People you've never met

In the last few weeks, tragedies have been the center of the news.

First there was Tony Stewart.  Then Robin Williams.

I've never met either.  I've seen Tony Stewart in passing.  But both have made some kind of impact in my life.

Robin Williams was a comedian and actor that almost everyone in the world knew.   You could almost go anywhere and somebody would know who he was and could cite a line from one of his movies.  He made us laugh.  He had a big heart.  He had millions of fans around the world.

Tony Stewart, on the other hand, is known in the racing world, but most people probably didn't know a ton about him until the most recent incident with Kevin Ward, Jr.  Most people have seen the hot-headed, arrogant, sometimes belligerent side of Tony.  Yet you speak to a lot of people involved in racing and you find out he's a very loyal friend that has poured out his love and support for others.

It makes me think - how can people you've never met have so much influence in your life?

I've had opportunities to meet celebrities - NASCAR drivers.  Baseball players.  Hockey players.  An occasional actor.  A few music artists.  Most of the meetings I've had were just a few seconds.  There are several I'd love to meet, but have not had the opportunity. 

Yet there are so many celebrities that have influenced my life whom I've never met.  A comedian that makes me laugh.  An actor or actress that tells a story that brings me to the edge of my seat.  A spiritual leader that helps pick me up when I'm having a bad day.  Politicians that make decisions that affect my daily life.  Most of these people I've never met and probably never will because I'm not in the "in" crowd.  I'd love to spend an evening with people like Jennifer Lawrence, the President of the United States (whomever they might be at the time), Denny Hamlin, Jeff Foxworthy, just to name a few.  There are plenty of others that have influenced my life that I'd love to spend time just sitting at a table, having dinner and shooting the bull.  All the names I mentioned have influenced my life in some way, and I'd love to actually sit down with them.

We laugh, we cry, we change the way we think, thanks to people like Robin Williams and Tony Stewart.

CISSP

Last Thursday I decided to take the plunge and take the CISSP exam.  I'd been contemplating it for a while, and finally decided to do it. 

The test is 250 questions, of which 225 are scored.  You must get 175 correct to pass and you're given 6 hours to complete the test.

I felt like I had thrown myself into a dryer.  The first few questions completely floored me.  I stuck to my strategy of making sure I answered every question first, then went back and re-read everything.  And a 3rd time. 

By then, three hours had elapsed.  I decided to take my first (and turned out to be only) break of the morning.  I had a list of about 20 questions that I wasn't really sure about.  Some of them I struggled with.  Others I read again and it became painfully obvious which was the correct answer.

At the four hour mark, I was getting mentally tired, had gone over the test 4 times, and changed my answers so many times that I was violating every test taking strategy out there.  I'd decided I had enough and hit submit.

Of course, the computer wouldn't tell me how I did, but to just go see the test coordinator in the room.  She escorted me out and went to get my results.

The first words floored me:  "Congratulations!  We are pleased to inform you that you have passed"

I couldn't celebrate.  I couldn't even think.  I was mentally exhausted.

I rewarded myself with a good pizza dinner and a movie.  The real reward will come in a few weeks when I get my official paperwork.