Also, Steve, just realizing I replied back to you directly, but wanted to publicly say I loved your awesome reply! I love heartfelt comments.

HONESTY…is absolutely fundamental and the foundation for personal freedom. The ‘bag of rocks’ we carry when we harbor feelings and live with lies is horrible. Its amazing how being direct, and respectfully, honest with others AND ourselves leads to so many awesome things. I’ve opened up and let go of a bunch of stuff I was carrying around and its made breathing so much easier.

FEELING GOOD IN YOUR OWN BODY – I’m not there yet. Being a photographer I deal with other people’s insecurities all the time. Though I see the beauty in others that extends beyond their appearance and I usually, though temporarily, get them to embrace the rock star within…it doesn’t last. I also negatively judge myself (men do it too actually) and beat myself down for ridiculous reasons. How many Clooney’s and Pitt’s can the world afford? :-) Bottom line..that is a huge goal for both my wife and I and hats off to you for being stoked on your own damn self!

RECONNECTING – Totes!! It rocks. Facebook is so awesome for that reason. Making new friends through Twitter and Facebook is great too…but it is so cool to see and hear from old buddies, girlfriends, etc. Sweet. One other thought is some of those we reconnect with come with baggage….so its pretty cool to forgive past transgressions and just say WTF?!! – great to hear from you.

HOT SHOWERS – I swear it is total therapy. My wife is constantly busting my chops because I love them and take too long. An admission of guilt. I may be the only dude though.

GROWING OLD – Funny…this used to bum and stress me out. I’m 42 now. I feel the same but I move a bit slower. One of my greatest fears relative to aging came true…say good-bye to the Chris Isaak quaff of hair I used to sport – I’m a bald dude now!! Here’s the thing…I LOVE IT! So many parts of getting old that scared me have turned out to be a gift. Its really not a big deal.

Aging and ‘getting old’ doesn’t mean you have to shuffle around in slippers muttering to yourself. I still wear Vans and ride my skateboards. I play my guitar and desperately want to get back to drums. I feel 16 on the inside and I don’t think that means I’m some loser trying to recapture my youth.

We have a mortgage and pay or bills on-time. We give to charity and volunteer. We’re good neighbors and respectful of diversity and other people’s opinions and choices. In my mind…that is what it should mean to be a grown up…not whether or not I can’t stop buying surfer t-shirts and wish I was Lee Clow (http://www.fastcompany.com/100/2009/lee-clow).

Aging is a phenomenon of the body, not the mind or spirit. Be young at heart. Be honest and do the right thing. Tread lightly. Its all good!

Keep up the great blog work and good luck with your business. Speaking of T-Shirts, time I ordered a few WilloToons T’s for my household..they are awesome!

Rock on!

steve