Normally, I would rather fly under the radar for this event, but I have found it useful to review my past year on this planet and think about what I want to accomplish during the next. That's why I don't participate in New Year's resolutions--I have two more weeks until I "need" to commit to something.

For those who don't know, since I know you will click my profile anyway, I am now officially 41 years of age. I am probably older than most Xombies, although not in the oldest bracket certainly.

What has happened with me during my 40th year? I have learned political tolerance to the point where I no longer feel the need to debate other people over differing views for no other reason than I believe their views are "wrong". No, the rancor and acrimony over the 2008 presidential election taught me that there are better things to do with my time than engage in political virtual warfare.

Looking back, also, I wrote some of my best articles to date. My article on How Much Money Do You Want to Make Today? was voted by my peers as one of the best Xombytes of 2008. I was also selected for the first class of the Xomba Hall of Fame.

These are well and good, but I am not going to rest on my laurels. During my 41st year on the planet, I am going to exceed past expectations. I already have a plan in place to be a better father and husband for my immediate family and to be a more supportive member of my extended Xomba family. In the case of Xomba, I have a whole series of articles planned on what we can do to make our lives and those in them more meaningful in the Big Picture.

If I were to pick a theme for my goals for my 41st year, it is SERVICE. Service to my Greatest Good and Service to others, including the success of everyone here on Xomba from Nick all the way to the newest Xombie. Point being, I am being the change I want to see in the world.

Thank you for reading my birthday greeting! Won't you join me in toasting our future success?

EDIT: For those of you who do read my profile page, I am going to be rewriting it this week to reflect who I am today. I realize that much of it is dated now.