laugh at everything. i know i am.

Friendship is the most important and powerful force that exists.

When someone cherishes your existence and truly cares about not just your mood, but overall being, that’s a friend. For years, I’ve heard that the word “love” is thrown around too readily. That we as a society have dulled the word’s glow.

Personally, I think the word “friend” has been roughed up a bit, too.

Whether it’s social media saying anyone who’s ever met anyone is a “friend” or tweens using the term “BFF” religiously, the criteria for being a “friend” have certainly been lessened.

I’ve said this to my closest friends before and I’ll say it again: I hate having a lot of friends. Wow, I sound incredibly full of myself, don’t I? Don’t worry, it’s different than it sounds.

What I mean is this. I love having a few great friends rather than a bunch of good friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love meeting new people, interacting with whoever I can and sucking every drop out of life that I can. If you’re not like that, we’re different people.

But what I mean is, when I’m someone’s “close friend,” I’m the best version of myself. I’m loyal. I listen to you. Your mood affects my mood. I would go out of my way to make your day as often as I could. I crave being around you. Our bond makes me feel like a better person. Just you being around me makes me love life even more.

To me, there’s no greater feeling.

But I’m choosy. And that’s how it should be. You shouldn’t — and probably don’t — have a lot of friends like this. Your closest “friends” should be like family. The only thing stopping you from calling them a brother or sister is a difference in blood.

I have about seven people that go into my “best friend” circle. Apparently I just turned life into a Google Plus platform. And for that, I apologize. Forgive me?

Those seven people know the real Sean Ely. I’m a very public person, I live my life with no barriers and what you see is certainly what you get. My emotions? Yes, they’re on my sleeve. I don’t mind being that way.

But just because I’m public doesn’t mean you really know me. But my lucky seven do. They know where I’ve come from, what I’ve been through, where I’m trying to go and what it takes to get there. In a heartbeat, they’d be there for me if the going got tough. And it has. And they’ve been there.

I think we all have certain friends that fill different roles. I think my starting lineup would win a world title every year. I am fortunate to have them in my life and I hope nothing ever happens to change that.

My point? Let’s be great friends to our closest friends so using the word “friend” can mean something again. With this fast-paced world we’re living in, “friends” so many times simply means “acquaintances.”

The seven of you, thanks for being you. Thanks for always having my back.

You know I have yours.

Let’s establish something right off the bat: Food rocks.

Many of us — regardless of our “weight” or “physical appearance” — consistently look forward to our next meal. What type of meal am I in the mood for? How much could I realistically eat? What haven’t I had in a while? How much will it cost for me to eat what I want?

These are questions we ask ourselves daily, even if we don’t know it.

Food willpower, or the ability to brush away cravings inside the brain, is different for everyone. For many, when an item is desired, an item is consumed. I mean, those Chick-Fil-A nuggets just look too amazing not to “try,” right?

It’s fascinating to me personally how different my cravings are when around a group of people, as opposed to sitting alone on my couch in my home. Many people tend to eat more when they’re alone, whether it’s emotional or because they’re just flat out bored.

Not me.

Since Sunday, I’ve been holding down the fort in Jacksonville Beach with three of my closest friends (one being my girlfriend whom I live with) out of town. Since Sunday, my diet has been spot on, without even the tiniest of cravings. When I’m around others, I want to go to restaurants and movie theaters and eat fattening foods. Not this week:

Whey protein shakes, BodyBuilder protein bars, apples, bananas, blueberries, eggs, spinach, tomatoes, onions, boneless skinless chicken breasts, whole wheat, low-calorie bread, greek yogurt, thin-sliced turkey breast, almond milk and water, water, water, water, water.

It’s what makes me feel “me.” When I’m eating how I know I can and should, exercising twice a day (extreme, I know) and sleeping eight hours a night, I feel invincible. I do not feel guilty having a craft beer or two every few days and a “cheat” meal because it’s not defeating or altering my routine, because after I’m finished, I’m right back at it again.

So what’s my end goal in all this? 

My ideal lifestyle is to eat whatever I want, continue to work out hard like I do and have the proper state of mind through it all, never feeling guilty or thinking I’m “overweight” because I’ve eaten a pasta dinner.

Self confidence is just as important as hard work. I’m slowly starting to realize that. But it takes time.

My two choices for an outdoor script writing session. Hmm, someone help me decide? They’re both so office-like and restricting.

The past year has been quite the facelift for my Jeep.

May 2011:

May 2012:

I’ve arrived in Daytona Beach!

Much to my surprise, there aren’t any high school girls running around with frozen margaritas. Or MTV DJ boothes bumping Katy Perry’s “Firework.” Or ping pong balls falling off hotel balconies when a beer pong shot went awry.

It’s Jeep Beach 2012: A 4-day event with nothing but rock ‘n roll music, customized Jeep Wranglers, craft beer and brotherhood. A Jeepified fraternity, if you will. In that analogy, I’m a pledge. Please, don’t haze me.

This is my first year partaking in a Jeep show. I bought my 2011 JK (above) in June of last year from the Chrysler Jeep Dodge Suburban dealership near my apartment in Troy, Mich. As I’ve said in the past, it’s my dream machine. I’ve wanted a customized “Jeep” since I could say the word aloud. The last 11 months have been a “dream come true.”

New additions to my Jeep this weekend include: Rear fog lights, a fifth tire/wheel and ACE Engineering fenders.

I’m looking forward to Saturday — inside Daytona International Speedway — when thousands of Jeeps and vendors get together to sell merchandise and market their brands inside one of the most famous arenas in all of professional sports.

Do you own a Jeep?