Perception of a Changing World. My Journey to a Better Life.

better life

I was twenty-seven years old when I saw a glimpse of how I would perceive the world in the future. Of course I didn’t realize it at the time, but the events that would follow from that time in my life would alter my views and beliefs forever.

I went on an inner journey to discover what it was that I should do with my life. I had felt lost most of my life. I never really wanted a regular job. I didn’t like the idea of working until I was 70 so I could “retire”. Heck, I didn’t like the idea of working period. I wanted something more with my life. I wanted meaning. To do something that aligned with my non-conformist ways of how I perceived the world.

Before this time, I just didn’t know what that was. I was continuously searching for something that I couldn’t find. Then something happened. I had a thought that came to me out of nowhere. This may sound a little weird, but I told myself that everything is connection. Everyone and everything was connected in the world and I knew it. I felt a sense of relief and for the first time in my life I knew that this meant something.

Searching for Clarity

The search to discover what exactly my epiphany meant was going full steam down a road that would soon become as clear as the autumn sky. Through a little research and a strong desire to learn about the connection between all of us, I found what I had known all along. I had found myself, rather the person I wanted to be. The guy that used to question everything, who always tried to get along with everyone, and who wouldn’t stand for the status quo. These traits were always inside of me, I just didn’t use them to their full potential.

How it all started

I had tried to follow the grain. Tried to do what everyone else does and get a job. I did this for 10 years. Between 30 some jobs and a couple brief adventures to other parts of the United States, I still wasn’t satisfied. Something had to change and it did. It just wasn’t the change I had truly wanted. I went back to the place where I had grown up, found a job with alright pay, married the love of my life, and started a family.

I decided to stop searching and settle down. After a couple years, I started to get that urge again. The urge that wanted me to continue with my dreams of meaning, for my life.

You see, I was always what you would call a “dreamer”. If you were to ask me, I would tell you that I think everyone is a dreamer. It turns out, that’s not the case. There are many people I know that tell me they are content with the status quo. They say they are fine with living the “normal” life.

“Normal”, Really?

What normal means to them, I have no idea. I think they just mean they wish to live their life with the people they care about while doing what they have to do to make a living. It seems to me that most of these people aren’t really paying attention to the world outside of them. They have preconceived notions that the job they have been at for 10 years, will always be there. They think that their 401k account will continue to rise and has no risk of falling. They believe that when they reach retirement age, it will still be there.

Now if you ask me, that’s some pretty big dreaming in itself. The way the world looks today with the economic crisis and the world crisis in general, just goes to show that nothing is certain. The systems that may have worked in the past will not work in the future. As time passes, processes and systems change. What worked well 50 years ago, isn’t doing so hot today. That too is showing with the crisis in today’s society.

So there I was. Married and father to a beautiful little girl, yet unable to give them the life that they deserve. The life that everyone deserves. My wife started to get sick after giving birth and after 3 years of searching for an answer, she was diagnosed with chronic pain and fibromyalgia. Unable to work, the labor rested on my shoulders. I was fine with that, just not the way I was doing it. I refused to become another zombie, walking through life ignoring the true meaning of what we are capable of. Of what should be.

This world should be one of fulfillment and abundance for all humanity, yet over 80% of us hate what we do. Why? Because we are brainwashed into believing we have no other choice. We live in a society that seeks profit over sustainability. That’s reason enough for wanting to change the world. I wanted to be the change for what I saw was wrong with the world.

Back to Present Day

After a couple years of researching, learning, and trial & errors, I decided that what I wanted to do with my life, could also be what I did with my life, as far as necessary income was concerned. I was drawn to the Internet and the connection it allowed us to have with one another. Although it is not the same as physical connection, the Internet allows us to enter into any environment of our choosing and connect with others. We can be who we are and be surrounded by others who are like us.

I knew that what I wanted to do was to spread the message about world and personal change and now I knew how I would do it. I started a website. It didn’t take long as I had spent the past two years learning all things related to starting what would essentially be dubbed an online business. I prefer to look at it as an online community for everyone who wants to change their lives circumstances and see the world become a place that it should have been all along. Sustainable for the future, the end of profit for greed, and the abundance and fulfillment of all life that is very much possible.

