I haven’t been posting lately. A minor post every now and again, but nothing really approaching the things I did in the early days of the Stygian Traveller. Pronounced “sti-ji-an”, by the way. Mostly because I’ve been busy. So sit awhile and listen, I’ll let you know what I’ve been up to for the past few months, since the online work ended and the real work began.
July 29, 2012, I started a training arrangement with David Edge at the Dark Aspect of the Force Academy. We talked for awhile and he ferretted out my goals, both of which were ones held by many. We found that I would pursue my intellectual desires as I saw fit and required little to no guidance there. David oversaw the pursuit of my main goal; losing weight and getting fit. Such a common story, is it not? Where others and I differed was that I actually got off my ass and got the damn work done.
The day of my arrangement’s beginning I was 117 kilograms, equal to 257 pounds. I had shoddy ankles and would roll them on a daily basis. My knees would hurt after prolonged sessions of walking.
I started exercising the next day, the 30th of July. I was living with co-workers, away from home in a port town. I took the opportunity to exercise and learn how to best accomplish my goals from people who were regular gym goers.
Within four weeks I’d lost 10 kilograms, down to 107/235. It was hard. I was playing games of rugby, I was doing weights and keeping up with them in general. I’d wake up some days totally fucked and hardly able to walk, or move my arms. But I still drove myself towards my goal, using my passion as the fuel I’d need to achieve.
In the meantime I received a few lectures about secrecy and deception, which would later come to inspire the Path of Heresy. Every now and then I’d discuss some ambitious new plan, like revising the Grand Book of the Sith, or putting together pieces for the Codex Chaplain, but each time I did so, he asked me this question; “Don’t you want to be a writer?” Or some variation of, at levels of intensity, basically telling me to cut my crap and go about fulfilling a dream of mine.
Words said by Chiron but related to me by Khaos stuck in my head the last few months; ‘the dream is damned and the dreamer too, if dreaming’s all that dreamers do’. If I was the type to get text tattoos I’d be getting this. This is what I told myself.
So I started writing. Characters, concepts, plots all unfolded before me. Too many, in fact, and I was a victim of my own nature, going to and fro between stories. I continued the weight loss and fitness training, with more than just some success.
The day before my knighthood announcement I’d weighed in at 96 kg, or roughly 211 pounds. I’d lost 21 kilograms and become so much fitter. The aches and pains were gone, my ankles were so much stronger. The weight loss has become apparent and the subject of talk. My work supervisor suggested sending me in for a drug test to see if I’d been taking anything I shouldn’t to help me in my efforts. Only jokingly, I think. I can never be sure with him.
On Saturday the 22nd of December I was accepted to become a writer at a reviews website. I now have an avenue, foot in the door, and outlet, being a movie, gaming and restaurant critic. Many of their writers often go into professional, mainstream journalism, something I’d ruled out in the past due to not having the money for university.
So there you have it. In the time since I started, I’d taken control of my life in a vastly positive way. I’d become fitter, healthier, more agile, smarter, more aware. The Path of Heresy, which I am currently working on making additions to, would not have been written and added to the lecture hall without this training. I’d fulfilled two goals I’d ached to accomplish for so long. Right now I’m working on three 7-week programs, “7 weeks to 100 pushups“, “7 weeks to 200 situps” and “7 weeks to 200 squats“. It hurts like hell after those sessions, but it’s worth it.
That’s what my apprenticeship yielded. REAL results out in the world. Following my dreams and actually damn well doing something about it. And it won’t stop here. I’m going to keep on going, because Knighthood isn’t the end of the road, it’s recognition for the road travelled so far.
William Kaede, Dark Knight of the Force Academy, signing off until next time.
