{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Am I Vain?","description":"I don't think of myself as a violent man, but when I hear:   "You look great..... for 48."    I get a little nutty. That qualifier sort of negates the compliment, no?    Am I vain? Ok, so I am vain.   I agree, it is not an attractive quality. And, I am sure that I have some measure of all the 7 deadly sins in my character.    My oldest daughter is 23 and launching the next phase of her life. I sat with her this week. She is marvelous.   People occasionally compliment me as a parent regarding the quality of my kids\u2019 character.   I assure you, the astounding people they are becoming is born entirely of their own hard work and discipline and openness to the good in the world.   I am very lucky.   I am heading into another birthday. Reflecting on what remains the same about me, and what has changed, it is hard not to feel like I should be better a better version of myself.   What failings I have are not due to a lack of effort. I need to external prodding to remind me to improve the quality of my character everyday.   I am not sure if the next stage of my life will be to take all I have learned in the past half-century and accelerate the pace of my development as a person.   Or will I relax into the mixed bag of good and bad traits that comprise my character.   I am habituated to the struggle of overcoming my shortcomings.   I have no idea where I will land.   But \u2013 should you be interested \u2013 I will keep you posted.   ","author_name":"A Well Run Life","author_url":"http:\/\/awellrunlife.libsyn.com\/podcast","html":"