You see, when we use our human connection abilities for change and cooperation, we can do anything. We just need to spread the message that shows the world what is possible and what is necessary to have a sustainable world in the future. Times are changing and it is time for all of us to rise to a new level of existence. Our systems need to change as well as our values and ways of thinking on how we view the world.

All about Blogging

So I started a website. A platform to build a community to support my message. I won’t go into much detail here as it’s another topic entirely, but I started writing and did even more writing, followed by making connections. I write every day because I enjoy it. I connect with people every day because it is what is necessary to be heard.

See, as natural as it is for us to connect with one another, it is equally as hard because we want to do it alone. Our individuality surfaces and quite frankly, we don’t want to connect with people. If it isn’t because we don’t want to, we are either afraid to, or worse yet don’t know how. We don’t know how to make the connections we need to make because of our egos and fear.

These are just some of the messages that I write about on Unplugged Recreated. This is my passion. This is what I love to do. I can’t stand it when I see someone who is unhappy with their life and feel they can do nothing about it. The world is in crisis and it hurts me to see that the saga continues year in and year out. These are the reasons why I started Unplugged Recreated. To share with the world that there is another way. To show those people that there is another way for how they live their lives. That what they believe, is possible in their lives.

Connecting for Change

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. The number one trait that everyone should have is the ability to connect with others. This is the most important aspect to everything in the world. Whether it is for friendship, relationships, business, change, issues, sustainability, knowledge, teaching, etc. There is nothing more powerful than human connection.

That’s what I am doing. That’s what you should be doing too. To make and use connections is my focus and you know what? It’s working. I have been connecting with many influential people who have the same goals as I do and it has been wonderful. You don’t realize how fulfilling it can be to see the possibilities of what could be, right in front of you. And it starts and ends with connection.

Looking Ahead

With the future of the world an uncertain one, I will do my best to be a positive voice for change. I am very optimistic for what may come, yet feel a need to hurry in my actions to help others and promote change in their lives. After all, that’s what it’s about. It’s about helping others. If my help only comes from giving someone courage enough to make a small change in their own life for the better, than I will be happy.

Making changes in your own life will ultimately help in making changes in the lives of others. This is progress and progress is moving forward. Both for your life and all life. I have a lot of work to do. It takes time, effort, desire, and connection to get to where we want to go.

Photo by fr4dd

20 thoughts on “Perception of a Changing World. My Journey to a Better Life.”

  1. “There is nothing more powerful than human connection.”

    The entire reason that I started a blog – to connect with more people. It has done wonders for me and I’ve only just begun. I’ve connected with some people that I really hope to meet in person. I hope that I can help others along the way.

    Great story.

    Dan Garner

    1. Thanks for your response,

      I believe you are right. Once you’ve realized that connections are the key, it’s only a matter of what type of connections to bring to the front. The truth is you’re already connected, you just have to open the door.

      Good luck & Cheers,
      Justin

  2. Nice article Justin and I’d say you’re doing the right thing with your time and helping others in the process. I read a lot of articles daily but rarely comment but wanted to comment on yours. I too work for myself, am not exactly a complaint person, and also believe very strongly that I wasn’t meant to follow the normal work path most do. Finding your way to the connections you need can be a scary journey but is also highly rewarding when you tune into your passion and can do good for others.

    Anyways, nothing too eloquent here other to say nice going on your article and I look forward to more. Cheers,

    1. Thanks a lot Mathew,

      Glad you did comment and no need for eloquentness :)

      Finding connections can definitely be scary. It took me a long time to build up the nerve to attempt making connections with influencers for whatever reasons. Once I did, I realized how easy it was and shook my head in disappointment in myself for being so reluctant.

      Very rewarding indeed!

      Thanks again,
      Justin

  3. Hi, Justin, while I applaud that you do what you like the most daily, I can’t seem to understand what is the point of your article? You started by saying that you wanted a better job which I assume will pay your bills, how it affected your family and how human connection is important to you… yet there is nothing in your article to conclude on- are you leaving your dream life with free blogging? Or was the article about the power of connection, very confusing I have to say.

    1. Nataliya,

      Sorry the article was confusing for you. I am talking about the journey I took to realizing my life’s purpose. How I figured it out and what I am doing to spread my message. Yes-the article is about connection, Yes- I am on my way to living my dream life through Unplugged Recreated, but more importantly, it’s about finding myself and going after something that has meaning, that helps people, and allows me to live a comfortable life, for myself and my family.

