For years I have floundered in dead-end manual labor jobs, despite graduating fourth in my high school class of over 200 students, having a college degree and a high IQ.

My new 2nd-shift job is pretty boring, but at least I make better money than I have for the last 4 years when I was working at other manual labor jobs.

At one point I was an officer candidate at one of our country's top military academies. I could have been a "Top Gun" pilot, an astronaut, or a respected politician.

But because of my personal hangups, I eliminated myself from contention. I have spent years feeling like I have no significance and no voice.

Writing this blog is an attempt to move forward in my life and work through my hangups.