I was watching Treme this morning, trying to get caught up. I loved the Wire, and so I was hoping I would enjoy Treme as well, given they are written (or produced, or something) by the same people.

John Goodman plays the part of an English professor who feels that its the government’s fault that New Orleans was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. (If I ever wanted motivation to focus on losing weight, Goodman’s fat ass definitely is a great one…) During a rant, Goodman’s character (I have no idea what his name is) rails against Tulane’s decision to shut down all the engineering programs, while keeping ethnic studies and other similar programs.

“God forbid we teach people how to actually build things,” he railed, “instead let’s revel in the glory of me.”

Later, as I was grabbing a burrito at Illegal Pete’s, and the guy behind the cash register said, “Nice tattoo! Did you come up with the saying yourself?”

I looked down at my right wrist to where one of my older tattoo’s sat. A old legal scale, it was surrounded by the words “My life is my message.”

“No, its a paraphrase of a Ghandi quote.” I muttered, trying to be polite, but also trying to hide my disdain for questions about my tattoos–especially from someone else who was equally tattooed themselves.

As I walked back to my office, I began to think about those two concepts: The Glory of Me (identity) and My Life is My Message (action). What are we defined by? What we do? Or what we say? By who we are? Or by who we have the capability to be?

As a kid, when I came home with a report card of 5 A’s and 1 A-, my parents often spent time talking about the A-. “We expect you to be excellent, Micah,” they would remind me, “lets figure out why you fell short.” To this day, I spend more time thinking about the areas I can improve than the areas that I am already doing well.

I dont think its a bad thing, honestly, but it can be hard on the people that work with you (and, frankly, on the people you date). I expect myself to be excellent. I focus on what I know I can become. I have already been what I am today, why should I spend time thinking about it? Similarly, I focus on what the people around me can be. I only surround myself with people that I believe in. That I believe will far surpass their accomplishments of today. I know, probably more than they know, how amazing they can become.

When I opened to the door to the office, I thought to myself that this would make a good blog post. Which got me thinking about blogging. So many bloggers write from the heart. They believe completely that the information, story or advice they are sharing are good and helpful. We write egocentrically and focused on questions that matter to us, with the assumption that others believe as we do in the importance of the subject matter.

We tell, advise, admonisher, recount pieces of information with the vim and vigor of a self-aware importance.

I am not lambasting blogging or bloggers, but has the “social-fication” of the web and media created a world that operates for the Glory of Me? Are we broadcasting personal beliefs and accomplishments and forgetting to “live our words,” rather than just speak (or write) them?

If we all spent time worrying more about the message our lives were telling, and lived in a way that when we died, people were sad to see us go, simply because the world was a better place because we lived, wouldnt life be better for everyone?

For large segments of my life, I did horrible things to myself and the people around me. Even today, I do things that I am not proud of, but my life, in total, is a good one.

I cant control how other people view me or my actions, and I am okay with that. But, I can control how I live my life. And I can live my life in a way that makes me proud.

I got the tattoo because I wanted to remind myself to live a life full of balance, and that it is more important what I do versus what I say.  Its why I havent been blogging a ton lately. Instead, I have been focusing on doing the things I have advised entrepreneurs and startups to do for so long. And I am proud of that, and the people who are part of this adventure.

What about you? Whats the message your life is telling?