, and I owe a lot of it to those that I've met through this site, the good and the bad. As much as I would love to name the people that I'm grateful for, I would undoubtedly forget some... there are just too many.

 

Oddly enough, when I started this blog entry, I had no intention of writing all of this. I mostly did it to hopefully cure my writers' block, but I'm glad it all came out.

 

So cheers to you GA. And thank you to everyone that's been a part of it for the past seven years.

 

Joe

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Well, we all remember the hottest admin at GA (sorry Myr :P )

 

And your latest story is particularly awesome so I want to bully you encourage you to post more :)

 

so heres the deal.... you get 3 more chapters out, and I will lose my review virginity to you.... (well, i might have written one before, but if i can't remember it, it doesn't count, right?)

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You should do a "It gets better" video, but make it "It gets better with GA"

 

I had to check and realize I beat you to GA by about 3 months :P

 

You mention growing up on GA and getting a lot of support from the 'older' members, but you were helpful too whether you realized it or not. I remember when I was having trouble with my BF at the time, and you were giving me 'advice'. I think I chuckled back then that I as 36year old was taking advice from a 16year old. Haha, thanks for that, you did help me through a very difficult time.

 

Congrats on the new job and glad you're happier. I'm really enjoying your new story too!

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Did you just call us older people? :o

 

Good to hear you enjoy your life now. Hopefully you will be more rugalr in chat again. Now we just need to get Viv and Steve back too!

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I put the older in quotes :P I meant older as in having been around the GA block a few times.

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Whoa...I feel like I should start calling you a "boy wonder" after reading this. :P Seriously, who else can be so influential in making this site what it is today (or so I've heard... ;)), and be growing up along with it?

 

I'm one of those 'newer' kids on the block, and I've only really known you for about 2 months, but I can definitely say that you're a real cool guy to talk to. :) It's really awesome to hear that things are looking up for you now.

 

Hopefully this did cure that writers' block :P ...but really, here's to another seven years, eh?

 

Your beta,

Mike

 

(P.S. I feel like it's only fair that you know my name since I know both yours and Louis's. :P)

 

(Westie: He already got my beta virginity with this one. But y'know...he told me he hasn't worked with one before either, so I suppose I got his too. :devil:)

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I like hearing happy notes of life :)

 

I wish you well on your new life in SF! I desperately want to visit it one day soon, I hope.

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  • Site Administrator

Joe Who? :unsure:

 

Congrats on the anniversary Joe. As much as you have benefited from the people here, you have also been a benefit to us by you just being here.

 

I remember joining here little over six years ago and you were one of the 'elite' here at GA and I looked up to. I still do :hug:

 

Hope everything continues going great in SF.

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