      Cheers,
      Justin

  4. Justin

    Great story of bringing your life into line with who you are. It will be different for different people but one fallout of the economic slowdown here in the UK is that whilst a lot of people are in employment more are now in part time jobs but not through choice. This situation could be an opportunity for many if they can see it as such and rethink their financial expectations.

  5. Thank you for sharing this post with the rest of us. I found it so inspiring and quite easy to relate to.

    I moved to the US from Guyana, leaving my entire family behind. I came here, at first to make a better life for my family. It was so hard. I cannot even begin to explain the struggles I had to endure.

    Obviously, a lot of time has passed and I have moved on from my struggles, but I learned that my life’s purpose was to come here and become my own person.

    Moving here made me stronger, and made my realize my own path. I found myself and my life now has whole new meaning, not only as a person, but as a wife and a mother.

    I cannot thank you enough for your kind thoughts and I look forward to seeing more of your work.

    -Bibi K.

    1. Hi Bibi,

      No, thank you. Stories like yours shows the courage it takes to do what we believe to be the best for ourselves and family. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to come into a new environment and strive to succeed.

      I am glad things have worked out well for you.

      It’s been my pleasure. I look forward to showing you more of my work. Feel free to connect with our community anytime.

      Thanks again,
      Justin

  6. Justin, you have managed to put into words what I have felt for the better part of my life! Awesome written piece you have here. I totally agree that so many of us are plugging away at jobs expecting some kind of ultimate security, but in fact nothing is guaranteed in this life.

    I, too, searched for many years to find the type of work that suited me best. I recently followed a 20 year dream of becoming a teacher and I can honestly say that I have found my calling.

    My advice to all those “dreamer” is to NEVER give up in your pursuits. And don’t feel that just because everyone else is doing something or living a certain way that we all have to follow that same path.

    We are all on our own, unique journey – and that’s a beautiful thing! Thanks for your empowering and validating entry!

  7. Awesome article Justin!

    Our stories are a bit alike. At least in the sense of feeling that we should be doing something great with our lives and making connections around us. We certainly think much alike in terms of the standard plan most have to live, work, and hopefully retire not sounding like a good bet to us. I enjoyed your article and I’ll look forward to the next. Thank you.

  8. Are we brothers from another mother! Awesome article! As I was reading it, I kept thinking, “Wow, our stories are extremely similar!”

    I have a blog website I started as well but have not fully committed to growing it… Until now! Thanks for the inspiration.

    Congrats on figuring out what makes you happy in life and then taking drastic daily action to accomplish your goals. May life bring you many awesome adventures as you open peoples minds to what they can truly accomplish!

    Cheers ;)

    1. Thanks so much Travis. I hope you become and stay committed to doing what makes you happy. Everyday opens up a door to doing something you didn’t the day before. Stay inspired.

      Cheers,
      Justin

  9. Words cannot express how almost everything you said is something that’s been ringing in my head and I have finally decided to follow my heart and do all the things that I love and live a better life! And it took me 5 years in varsity to discover that the Maths that I loved so much would not give me the job that would make me happy. I have since started a tutoring service yo help kids struggling with Maths and I am also running a hotel supplies business.

    Thank you for your blog, i feel excited when I read about other people who like me are tired of living meaningless lives :)

  10. This is a great post Justin. Good for you for not settling with what others believe is normal. The world needs more people like you who “get’s it.”

    We were not created to struggle and fight our way through this life. And unfortunately, that is what most people do. Like you, I feel the need to share inspiration with everyone I come in contact with, on my website and in person.

    Because people are in need of some awakening to the fact that they are more powerful then they give themselves credit for. They can definitely change their situation, they just need a little encouragement.

    I’m with you Justin and I’m not giving up either. I do my very best to help others to feel better about themselves and their life.

    Take care,
    Michelle

  11. I just wanted to let you know. I enjoyed reading your blog. I am actually think king about beginning my own blog through my journey of self discovery. I know what a hard task it is to reinvent yourself so I am in hopes maybe the blogging world will be of some support. Keep climbing, can’t wait to read your next blog.

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