Here are my "less obvious but still really important to me" guys:

Stan -- My closest friend from high school. We've come a long way since our awkwardly silent two-hour bus ride together for the sophomore retreat, hahah. You're one of the handful of guys that I can legit tell EVERYTHING to. Even though we're both struggling to figure out how to make it in "the real world," I know you got my back...and you know I got yours.

Chris P. -- We both want to make our marks on this world, and you constantly remind me to not settle for anything til we've done it. When I'm running low on inspiration, you always manage to inspire me.

Darwin G. -- My fuckin' awesome college roommate. We had everything in common, man. So many good times. We've completely lost touch since then but you taught me valuable skills that led me to where I am today. You helped me make something of myself and I'll be forever grateful.

Mr. Guillot -- My middle school english teacher...but you taught me SO MUCH MORE than just that -- You taught me to find my own voice; to shine my own inner light. You taught me you how to express my true self in writing. You taught me how to be ME.

Dr. McGeough -- We talked for no longer than 5 minutes but you changed my life forever. You gave me a chance when nobody else would...when even my own college advisors gave up on me. I had flunked out of school...but you got me back in, and I got nothing but A's and B's til I finally graduated.

Of course I have nothin' but love for Mom, Dad, my brothers, UDH, Webb, CPP, BTVfam, TGB and music fam. <3

// Day Five

No regrets here. And I don't fully believe in the notion of predestination or that "everything happens for a reason." I believe God/karma/life throws opportunities at us but it's up to us to make the best of those opportunities.

I can't predict what the future is gonna throw at me, nor can I predict how I'll react to something in the heat of the moment. So to hear that "everything happens for a reason" as if all of the good & bad times in my life were already planned out...that just doesn't work for me.

Whatever happens to me -- whether its life's curveballs thrown my way or results of bad decisions I've made in the past -- I define my own reason.

So instead of posting regrets, here are Six Painful Lessons I've Learned:

1. After my first heartbreak, I learned that love is nothing like the movies. There is no such thing as a simple "happily ever after." Both sides have to trust each other completely, be on the same page and be willing to make great sacrifices for each other.
2. After another heartbreak, I learned to look at it this way: "You wanted so bad to be with the wrong person, imagine how beautiful it'll be when you find the right one." I also learned, "Don't settle. Ever."
3. Six years after walking in on my college roommate having sex, I learned to appreciate all of the random, trivial and painful things that led me to where I am today. (You'll have to read that link to see what I mean.)
4. When someone close to me told me of their dying condition, I learned that we need to take better care of our bodies because we only get one. (I'm totally guilty of forgetting this..I need to remind myself of this more often.)
5. When my uncle passed away to lung cancer, I learned to never take my mom & dad for granted. This heartbreak also led me to this next one...
6. ...There is no such thing as "perfection." Embrace all of the imperfections in your life.
7. After getting my first full-body massage, I learned to ALWAYS request a female masseuse.

Sorry, just had to throw in that extra one, haha.

-Mel

// Day Four

• "I'm hungry. What should I eat? Wait, did I eat already? What did I eat? Am I really hungry or am I just looking for something to do?"
• "I need to check Twitter before too many tweets stack up."
• "Is this beautiful or useful?" -- If neither, get rid of it.
• "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
• "What did I learn today? If today didn't happen, what would I have lost out on?"
• "Do I mean as much to this person and they mean to me?"
• "I really really really want the [insert latest Apple product here]."

// day three

• give really good hugs. I can tell a lot about us from just a hug.
• randomly send me sincere text messages.
• cook me stuff (Seriously! It's not so much about the food...it's more about the gesture of going out of your way for me).
• surprise me.
• show me your geeky side (musical, gaming, gadgets)
• dedicate something to me, no matter how small. A tweet, a shout-out, a video comment, a bodyroll, a cupcake with my name written on it in frosting...anything.
• be honest with me. You don't have to tell me everything; just don't lie to me.
• win the heart of someone close to me out of the goodness of your heart (i.e. not having any hidden agendas).
• not be perfect but always strive to be a better person.

Okay, that was nine things.

