I’m 35 today. Odds are that 1/3 to 1/2 of my years on earth are done. I haven’t wasted the time.

Maybe the most valuable thing I’ve learned so far is this: There is absolutely no substitute for hearing, telling, and facing the truth.

The truth about ourselves, what we want and what we fear, is a priceless thing to possess. Discovering, facing, and embracing that truth is a most worthy lifelong pursuit.

The most valuable things in life are face to face moments of relationship. These are moments of looking our fellow humans in the eye, of truth without shame, of curiosity, energy, and being alive together.

Work, inquiry, invention, creativity, building, competition – these are wonderful endeavors to which we apply our remarkable selves and from which much goodness springs.

We human beings are exquisitely attuned to fear. It’s in us every second. In fear of pain we avoid the truth. In fear of exclusion we keep ourselves alone. In fear of rejection we avoid the eyes of another. In fear of failure we stifle our ambitious dreams.

When we get acquainted with our fears, we receive the precious gift of choice. With awareness of our fears and of what we want we can choose how we act, respond, and live, with intentionality, with our values, with courage.

Fear courses through my body and lights up my neurology all the time. As I turn 35 I’m much better acquainted with my fears. (We spend a lot of time together and we understand each other pretty well.) And I have choice. I will not live a small life. I will not waste my time. I will wrestle. I will risk. I will be afraid and I will face the truth. It’s my intention to speak, relate, work, and live with great truthfulness and courageous choice in the face of fear.

I hope to read this in another 35 years, on my 70th birthday, and see how I did. To my treasured companions on this journey I look forward to seeing you there. In addition to warm hugs and the aforementioned checkin, we’ll have cake or somethin’.