I’d rather evolve than be right.

I’d rather be lost at sea with infinite new ideas and possibilities than floating in a pool of my own limited knowledge and beliefs due to my fear expanding to greater frontiers.

I’d rather take the path less traveled in which I intentionally choose and risk the scrapes and scratches of what the thicket and bramble may bring, than the ease a well traveled road leading only to where others have chosen.

I’d rather move forward into the unknown along with my fear than be catered to by others. In turn, stroking my ego which is of no consequential use to me.

I’d rather choose a life of Love, kindness and forgiveness than toil in resentment, anger and sarcasm.

I’d rather connect and empathize with others than validate my position and perspective in life.

I’d rather live than not.

There are 10,001 reasons we can come up with not to start that project we’ve been stewing on in our head: the book, the screenplay, the painting class, the sketch, the new medium we think we can find to express ourselves, getting to the comedy club and getting ourself on that stage, etc.

Maybe what’s more important is finding the one reason to get started.

Having patience is almost impossible when we’re children.

The older we get we learn to temper our excitement as we put more life experiences under our belts.

As adults we understand there’s a rhythm to all things.

And so we learn to temper our expectations and have more and more patience for all things.

Let’s not confuse patience with being jaded or callused.

The one who is patient knows all will be taken care of in a the perfect time.

Being cynical presumes one deserves something for nothing.

Looking back at my childhood, I’ve come to realize I had it good. Really good. I’m so grateful for my experiences and treasure the memories as I reflect upon them as a middle-aged man.

My threshold for “happiness” was pretty high back in the day – maybe a testament having almost everything at your disposal. Some may even call it “spoiled.”

Since becoming an adult, I’ve come to learn otherwise. My threshold for happiness is pretty low. Meaning it doesn’t take much for me nowadays to relish a moment in time – while wearing a silly looking smirk on my face which is tough to wipe away.

As you probably already know where I’m going with this – again, it came down to making a choice to be happy. My days look different, things have changed and some things have remained almost the same.

The difference is my perspective of my life. We could all find a way to complain about something in our lives, but not all of us can chose to be happy. That’s a real commitment. A choice. And something we might want to keep working at.

I’m sure I will.

We can search high and low for the definition of success. We hear it said in our schools from the teachers that stand in the front of our children’s class and from the staff that works behind the scenes, in our workplace and in our tightknit groups of friends and Loved ones where we share our intimate secrets and desires.

“To be successful . . .” “What you have to do to become successful is . . . ” “Wow! That person is so successful . . . ” The easy way to become successful . . . “. What does that mean? You have money? You have a lavish lifestyle? Or I should say, You appear to have a lavish lifestyle? You have a big house? You have your health? You have a wonderful family? You’re surrounded by quality people who Love and respect you? You travel? You’re able to extract significantly more money from business commerce than the average person? You’re cancer free?

I’m not sure to be honest with you. Everyone’s definition is a little different, but let’s not be disillusioned by what we see from the outside. In today’s world where it seems everyone is eager to showcase the highlights of their lives to millions of strangers – to what seems to me – an overzealous desire to overshare – including the fabrication of their day-to-day events, Is there anything tangible or of substance there? That road doesn’t appeal to me.

But, what the hell do I know.