Another year wiser?

Yeah, yeah - I'm thirty now.

The jokes really weren't too bad. The gifts only included one bottle of Geritol (and Ginko Beloba), but were otherwise very nice. The party was smaller than I'd have liked, but I got to see a lot of people that I really enjoy seeing - and having them all in the same room was fantastic.

Now, if you're reading this blog and weren't there, have no fear. Things come up. People can't make it, I couldn't invite EVERYONE, some people could have made it had we not all left when we did, and I'm not worried either way. I'm not writing this blog to make anyone feel guilty. I appreciate the ones who were there and can't wait to see everyone who wasn't there. That's not why I decided to write.

A dear friend of mine chuckled the other day when I called her back - "You even say 'Take care.' at the end of your message on your voice mail". She was referring to the fact that I say it, write it, close emails with it, chat with it and even leave it at the end of comments all the time. If I have one overused term - "Take care." is definitely it.

The thing is, I mean it. I truly think about it when I say it. I genuinely want people to take care, and I definitely want them to know I feel that way. But maybe it's time for an update.

So, today, after my nap, my dose of prune juice, and labored trip to my walker, my thoughts were kind of recounting everything that's happened in thirty years and I was wondering what I want to say to people now that I'm officially "wiser" (notice I keep ignoring the other part of that term). It wasn't a simple at first. Nothing seemed to do the job in my head that "Take care" did.

Then, it struck me. I need a statement that really lets people know how I feel; something that empowers them more. I need something that no one else is willing to take the time to think of to close their emails with, but it still need a colloquialism that is simple yet meaningful.

I need to tell everyone to "Be better".

It leaves a lot open for interpretation, and you might even look at it as a challenge, but that's what I want for you... and me.

For me, "be better" brings to mind the fact that I can be better at anything. I can be a much better father, or son. Lord knows I can be a better friend. I can be a better writer or driver or listener. I can be a better student or role model. I can even try to be better than someone else if I'm going to be competitive. I can just be better.

All I have to do is focus on being better at any one of those things to actually be better. The real beauty is, that sometimes, to be better I only have to be marginally better today, but marginally better is still better.

So, I'll tell you to take care, and I mean it when I say it, but expect a lot more "Be better"s in the future. I'll guarantee you'll find them in your emails and maybe also coming soon to a voice mail near you.

Thank you all for being part of my life during significant parts of the past thirty years. It always amazes me to think of the profound effect so many people have had on me, and, if you're reading this, odds are you're one of them.

Be better.

-Bill