Never forget to enjoy ideas

On a personal note, this weekend was a birthday celebration for both me and my daughter. I am 40, she is 2. A recent student is enjoying a commencent for his bachelores degree with his family in AZ. In one weekend he is recognize for both this and a new ECSA certification. He also has a great personal story.

I am on cloud nine for a number of reasons.

My daughter's presents involved a lot of assembled parts. She (who understands remote controls, cell phones, and will not fall for fake laptop toys verses dads office computer) tried to help assemble her own presents. Those moments were so much damn fun I can't begin to get into it.

I was reminded of a quote from Mr. Rogers many years ago; "Play is serious business for children. It is how they learn" (If you don't know who this is, please wiki 'Mr Roger's Neigborhood)

Is this much different for adults? We often forget to play with ideas. We forget to have fun doing what we do. Even the most dry and boring compliance thing can be approached with the curiosity and wisdom of a child that has not yet learned the "I don't care about this crap, just give me the answers to the test" attitude. Our discipline depends upon this.

Nuance in information assurance is a Mandelbrot formula. There is always something else buried in the details. The only way to enjoy tackling a challenge is inderstand how to play with it.

My friend Jason that just graduated, has this spirit too. I was glad to have met him as he is the very definition of this principle. My daughter is a person I cannot possibly be more proud of as she teaches me what it is like to grow up in this age, and reminds me about what hacking is really about.