<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6dGxqLX/0/ba44a8fd/XL/i-6dGxqLX-XL.jpg" alt="">
(Baby and I, getting the VR studio ready to film today.)  

"Follow your passion" "Live your dreams" "Do what makes you happy" yada yada yada...  

These are some phrases that are usually uttered by parents, mentors, teachers, and probably some high school guidance counselors. These days, this type of advice may sound cliche or repetitive but unfortunately, for me, I was never given such a pep talk as a kid.  

I was a 80's latch key kid. My father was in the Navy and always out to sea. Mom was a nurse and worked lots of double shifts at the hospital. Don't get me wrong, I loved my childhood and still believe that the 80's was the greatest time to be a kid.  

https://media.giphy.com/media/TTy5YmVmhmWhq/giphy.gif

That is exactly little Rudy during the 80's. 

My parents provided the big stuff.  A safe home, a full refrigerator, and even sent us to private school.  Yet, they were never home and my sister and I were kinda on our own.  I walked to school everyday, never got help with my homework, learned to ride a bike on my own, fixed my own TV dinners, watched lots of movies and played lots of video games.  I had no curfew nor bedtime.  My mom usually worked a 12 hour shift , 7am to 7pm.  So, we never ate dinner as a family.  My sister and I usually just ate microwaved chimichangas or pizza rolls whenever we were hungry in front of the TV.  

It was just a different time back in the 80's.  There were no supervised play dates.  Parents didn't over schedule their kids with after school enrichment programs.  We watched Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood, Sesame Street, and Bob Ross for enrichment. 

https://media.giphy.com/media/ukk5F16Ru8tmU/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/rYEAkYihZsyWs/giphy.gif

Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and everything they provided for us.  They did teach us by example, a good work ethic.  Yet, when it came to any other life lesson. I felt I had to learn it all on my own. I think they trusted that the nuns in private school would teach me everything I needed to know about life.  

https://media.giphy.com/media/QntaPoxoo08Wk/giphy.gif

I ended up learning everything from pop culture, Saturday morning cartoons, movies, commercials, HBO, and MTV.

https://media.giphy.com/media/K4ppHUZTYKJYk/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/4o8ixbkUsvR3G/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/RENVjG0uFXxqU/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/RGCZQiX2yN4Aw/giphy.gif

The only thing I knew that was expected from me was to get good grades and go to college.  Just like most Asian parents in the 80's, they dreamed about their kids becoming a doctor or engineer.  Any other career path was failure, not good enough or just plain crazy talk.
 
When applying for college, I told my parents that I wanted to do 'something' with computers.  That is exactly what I told her.  I had no idea there was a new growing industry happening at the time.  
https://media.giphy.com/media/xUPGchYUwAof91WGqI/giphy.gif

My mom completely shut me down.  She forbid me from doing it and said that I needed a real career like her's in the hospital.  
https://media.giphy.com/media/lyLKP8mkrZpfO/giphy.gif

All she knew about computers were video games.  She hated that I spent so much time in the arcade and felt that I was wasting my time and life on computers.  

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0MYKT2JltmvmVFM4/giphy.gif

Of course, looking back at it now.  1992 would have been a decent time to jump into computer science as an undergrad.  The world wide web had only just started and Microsoft just released the first version of Windows.  
https://media.giphy.com/media/8cQF6RH0oruvu/giphy.gif

I certainly didn't have the foresight to see where technology was headed.  All I knew is that I loved video games/computers and I wanted to work in that field. Yet, my Asian sensibilities gave in and I choose their goals and dreams instead of mine.  
https://media.giphy.com/media/cfZeWXOoBrZvi/giphy.gif

Four uninspired years later, I made it through and graduated with a degree in biology.  The next step was to go on to med school but I was sick of studying for something that I had no real passion for.  
https://media.giphy.com/media/l4HoeVtb6LMTRfJII/giphy.gif

I finally quit on the idea of becoming a doctor. I was never cut out to do that.  I just wanted to start making money. I found my first job in a biotech genetics lab. 
https://media.giphy.com/media/cGFwQVAlAFsUE/giphy.gif

Career Fast forward >>>>
https://media.giphy.com/media/nltyRptDJm8AE/giphy.gif

and three corporate layoffs later.
https://media.giphy.com/media/b7MdMkkFCyCWI/giphy.gif    

Today, I'm just a stay at home dad, still playing video games with a BS in biology hanging on the wall.
https://media.giphy.com/media/l2Je83nrd9UDRLtW8/giphy.gif

Do I regret my decision and path my parents set out for me?  No, never.  I can't because I have these four beautiful girls here beside me today. Yet, sometimes I do wonder where I would be today if I did follow my own dreams/passion back then.      

So, if you are wondering why a middle aged guy is playing video games and making these crazy videos. Well, that is part of the reason.  I guess I am just searching for that something, that something maybe I feel like I might have missed.

These days, I can't wait to get into the studio fast enough.  I feel inspired and just want to do something new and try something different.  Is this the passion that I have been missing or searching for?  Doing something because 'you' love to do it.  Not because it is expected of you by others.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdxNz2Gfpn8

I don't have the right answers but I guess it's all about the journey. I still have yet to find "Career Happiness."  I am pretty happy these days but 'career' has to be defined by making some sort of living wage to support yourself.  Hopefully the money part works itself out and this climb just continues to challenge me.  As long as we are happy and healthy as a family, I will be more than content.  

In the end, encourage your kids at an early age to follow their talents, interests, and passions.  Don't waste your money and their valuable time chasing your dreams.  We only got one go around in this world.  You had your chance, let them have theirs.

That is how we are raising our kids.  We don't care if they become chefs, artists, doctors, race car drivers, librarians, farmers  etc...  As long as it's their passion, I know from experience that they will live a happier and fuller life.

If you made it this far, I appreciate your time.  

Cheers and thanks for the support!

Rudy

[![Late%20Date%20Steem%20Final%203-M.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Steemit/i-pKhwCD5/0/M/Late%20Date%20Steem%20Final%203-M.jpg)](https://steemit.com/@runrudy)

[@runrudy](https://steemit.com/@runrudy)

***All images © 2017 Rudy Gonzales. All rights reserved.***