Happy Birthday Bubs

Today Gentry celebrates five years of wonder-filled, action-packed life.

I don't think he's a MyndFood reader. He's far too busy doing boy things like climbing trees; making dog poop and sand soup (no, I've never tried it); riding his "scootow" or his "skatebowd"; playing with his "caws" (he doesn't really play cars; he lines them up in virtual parking lots. I think he might be destined to be either a Valet or a parking structure designer); or playing with (or drawing) guns (if the parking career doesn't work out, he'll likely choose some career requiring ownership of firearms-which scare me to death).

Having spent the last five years living in close proximity, I'm firmly convinced that character is not formed over time. It pre-exists, and is merely uncovered over time.
And so much has been uncovered already within Gentry. He has more character and personality than most educated adults I know.

I pray he never loses it.

I love you Bubs (even though you're not reading this)! Have a wonderfully boyish birthday!

Birthdays

Today I am twenty-eight.

Birthdays are, I think, lifes way of rubbing it in; a subtle reminder of everything not accomplished.

A few times, growing up, I remember receiving a report card that, in the teachers comments section, had a comment like, "Paul has such untapped potential..." These are the reports cards that I was ashamed of. The grade didn't matter; it was that there was some ability, some hidden nugget that I had neglected to uncover.

And so, I sit here, literally 28 years, to the moment, from my birth, and contemplate all of the times that I've allowed that potential to sit untapped. And think about what I've done between September 19, 2006 and today (or rather, what remains undone that shouldn't be).

And I'm embarrassed.

So please, don't send me birthday wishes (although the thoughfulness of so many of you is truly humbling; thank you all so much). Rather, take this as an opportunity to dig down, and try to find those areas of potential in you that have lain dormant far too long. And make your next birthday an opportunity to smile for the potential that you've turned into reality.