I found a mission to chase and followed it as far away as I could think to go.  I got a decent job, found a place to stay, and met some fun people to know.  All the while I thought of how you would like them all. I bought a couch and chairs, set up pictures and frames, stocked shelves with movies, games and books.  And I set them all up just so, thinking of where you would sit and what you would say.  I work out in the gym and shop for clothes, see museums and go out to shows.  I don’t have much of a choice, guessing you are doing the same.

“Anything you can do, I can do better…” Thanks for being my unknowing antagonist!

When I think of you, I am driven to go further, faster and better than I am going.  I want to go beyond what is expected or accepted and do things that are exceptional- not just professionally but personally too. I want to do this because I see what you are doing and it pushes me to follow your lead.  I will not hesitate to say that I am lucky to have met and been friends with some amazing people.  I know there are some people out there who never find even one person who challenges and inspires them. I know that finding an individual like that is rare.  Yet, I can count on both hands the ones I’ve known.

My favorite people in my life are the ones who make me want to keep up with them.  I will never let them go.  You are the ones who keep me on my toes.  You are the ones whose phone calls I want to be ready for so that when you say, “What’s going on?” I can have some worthwhile things to tell you.  You are the ones who make me want to do exciting things so that when you hear about me from a friend in passing, you think I seem really cool.  You are the ones who make me want to have a clean, comfortable apartment and car on the off chance that I get a call from you one day saying, “Hey, I just happen to be in town, come pick me up from the airport!”

You are with me all the time and it’s solely because of how much of a person you are.  I have no doubt that you are doing great things.  You won’t compromise, so I won’t compromise.  You go above and beyond, so I go above and beyond.  You make a difference, so I make a difference.  I can’t tell you what it’s done for me and my life (not that I’m comparing my life to yours; I am just better at mine because of your influence).  Thank you for being all that you are and for raising the bar for me.