“Be ever at peace with your neighbors, ever at war with your vices, and let every year find you a better man, that’s ol’ Benjy Franklin!” he said, and cheersed his beer, splashing it high. In a moment, my thoughts were beyond the party, floating above us. “Ever at war with your vices.” It didn’t say “let each year have you conquering a new vice.” No. It wasn’t about winning. It was about fighting. Continuing the project of improvement. The intention and effort was what built character. Not success. That changed a lot of things for me.
