I do too, but I would point out that your use of the term “self-congratulatory” to describe her comment is revealing. It’s not bragging if you’ve done it. While I’m not privy to your inner world, Barry, my experience is that when we use such terminology we are speaking far more to what’s inside us. I don’t know that Susan’s comment is self-congratulatory and neither do you. That’s your take, and that’s all it is. Just like it’s someone’s take that when I talk about doing the adventure travel that I do for a living, that’s self-congratulatory. Not the way I feel it or see it. I am writing about what I do. I don’t argue your right to an opinion, and I most certainly agree with the delight we both have in funny people, but I would respectfully hesitate before accusing someone we don’t know of being self-congratulatory when likely neither of us has any clue to her motivations. If you know her well, that’s different. Online, we are only guessing, and we are largely wrong.

Our comments, and this most assuredly includes me, are far more indicative of what’s going on inside us, Barry, rather than any truth about those we comment on. I get accused of bragging all the time by old white men on Match.com when all I am doing is discussing my chosen work with the great love and enthusiasm that I invest in it. That’s my geography and I own it.

Just as you own yours. I suspect you might not appreciate it if someone accused you of being “self-congratulatory” when all you’re intending is to share something you’re excited about. If it’s not your style to share, that’s fine, but if it’s someone else’s style to choose to share, that doesn’t make them wrong.

Susan’s comment to me was hugely motivational. I use stories like this for motivation and share them to make a point about how we can indeed be in shape late in life. For my part, there isn’t a thing self-congratulatory about it particularly since my regular readers know full well I love such stories and share them. She has reason to be proud, and I am fan of those who are brave enough to risk public censure and share their stories. Being called self-congratulatory is censure.