• If I share food with you, it means I like you.
• If I eat like a slob around you, it means I feel close to you.
• I was TRICKED into watching my first porno in 5th grade. It was called, "Ernest Goes to Congress". It definitely wasn't Ernest.
• My right foot is one full shoe size larger than my left (10.5 and 9.5).
• I have this OCD where I have to read every single tweet or else I feel like I missed out on something. I'm scared to follow more people cuz that means more tweets that I'll have to read.
• I am ridiculously OCD over organizing stuff on my computer. My iTunes is all organized with genres, album, artist, tags, ratings and smart playlists. I've spent countless hours organizing my iPhone app icons. All my photos in iPhoto must be originals, not right-clicked-and-saved from Facebook.
• I LOVE it when my tweets are exactly 140 characters. It makes me happy, like getting a clean swish in basketball.
• I LOVE to write. The only problem is I'm hella OCD about it too...so I spend a ridiculous amount of time drafting things before I post them. Take my "Thoughts on BTVfam/FAP" post for example...that took me 32 hours...
• I like things in odd numbers, specifically 3, 5 or 7. You might notice it in my writing.
• When I use the bathroom, I ALWAYS have to look behind the shower curtain. I have this weird fear that someone is gonna jump from behind it and twitpic me with my pants

Okay, that was ten, hahah.

Honestly, I have NO IDEA where I'll be in three years. BTVfam has taught me that so much can change in just a few months, I really don't know what to expect anymore. All I can do now is be optimistic and cherish my blessings as they come. =]

As far as dreams and goals go, there are three big things I want to accomplish in my life:

1. Be Someone's #1

The past me could be easily described as one of those prototypical "Nice Guys". You know, the guy that always wanted a girl but could never get passed the friendzone.

I remember looking through a lot of my friends MySpace's (haha yes, I'm really using MySpace as an example) and I'd be on a lot of girls' Top 8...but I would NEVER be anyone's #1. Now don't get me wrong: I AM thankful to be thought of as important to a few people's lives...but I realized that I was only cheating myself by settling with being #2.

I have more dignity in myself now. I learned that everyone deserves to be someone's #1 and that you should "never make someone a priority if they're only willing to make you an option."

2. Be a Father Figure to Someone

I'm not perfect by any means...but I truly cherish all of my life's lessons and I hope that by sharing them, I could inspire someone to be a better person. There's a big part of me that really wants to take someone under my wing and play an active role in them growing as a person.

3. Touch the Lives of Complete Strangers

I remember reading, "do something unselfish and don't tell anyone about it." That's such a challenging idea -- especially when by human nature, people want to feel appreciated and have their actions be reinforced with praise -- but I think that's the ultimate testament to "selflessness."

I feel that I've somewhat accomplished that at FAP. Other than my friends, I don't think anyone in the crowd knew of the blood, sweat and tears behind my involvement with the event. But standing there on the bridge, looking down at the crowd of families, friends, musicians and fans smiling...simply one of the greatest feelings evar.

I feel I can do more though. Something that touches even more lives. I have no idea what that'll be...but one of my missions in life is to "leave the world a better place then I found it."

So those are the three things I want to accomplish in my life. Generic, I know...but someday, when I'm long gone, I hope I'll be remembered the same way as my uncle after he passed:

A Loving Husband, Father and a Good Friend to all.

To the anonymous person that asked me this question, this probably isn't anywhere close to the answer that you originally expected...but thanks for inspiring me to write! I've been wanting to share this with someone for a very long time.

Ask Me Anything:

• http://blog.melmyfinger.com.tumblr.com/ask
• http://www.formspring.me/melmyfinger

I might not answer all of them but I promise to put a lot of thought into the ones I do!

I guess I'm just God's best kept secret to women, HAHAHAH.

For real though, I've been meeting a TON of crushable girls, especially this past year. But time and space hasn't always cooperated with my heart -- either I'm into someone when they're unavailable or they just live too far.

I'm a physical guy so when I'm with someone, I need them to be here with me. I'm not a phone person and lots of time I'll stumble on my words...so the only way for me to really express how I feel is physically.

// P.S. Whoever it was that asked me this question anonymously...you totally made my day. <3

Ask Me Anything:

• http://blog.melmyfinger.com.tumblr.com/ask
• http://www.formspring.me/melmyfinger

I might not answer all of them but I promise to put a lot of thought into the ones I do!