Kicking Ass

A couple weeks ago, I finally got around to ordering my Kentucky Kicks Ass T-shirt. Though I haven't lived there in decades, I am a native Kentuckian, and still feel a sense of pride in my "Kick Ass Commonwealth" roots.

Along with my T-Shirt, I got two small, round "Kick Ass Kentuckian" stickers. I put one on my guitar case, natch, and am still contemplating an equally suitable location for the second.

One of my stickers

One of my stickers

It may sound strange, but all this Kentucky business has inspired me. It's bubbled up a belief I've always held; it's important to take action, to give full effort, to make a difference. To kick ass.

It's the second shoe of carpe diem. Seize the day...and kick ass!

I think this message will resonate particularly well with Younger One (now age 15). He's heard this kind of advice from me all his life. Respect this Day of Life. It will never happen again. Do not waste it. Use it to make a contribution to the world.

I imagine on some level that message is getting through to him, but he's 15 for chrissake. He has no concept of the finite aspect of time, nor the fragility of life. To him, I'm spewing platitudes.

Well, no more. From now on, we are going to embrace the Kick Ass school of thought.

Every morning, I am going to ask my son, "How are you going to kick ass today?" Then I'm going to ask myself the same question.

At the end of the day, I'll ask, "How did you kick ass today?"

We'd each better have a good answer.