Today is a National Holiday, and it’s time you knew more about it (if you didn’t already)
by Shimbo
37 years.
I’m trying to sit here and convince myself that’s still young, and I suppose it is, I mean someone 20 years old would look at me and laugh, probably as much as I laugh at someone 27 who thinks the end is near.
Maybe the end is always near, and it’s important that we remember that with each year that passes. Not to use it as an excuse to not take risks or to live life to the fullest. Those are two cliches that are often spouted as it pertains to age, and something I’ve learned along the way is the idea that you know, most of us simply don’t take enough risks, nor do we live life to “the fullest”, because when you think about it, what is that? For some of us, getting up in the morning is a mountain enough to climb. And as we’ve seen recently, with the passing of those near and dear to us (even if we don’t know them personally), sometimes tomorrow is a bridge too far.
I have so much to be thankful for on this 37th birthday. First of all, I have my health, even if it’s not awesome, and I’m not in cherry condition anymore (and who am I kidding, this wagon has been rusty for awhile), but I’m here, and every day I get to say that, I figure, even on the worst days, that’s better than the alternative.
Next, I have NeverDaunted.Net. My piece of real estate on the Web isn’t a substantial one, this place is still a shanty town at best, but if you’re reading this, you’re my constant housewarming gift. That you come and read me rant, rave and proselytize, that means all the world to me. Each day I log on and see people reading articles from all over the globe, that is a gift that continues to unwrap itself each and every day. To that point, the even bigger gift has been having a tiny staff of contributors who’ve given their time and effort for free just to help make the site far better than I could’ve ever done alone.
Eternal thanks to Caitlin Elam, Ed Button, Jeremy Parker and Morgan Hunt.
That they bought into the vision, and help out when they can, well, it makes the site what it is, and a huge reason why most of you come back every day.
I’m also thankful for beer, useless and useful media, sarcasm, huge breasts and the sense of wonder that drives us in various directions, but always takes us somewhere. Because somewhere is where we all need to go.
Folks, life is a journey, and most of us spend too much time parked by the side of the road. When I think about it, that’s not always a bad thing because knowing your surroundings, checking things out for awhile is OK too. But all journeys have a destination, and the more time you spend on the side of the road waiting for signals to get back into your car, the more time you end up wasting, and whether or not we like to think about it, we’re all on the clock.
I honestly have no idea if 37 is going to be better for me than 36 was, but I’m not sure that matters. There isn’t a yearly evaluation, nor should there be. I might be on the clock, but it’s my clock. Having said that, I want to get better. I want to be the best Shimbo I can be, whatever that ends up being. And I want that to extend that through everything I do, including this here site. Just as I want to fix things about me, I also want to improve this site, because I want you to keep coming back, every day and in every way, because I am your humble host, Hashim R. Hathaway, and I’ll be here for you as long as you keep coming back to see me…to see us.
August 24th isn’t just my day…it’s our day, just as every day is. Remember that, and we’ll get exactly where we’re meant to go. Together.
Hashim R. Hathaway (Uncle Shimbo) is the host of the Never Daunted Radio Network, and proud father to NeverDaunted.Net. You can reach him on Twitter @NeverDauntedNet