Name: Tony
Age: 35
Sign: Aquarius
I grew up in: Safety Harbor & Clearwater, FL
I currently live in: Hollywood, CA
Occupation: Account Manager, similar to a Project Manager, in a sales/advertising agency
You can find me: tonynryner@yahoo.com
You will me never find me: actively involved in a church ever again
Your website or Charity you are passionate about:
http://www.tonynryner.com/ (Note: there is no current content as I'm designing the site, but stay tuned!)
1) What gets you out of bed each day? The desire to improve upon the previous day, not only my actions and motivations, but the immediate world around me. I firmly believe that we all have the capacity and tenacity to improve the world, the way people are perceived and respected, and the reality awaiting our children, young family members and friends. The only thing that limits what we can accomplish in our life and this world is selling ourselves short of our potential.
2) What life experience has strengthened you the most? Being ostracized from the church I was raised in and dedicated seventeen years of my life too. Some may think that being forcefully removed from a reality that nearly two decades were devoted to would be too traumatic to overcome. However in my case it forced me away from the numbing "comfort zone" of my prior life and invited me to embrace who I truly was and take charge of where I was I going. Anger, pain and regret, which were natural emotions I felt after being ostracized, in time were replaced with hope, confidence and gratitude. I encourage anyone to ponder on their immediate world and ask if its helping or holding you back from who you want to be.
3) What would you change about yourself? Procrastination. My procrastination is not fueled by laziness or lack of motivation but rather a lingering fear that I won't be completely successful in all that I do. In time and maturity I've shifted away from being a perfectionist to somewhat more realistic. With that said, when I choose to take on a new venture (occupation, friendship, hobby, etc.), I struggle with procrastination, which stalls how quickly I enter the venture or the amount of energy I exert. Fortunately though I do remind myself of the rewards of not standing still in life, so eventually I get my butt in gear!
4) Describe the landscape of the place you grew up. How did that landscape affect you? I grew up in a relatively small town in central Florida, Safety Harbor. As much of Florida, Safety Harbor had access to beaches (I spent the majority of my high school years at Clearwater Beach) and outdoor exercise (beach volleyball was my kick then, though I've never been an overly athletic person). The tree-lined streets, lazy afternoons and eclectic residents of Safety Harbor managed to give me a sense of protection from the ever-evolving, complicated family dynamic in my youth. Being raised in that town provoked me to seek amusement and mental stimulation as the town at the time didn't offer a variety of things to spent my time on. In that environment I grew to appreciate and develop my artistic side. Also I fought against my social awkwardness, ultimately wanting to be seen for myself and not seen as part of the town's unmoving scenery. I've returned to Safety Harbor, driving through it while visiting family in other parts of Florida. Though its "downtown" has developed and a large resort & spa (founded on 2,000 year old mineral springs) rests along its edge, its still that small town where an awkward boy grew out of his extra body weight and social phobias.
5) What is your most prized possession? Though we are all material-minded to some degree, for the most part I strive not to get too sentimentally attached to physical items. My basic reasoning for that is because a physical item can be lost, destroyed or taken and avoiding the impending disappointment and frustration can't be a bad thing. With that said, I have a ring given to me by my grandmother (father's mother) that has found a special place in my heart. The ring was given to her by her aunt who once owned a bar and the ring was left behind by a patron. The ring itself is silver and simple, void of complex etchings and gems. The ring doesn't even fit me, including my pinkie fingers. At times I've worn the ring on a chain around my neck and at other times on a key ring. Since the ring doesn't have family history beyond my grandmother's aunt, as the ring's owner was a stranger, it reminds me that all things happen for a reason. My grandmother's aunt gave it to her, not because it had monetary value, but because she simply thought she'd appreciate it. My grandmother gave the ring to me out of the same motivation, thinking I'd appreciate it. I'll never stop being amazed at how much someone can touch another person's life, simply by doing small things solely to put a small on their face.
Name: Elyse
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