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May 25, 2013 I have been doing a lot of restructuring of my Epic Quest, and have updated it as follows: Retitled to "ShadowLion Weaves the Strands Together," to reflect the more complete version of my epic quest that has evolved since I started this post. It now includes more of a life list and various modules for different aspects of my life that will be showing up in challenges as Life Quests. The "ShadowLion Returns to the Fireline" title has a narrower focus than what I currently see as my epic quest. I am now thinking of that as my Main Quest for the 40 week period that begins June 2, 2014 and ends in mid-March 2015, just in time for the Arizona Wildfire Academy. My plan for that portion of my epic quest is outlined in the next post of this thread and will be called "Forty Weeks to Fire Fit," so that I can abbreviate it to 40W2FF. Writing up this epic quest has been a time of intense and valuable reflection on my values and a realization of my own unique perspective that has grown out of my life experiences and choices to date. Oddly enough, I seem to have come back around full-circle (spiral, maybe?) to a new appreciation of the poem "Ulysses" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. More than 38 years ago, I hung a poster with the following excerpt on the wall of my dorm room above the head of my bed. I dreamed of what I would do when I was out of school, the places I would travel, the adventures I would have someday, somewhere. Some of those dreams have happened, some have changed, some have been left behind in favor of other dreams...but the same words still inspire and guide me. And, as I write this, a line from a popular rock song of the time is running through my head..."You're still the same old girl you used to be." Yeah, I guess so! Ulysses (excerpt) I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy'd Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades Vext the dim sea: I am become a name; For always roaming with a hungry heart Much have I seen and known; cities of men And manners, climates, councils, governments, Myself not least, but honour'd of them all; And drunk delight of battle with my peers, Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy. I am a part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethro' Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades For ever and forever when I move. How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use! As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life Were all too little, and of one to me Little remains: but every hour is saved From that eternal silence, something more, A bringer of new things; and vile it were For some three suns to store and hoard myself, And this gray spirit yearning in desire To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought. As I get older, other parts of the poem take on new meaning, yet this fragment is still a polestar, a wish, a dream, and a reflection…

Main Quest: Phoenix Down I am a newly certified/employed EMT in my mid 20's. With this new job, I've had my regular sleep schedule turned upside down. On top of that, I've also been paired up to face various other challenges, both professional (the fragility of life and experiencing death first hand and frequently in the ER) and personal (conveniently going through a break up, as well, for example). These aforementioned life hiccups have left me swirling in to quite a dark place, sitting on my butt for hours playing video games or browsing the internet just to get my mind off of things. So to combat this I decided to get a weight bench and some weights. Hopefully this purchase can help me get my life back on the right track. I'm realizing the negative energy that my self-inflicted ostracization is creating and I need to change it. This weight bench, joining this forum, and all other movements are attempts to begin the process of resurrection. The process of finding that phoenix down. (What that means in generic terms: To build a bit more confidence in my physique. And with that build of confidence, a radiating contentment with life in general.) Supporting Quest: (+50 Exp each) Work out for at least 30 minutes a day(Excluing sports as I do that as often as possible anyways). Begin monitoring what I eat (it's a baby step, but hey, at least it's a step) by eating at least one healthy meal a day Full body stretch before sleeping, whenever that happens.Life Quest (+100 Bonus Exp per paycheck) Save >$80 each paycheck to fund getting outta town(it's scaled so highly because I struggle to save). Motivation: -To get positive energy flowing. It's a spiderweb theory, if you will. I begin to increase muscularity and endurance which resounds to more confidence, better social interaction and relationships, and eventually self sufficient happiness and pride.-I'd also like to improve my athleticism. I've been playing sports since I was 3-4 years old and the competitive gene runs through my blood. I love giving the sports I play (Volleyball, Ultimate, Soccer, etc) my all. It does get frustrating when I do give it my all and it still isn't enough to "compete." So increasing my stamina and resilience would be a bonus. Current stats: Level 1 Fair-Skinned Cuban ManCurrent Experience: 0Experience to next level: 1000Height: 6'2Weight: 208Current Region: Tallahassee, Florida FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED!! But really, if you guys have any ideas to positively/negatively critique this post or my plan, by all means, fire away. I'm quite a social creature (when I'm not lame and broody) so I'd love to hear from you all. And again, I don't even know if I'm doing this right so if I'm not, tell me!!