This blog officially kicks off at the end of August, but it has truly spent years in the making. Starting back in 2002, after I moved to Florida the first time, I sent out a semi-regular e-mail to friends and family, entitled Deep Lou Something. (Strange name, I know; it was a parody of the one-hit wonder responsible for ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’) I wrote mainly about sports, my travels, trials, and tribulations, and my oh-so-full social calendar. In the years that followed, e-mails became less regular, despite a growing readership base, and in the past several years, postings were limited only to a Kentucky Derby Picks e-mail in early May.
Fast forward to late 2008, when I was dating what I thought was the woman of my dreams (much more on that subject in future posts, to be sure ), and I began working on 2009’s new year’s resolutions. With my 30th birthday staring me in the face, only one short year away, the overarching theme for my resolutions was clear: “become the best possible version of myself.” There was only one problem with my little plan. The motivation for wanting to be all I could be was giving my then-girlfriend what I felt she deserved. Perhaps I never truly felt like deserved her, unless I became something better, richer, cooler, etc.
After we (inevitably) broke up a few weeks later, I was left without a clear reason for wanting to complete my big goal. Instead, I focused on checking off my other, lesser 30 before 30 lists, like reading 52 books in 2009, or seeing 30 classic movies I had missed through the years. I also began a nightly pilgrimage to the bars, pubs, and restaurants of Atlanta. Coupled with a minor knee injury that kept me off the basketball court for several months, and I quickly ballooned up to 205 pounds. But somewhere inside me, a different motivation was stirring. I knew that I needed to do something to move towards my big goal before I woke up one day and was writing 40 before 40 to do lists. After all, there is no time like the present.
So that’s the main goal for my new blog, www.Lou-Davis.com. Becoming the man that I’m capable of becoming. The best possible version of myself. Call it an “Alpha Male,” or “tribal leader” or some other name. It means something different to everyone. You may have noticed the cheesy looking jpg image of a guy in a suit on the right; yes, that is supposed to be me. Or, at least, my internal image of what I want others to view me as. As I embark on this journey, that image might change. Who knows where I mind end up? My goal is to blog about my physical, mental, financial, and romantic transformations. I’ll give you real time updates on my challenges, successes, and of course, funny stories. Along the way, I’ll pepper in some notes on football and fantasy sports (our new Superleague is bound to bring some great message board fodder), some old dating adventure stories that I’ve never shared to the masses, and keep everyone up to date on the social calendar of the self-proclaimed ‘Most Interesting Man in Atlanta.’ If we are really lucky, I might even sneak a Derby winner in there for a change. :)
Here’s to a life-changing balance of 2009 for all of us. Remember, you can’t hit a home run if you don’t swing the bat.
-Lou