50 Years a Kappa

Celebrating with family, friends and brothers – 50 years of Kappa Alpha Psi

What I Wish I Had Said

This past weekend I celebrated fifty years in the bond of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.  That is quite a milestone and I was fortunate to celebrate with family, friends and fraternity brothers.

When it was my turn, I spoke spontaneously feeding off the energy in the crowd.  Of course, I gave thought to what I might say.  But I didn’t write anything down.  Consequently, there was much that I didn’t say.  The truth is even if I wrote things down there would have been much that I didn’t say and that I wanted to share.

Here’s some of what I didn’t say.

I always say that a brother’s behavior is a reflection of his pledge program.  I believe that is true. But I would have liked to add that I spent five months as a pledge and fifty years as a Kappa.  It is what you do after you pledge that will ultimately carry the most weight.

I would have said be careful what you say to those you love.  Our friends and family are the ones we spend time with so of course they will also be the ones that sometimes irritate us.  No one is one hundred percent perfect.  If you get eighty percent that you agree with and twenty percent you can live with, you are doing pretty good.  Treat those you love with care.

I would have also said that I try my best to be my best.  I may not be the favorite son, cousin, etc. but I want to be the best.  The best shows love and respect and practices kindness.

I really enjoyed celebrating with my family, friends and fraternity brothers.  I am grateful for all of them.  I’m glad they listened to me speak.

These are just some of the things I wish I would have said.  Of course, there is so much more.  The main thing to say is thank you and I love you.

Michael