Thomas Schmidt:
CLASS OF 1969
Howard High SchoolClass of 1969
Ellicott city, MD
University of Maryland - NursingClass of 1978
Baltimore, MD
Thomas's Story
Life
Fate is what eternity places in your path; destiny is what you choose to do with that opportunity. Originally aiming for a career as an art teacher; I found that creativity is not the same as productivity. Somehow I ended up with a career as an RN graduating from Univ. of Md. in 1978. The predominant theme of my life has been understanding 'why'...
which may have accounted for a 25 year exploration in psychiatry and mental health. Variously working in Taylor Manor, Hopkins, State of Md, and lastly 15 years at Sinai Hosp in Baltimore. From that I have been a public speaker, a consultant, operating my own practice of teaching self defense to health care workers while utilizing approved seclusion and restraint techniques. Over the last 9 years; I have changed my focus to emergency room medicine and am back home at Ho Co Genl.(I was an original employee when the Col.Med.Plan opened there 38 some yrs ago.)
Otherwise I still play drums in my blues fusion/sultry rock band Painful Awareness. We are currently gearing up for some spots at the 8x10 and various places in Baltimore.Bands as creative ventures seem to constantly evolve and change members and formats. I get my real creativity out through this group which focuses on doing mostly original music and words. It is a funk soul groove trip hop blues thing, where I write 80 % of the lyrics while doing mashups with the rest. If you can believe this; I actually seem to have become the lead singer!(Well melodic talker at least) Lyrics have sprung from my having been an active writer of poetic erotica( for lack of a better term) and such for over the last 10 years. By belonging to writers groups online, I have been read by up to 1000 people a month world wide. I still do some periodic open mic and public readings as well; the largest audience being at ARTScape in Baltimore before 250 people in their poetry slam.
Art wise; I am picking up my brushes and rekindling my long lost painting attempts in order to illustrate my words for publication...Expand for more
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Privately; I have been married to Janice Finlayson (she is an L & D nurse at St Agnes..grad from Mt Hebron class of 72) since 1977. We have 2 grown kids. Live in Gray Rock Farms off Frederick Rd. Damn if she isn't still as cute and sexy as when we first met.
I ride a 2003 Electraglide and tour with my son. I fish,sail, kaayak, played indoor lacrosse goalie until recently, bike, still spend a lot of time in Patapsco State Park. Have been a community activist and Comm assoc president, coached kids soccer and lacrosse for years, take my mom's trash out, and a whole bunch of other stuff too...
Life is to be lived with as few regrets as possible. I embrace my own unique views of Zen in all spheres of my life. It is the embracing of possibilities while avoiding the trap of expectations that has filled my life with fulfillment. Disappointments and frustrations pale when seen in greater perspective. As a corollary; I learned long ago as a therapist, I can make no one change...I can only invite you to see what your potential might become.
When living so close to other's lives and deaths on a daily basis; the persuasiveness of clear mind and focused words have a subtly potent insistence about them. I have nothing to lose in being direct, you have everything to gain by considering possibilities.
My point being; don't allow indecision to create a paralysis from which there is no escape. It is true that each of us are the most insignificant of beings
while simultaneously being the most potent of infuences imaginable. Just breathe and do good things. As I say; Reality is what you create; not what others leave behind.
In closing...I hope this wasn't too heavy. Have a good giggle if nothing else and shake your head knowing I was always outside the box.
I hope the ensuing years have not been overly capricious to you all.
Same as I always was but moreso...
Thomas/Tom/Tommy depending on where we were in time.
PS...reach me here, don't be shy.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thomas Schmidt
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