A single day makes you older, but the concept of rolling over a year, like 2013 becoming 2014, is a big deal. I’ve never given it much thought in regards to myself. My first real bday party was a surprise party my wife through a few years ago. Last year we had a 70’s party that was sort of a Bday party for me as well. These represent the sum of my nearly 4 decades of bday glee, so it is hard to relate to those who celebrate bdays on a yearly basis. I’ve given that privilege to my kids to the best of my ability, but kids are expensive entities that always want the absolutely most expensive experience imaginable.
What I’m saying is: Birthdays are an important cultural and personal touchstone that should be honored. I’m learning day by day to honor myself with the help of the people who surround me. I’m learning that the more we take care of ourselves, the better we are to the world around us.
Some Thoughts:
- The problem with any institution–be it government, education, corporation, family, etc.–is the egos of the individuals involved. People want what they want and often believe they know more than they actually do. This creates a difficult situation when new ideas emerge. New ideas are threats when they don’t come from you. They are worse than threats when they could be perceived as weakening your position.
- I used to think that everyone had the best interests of their constituents at heart. I know better now. Some people are just hustlers with nice smiles and few discernible skills. Those are the people to be most afraid of.