Against The Grain

Well, My name is Carmine... That's a good place to start right?
Is this how this thing works? La mia famiglia dell'Italia. At least on my Fathers side. That's right I'm Irish. Okay enough of that let's get down to business. This is important to understand, looking back through family history everyone previously had a "regular job" or something "secure". You could imagine the responses I would get when I said I want to go to school for art. That would often be met with,"OK but what are you gonna do for a real job?" This was difficult to overcome. Halfway through my visual arts degree the car I had broke down. I was paying my way through school and didn't have enough money to get a new car. I ended up dropping out and began working full-time. I picked up a lot of good knowledge working in construction and HVAC. I continued working for about the next 15 years at this time. I was in my late 20s. I like to say it was my quarter life crisis I was unhappy I was over drinking and I felt completely unfulfilled with life. On the surface it looked great apartment beautiful girlfriend, well paying job, health benefits the whole 9 yards. Was this really the life I wanted?