By: JLM

Why do we do anything?  Who really knows?

This I know —-

When I am alone in my own head with my hopes, dreams, fears and insecurities wrestling —- three falls to each and then the winner and if I don’t like the winner, then a rematch —- I cannot remember anything more joyous than floating in the ocean where the water is way over my head or body surfing. 

The feel of the salt and sun on my skin is the same whether I am broke or flush.

I know, I have been both.

Do you think Bill Gates feels better than me?  I don’t think so.  It is not possible.  Is there more joy available?

In a week, I will watch my beautiful Perfect Daughter graduate from college.  She is smarter than me.  More sensitive than me.  More worldly than me.  More clever by twice.  I was only her enabler.

I am waiting to see what she accomplishes because it is going to be way more than I ever imagined and I have a wild, untamed imagination.

When I think about the accumulated wisdom of the AVC.com salon and its unquenched energy, I smile.  It is rueful smile as I see the hard edge of genius, the light of brilliance and the warmth of accomplishment.

But I also see the impatience of both youthful exuberance and the insanity of entrepreneurship.

Money and stuff is stupid.  I hate stupid.  I hate stupid more than anything else I have ever encountered on that side of the ledger.  It is a barter which does not involve your soul.

The currency with which you are really paid is your measure against yourself.  I jumped out of airplanes because I wondered if I could do it.  I could.

I started businesses to see if I could do it.  I could.

Don’t let life buy you with lucre.  Worse yet, don’t let it rent you.

Trade for more dear stuff —- the satisfaction of having plotted and followed your own course, the thrill of having walked the high wire of life with no safety net, the mutual respect of good people, the love of a good mate and a full draught —- not a shot glass —- of all that life offers.

Go bite the ass off a bear every day of your life and then tell me you can keep score only with money.

If the gods favor you —- as they will, my friends, I promise —- and you get to the Pay Window, do good works with your money.  Money is only useful for good works.  How many freakin’ cheeseburgers can you really eat?

Don’t be afraid to be kind to yourself, you will deserve it.

In the end, you will be richer for it.  I know.