Birthdays are funny.
My birthday is today. And as most of you probably experience on your birthday, you receive birthday wishes from many people. With social media, you receive them from many, many people. I received a message from a colleague from whom I receive a message every year. He is a very well-read, and brilliant person. And this year's birthday wish was quite inspiring, so I want to share it with all of you too. Here it is:
While I really looked forward to birthdays in my youth, they have lost their luster as the end of my journey grows closer. I hope the day continues to hold magic for you!
Confucius said that "real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance". The more I learn the more I realize what I don't know. What I think I know is that the secret to a good life is simply kindness. Abraham Heschel said "When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people". We are what we do.
- When someone does a good job, tell them.
- When someone makes a mistake, forgive them.
- When someone tells you their problems, listen.
Being kind costs very little. You may hardly remember you did it, but the other person may never forget that you did. May the world surround you with kindness in the coming year!
A line from the musical Hamilton really resonated with me this year; "Talk less, smile more." I hope the year provides you a perpetual capacity for enjoying the inevitable!
Thank you Tony!