Every situation, under all circumstances, brings with it a unique series of choices in need of answers. These answers will create the hoops we all jump through in life. When I was a valet, or when I made pizza the day-to-day hoops I had to jump through were far different from the ones I currently jump through as an artist. Similarly, the choices I was faced with while making tattoo needles are nothing like those I must make now. The only difference between the Hunter that existed then and the one that exists today is that I consciously choose to make different decisions from those I made in the past. To break this concept down even further, our current state is the culmination of all of the decisions that we have ever made. Within every moment that passes (whether it’s conscious or sub conscious) our mind is making a multitude of decisions. This includes everything from the regulation of our heart rate to what words we use to communicate effectively. From the moment we are born and our mind decides to take that first breath, until our current state…everything is choice. As you start to reflect upon your own life, you will quickly start to see the choices that brought you happiness and the ones that did not. Only you will be able to determine which is which. Eventually, you will be able to see that the choices you have made in the past have led you directly to where you are standing at this moment.

So, to apply this concept to the so-called “real” world. You don’t have to look very hard to find people who are unhappy with their lot in life. Instead of making different choices and creating new hoops that become more pleasant (or god forbid enjoyable), most people rail against the undesirable hoops with all of their anger and emotion only to create more of the exact same situation. I spent eight years working as many as three day jobs at once while painting at night, murderously hating every hoop that was not to my liking. It was not until I understood that it was me and only me who had created each and every despised hoop. I had discovered that I have the power to create new, more enjoyable hoops, through consciously being aware of the choices I am making right now and how they will affect my future. Without exception, all of the hoops we jump through in life we have already created, but you can create any hoop you desire.