So, an uninvited bout of Covid has me quarantining at home.

Its odd. Test after test after test comes up negative for 3 years, and you almost get cocky.

Of course this is nothing. It’s always nothing. I will test, just to make sure. But It’s always just a cold.

And when I got the positive test result, I said, out loud, “Son of a biscuit!” which is not even an expression I use.

Call it a Covid special.

So for the last three days, I’ve been navigating symptoms and trying to rest.

But it has me thinking about better days.

Specifically, today, it has me thinking about boats.

Last month, Lori and I took a brief retreat in Fort Lauderdale.

And while I was there, I did a thing I never do.

I took a boat tour of the city.

Tour guides impress me. I did it at Amherst. I have done it at CCC. And the core competencies involved walking backwards, having a thorough knowledge of the institution, being able to answer some unusual questions, and having enough experience of a place that you can lovingly take ownership of it. You have a few of your own anecdotes. You share some of your favorite trivia. And you connect with the people.

And this lady in Fort Lauderdale was amazing. Like almost uncomfortably knowledgeable. Because the ride brought us alongside dozens upon dozens of wealthy people’s houses and yachts. And she knew each home’s owner, their success story, their net worth, closing costs, and so much more.

And two things began to impress me.

First, there are so many ways to make a fortune. Some of these people owned companies I had heard of. Others didn’t. And still others owned companies that would never have occurred to me as a means to gaining great wealth. This guy is the ketchup king of the Southeast. This lady is the world’s foremost manufacturer of paper clips. And they both have ridiculous yachts parked out front.

Second, depending on your mindset, expertise in other people’s success can be inspiring, heartwarming, or degrading. It can motivate you to pursue your own. It can give you a sense of pride in a place you belong. Or it can torment you daily with something you believe you will never have.

And that speaks to a lot of how some of us navigate culture.

We study celebrities: their life stories, their social media accounts, and their carefully constructed reality shows, that help them gain more wealth, and more fame.

It’s product masquerading as relationship.

We look at lists of the richest people in the world. Forbes now updates it in real time. God forbid my sense of Elon Musk’s fortune was based on yesterday.

We are impressed with billionaire politicians, sort of. If they’re in our tribe, their wealth gives them credibility. If they are not, it proves their criminality.

But I return to the yacht tour.

Because the pure volume of people who have prospered through their unique contribution to society, makes me think about the unique contributions some of us can and should be making.

Some of us have ideas we have never pursued because they required too much effort or seemed like too much of a longshot.

They may be a source of material wealth.

They may be a gift to the culture.

They may enrich the lives of people and communities who desperately need them.

They may bring us the satisfaction of achievement.

Meanwhile, there’s a ketchup tycoon living their best life now.

Being sick makes me dream about the things I will do when I am well.

Being stuck inside makes me think about all the things I want to do outside.

And my prayer for you today is that you would do the same.

So what is your niche?

What is your lane?

What is your dream?

And what are you waiting for?

Stay safe out there.

And keep dreaming.