A person's life-journey is a trajectory affected by variable elements (some less visible than others). A person is a projectile, launched into existence, with an intended path to follow. At our birth, we explode into the world and are, for a short time, guided by our parents toward our ultimate target. Hopefully, our time spent in guidance stabilizes us for what is to come. But, some of us yaw violently when we come spinning out into the world. Who knows why we do this? Perhaps, there is a lack of balance within us, or perhaps a flaw in the guidance we've recieved... but one thing is certain: we are imperfect. We immediately are launched upward and we are going the fastest that we ever will. Eventually we will reach a pinnacle in our life's trajectory; a crucial point. And we will begin to slow and float. Along the way we are challenged by winds and unseen obstacles and we deviate from our intended path. But we all hope to plot well when we land, for at the end, our impact is made visible.
I am a student, a soldier, a musician, a craftsman, a marksman, a son, a brother, a boyfriend... These are the roles that I struggle to conform to and that mold me into the person I aspire to be.
I was born in Rockford, Illinois to Keith and Judy Kloster. I've spent time in both Illinois and Idaho. Between these different worlds and the different families in each, I have gained a unique perspective. I have two blood siblings and a total of seven step-siblings. I technically have four parents, but many more who have stepped up to the plate when I needed them most. I've had mentors in the church, in the military, on the firing range, in the classroom, in my family, and in the pages of various books. I try to learn something from everybody I know. I figure that every person must know (exponentially) more than me about at least one thing and that it's a waste not to gain from the collective human experience. Most of what I have learned is from random "ramblings" of my elders. I've found that if you make the choice not to be deafened by youthful arrogance and listen to the most simple of life stories, you can learn the lessons that took another person a lifetime to conquer.