The hunger struck at 10:45 p.m. last night. I confessed my need to best friend and roommate Mike, a.k.a McKllelan, who revealed a similar yearning for sustenance. Being bachelors, a quick search of the fridge revealed a barren place devoid of food, a situation we encounter all too often as unmarried men. Feeling let down by the vacant nature of our food storage device, we decided to quest for satiety in the outside world. By 11:00 we were on the road, Burger King cupons in hand.
As we drove through the snow--yes, it was snowing yet again--an ingenious revelation hit my brain like lightning; the yearning that drove us outside that cold winters eve could never be satisfied by the flame broiled offerings of the King. No, such a feat of pallet fulfillment could only be tackled by the zesty spice of Del Taco! We drove past Burger King without second thought. Del Taco called to us, a modern day Siren with a voice as alluring as the bird-women of yore.
As we neared Del Taco, the building now in sight, I told Mike that I wanted to eat inside. He laughed at the odd request. Everyone knows that you don't eat inside Del Taco after seven at night. (For the unlearned, eating inside a Del Taco after the sun has set is like putting Mayo on a hot dog; it can be done, but its weird.) Despite the strangeness of the appeal, Michael, always a gentleman, acquiesced and parked the car. We entered, ordered, paid, sat down at a booth with burritos and tacos in hand, and enjoyed.
Half way through the meal, Mike pointed to the paper lining our respective trays and asked, "Have you read this?" I shook my head to communicate the negative. "Read it," he ordered, "I guarantee you will feel inspired." I laughed (when was the last time you were inspired by fast food literature?), and obediently read.
Mike, demonstrating his usual inhuman wisdom, was right. The message, although nothing more than a corporate piece of advertising, was downright fantastic. It became the inspiration for this post and my motto for the evening. It may even be my motto for the year...and beyond.
I have included an excerpt from the piece, with some additions of my own following.
ODE TO THE BOLD
Here's to the pioneers. To the inventor of the belly flop. To the one who added "mosh" to pit. To the first to look a bull in the eyes and say, "Yeah, I'm gonna ride that. And with one hand." Here's to the uninhibited. The 20 below zero, body-painted sport fanatic. The lovers that honor one another with tattoos. The streakers, and the mooners. Here's to the BRAVE. To those who can't karaoke, but karaoke anyway. To those who've shaved off their own eyebrow, just cause. Or objected at a wedding that needed an objection (thank you, thank you, thank you). Here's to the rule breakers. The fighters trying to bring the handlebar mustache back into fashion. Any couple who's ever been banned from a mall photo booth. And all the 4's out there who married a 10.
Hallelujah!!!! My favorite is the "4's" that married a "10." Awesome.
After reading Del Taco's message I was inspired. Mike was a little shocked at just how thrilled I was. The thing is, I couldn't help it. That short paragraph embodied a spirit, all too uncommon in the life of the average person, I have grown to admire deeply. I have a few things to add.
Here's to those that measure success by kindness and love, not money. At the same time, here is to the first person to drop out of school and become a millionaire. Here's to those more concerned about the people making the product than the product itself. Here's to shenanigans, to the first person to blow up a toilet with a cherry bomb. To the first man to wrestle an alligator. Here's to individuals that refuse labels, that are not a "conservative, moderate, or Liberal." To those willing to love and marry outside their own race, culture, religion, and nationality. Here's to men and women that understand real love is giving someone else the power to shatter your heart completely...and doing it anyway. To those more concerned about decency than church, the mosque, the synagogue, or sanctuary. To those that question all forms of authority. Here's to breaking the speed limit. To eating too much ice cream. Here's to recognizing the ideology of your youth and forming a better one, to the chagrin of family, friends, church, and state. To recognizing that people are more important than rules, love more important than being right. Here is to loving your country and still being able to critique it. To the people that ignored their naysayers...and proved them wrong over and over again. Here's to the friends, family, and neighbors I have that refuse to let any person, organization, or government, do their thinking for them.
Here is to love without condition. Here's to less rules, and more self governance, less dependence and more self reliance. To loving more and condemning less.
I hope that anyone reading this will think less about things we are "supposed" to do and start doing things we need to do.
On a personal note, I have spent the last two years learning to break the rules. During that time I have been through some of the most painful and difficult experiences of my life. The last two years have also been the best and most rewarding so far. I did a lot of stupid things, which I have learned from, and a lot of "bad" things that ended up dramatically improving my life.
I'm not here to say all rules are bad or need to be broken. Many rules protect us and grant a level of freedom and safety impossible without them. I'm not saying that being part of a body of people, be it friends, nation, church, or club, is bad. These groups are often some of the most wonderful parts of our life. I have one simple message; think for yourself. If there are rules imposed in your life by others that you don't understand or do not make sense, than those rules are probably bologna. Break them. There is always the chance that doing so will be a mistake, but breaking them could well be the best thing you have ever done. You will never know unless you try. It was for me. I've broken a lot of rules lately, and the good that came out of it has exceeded the bad by ten times. 2008 was one of the best years of my life. Sometimes breaking the rules is the best decision you can make.
You can't avoid making mistakes, so I implore you to remember a great quote:
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm!"
Good luck!
Long live Del Taco!
Kory
