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AUTHOR'S DISCLOSURE

An artist's purpose is to evoke emotion and/or dialogue of the masterpiece created, without either, it's no longer art, let alone a masterpiece. This blog represents the author's original writing and makes no apology for posts resulting in experiencing a sense of discomfort when reading his own personal reflections, thoughts, affirmations, observations and opinions of his journey in finding his way through a complicated world, of his so called life. The author requests readers remain mindful of dates when a post was written. Many of the earlier posts were academic assignments with guidelines to uphold the integrity and standards of a specific writing style. One or a combination of formatting, rhyming schemes, syllable counts, themes and specific guidelines which were up to self-interpretation and self-discovery. This set the tone for the author's tone and unique writing style. He requests readers remain open-minded to viewpoints differing from their own. The author strongly believes "we can disagree and still remain friends" and welcomes respectful dialogue and questioning of his writings. However; hateful disagreement our outright dismissal or suggesting the author's writings are inherently wrong will not be tolerated and may not be conducive to constructive conversation. 

 

TALES TOLD BY THE THIRD WHEEL, NOT A SPARE TIRE

Robert W Kovacs born in Long Beach, California and spent his elementary school years in suburban  Detroit, Michigan and his summers in Toronto and central Ontario. His middle and high school years were spent in Hollywood, Florida. He is a graduate with an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education from Broward (Community) College and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Public Administration and a Master of Science in Parks and Recreation Administration from Florida International University.   

He has been an employee of the same local YMCA in South Florida since 1984 even though it has gone  under three name changes as a result of mergers; Greater Hollywood Family YMCA, YMCA of Broward County and currently YMCA of South Florida. His positions of pride and joy include youth swim instructor (an advocate for every child needs to have water safety skills and learn how to swim), pre-school programs (watching as young children get the “ah-a, I got it” moment and provide them an opportunity to love to learn) and summer day camp (building long term relationships with school-age  children and families over several years). Once leaving the program services arena, his other joy was grant writing and contract administration with strong emphasis on pitching funders the YMCA story. Presently, he works as the Payroll Administrator which continues to astonish himself as mathematics just didn’t add up to anything exciting in his grade point average throughout both high school and college years.

As long as he can remember his writing has always been a part of defining him. Most memorably, he had a literature teacher in his senior year of high school who rarely cracked a smile but cracked nothing more than her whip and worked you to earn your grade. Her authoritarian style of teaching and plenty of rewrites later, her succinct reminders, “write in active voice, use simpler words, find your inner voice to personify and convey your thoughts, lead the introduction and tie it all up in your final words” resonate throughout his blog and his other writings.

Many years later, in the capacity of Contract Administrator for grants at the YMCA, two past supervisors alongside a funder’s grant administrator advocated him to begin to write his YMCA stories to share with others his experiences through his unique writing style. Upon contemplation of pros and cons and with his first Apple Macbook Air, the YMEJOURNEY blog was born.

Initially, the blog started out to share stories of his YMCA career but has evolved into an parable of sharing life’s challenges, victories and setbacks told in such a way, a lesson is learned by reading it. His writing brought you into his world as it offers him a catharsis, meandering through memories of significant episodes of reflections of this ride on earth, that we call life. He finds sharing the human condition with others opens more commonalities and closes the differences among all of us. He often finds ways to be lighthearted even in the most challenging circumstances and often can find ways to seeing the hidden gems even in the most difficult, trying and negative experiences and turn it around by spinning them into encouraging words of positive enlightenment, in almost all situations.

Robert prides himself being an even-keel, grounded, educated and professional who appreciates simple pleasures in a complicated world. He enjoys more things than he doesn’t and welcomes being introduced to new adventures. In his spare time he enjoys traveling on vacations to see more of this world, a diverse genre of movies and TV, reading mostly biographies and fiction, listening to almost all genres of 80s music, board games/Wii, beach/pool, bicycling, parks, cooking and eating, relaxing and thought provoking conversations with quality time with genuine people. Presently, his primary coordinates are approximately 26.0523° N, 80.1439° W, on Spaceship Earth.