Are you better yet?

I'm thinking about a quote from someone famous that I can't exactly recall about how 'a man who thinks the same thing at 25 and 35 is a foolish man' as I watch talented wedding officiant friends gather for a conference in Washington DC this week.

I'm firstly jealous because there's so much talent and wisdom in that one room. Second, I feel embarrassed because I was at a similar event about 10 years ago and as I think back to that time when I wasn't even half the presenter, educator, business person, nerd, officiant, celebrant, husband, father, or friend I am today.

The insecurity in my little stupid brain tells me that all those people I respect in that room still think of me as that boy from Australia who wasted a day of their life with some musings on celebrancy.

But, I also know that the foolish man is the one who hasn't gotten any better in the last decade.

And that's why we submit our vulnerable elves to education events, and letters like this, so we get better, so we learn and improve.

I know I'm better now. My only regret is knowing how much better I could have been if I was in DC this week.

Are you better yet?