40 years old today

Today is my 40th birthday. I am doing some very 40 year old man things today. First, writing on a blog as opposed to twitter feels very gen X aspirational. I’m finishing the trim on painting the porch. I am going to buy some plants. On my 30th birthday I was driving in to Seattle with Dessa on her first headlining tour. I had no kids, no wife, no house. Life feels really really different and there’s no doubt that this period: global pandemic, glaring clarity over the disregard for black life by our government that has been with us forever, a louder and more public reckoning with how men abuse women. . .can’t really make this one a sentence. Our world is facing immense change right now. There’s no doubt that I am in a dark period right now, I have optimism about a lot, but the missteps of our country and of more specific communities I’m a part of are in broad relief right now. It is easy to see that we are facing a period of immense change. I believe we will come out better for it. But at this moment, I recognize that belief doesn’t do enough. I can take steps to be a part of this world getting better. I am taking those steps. 40 years old, a lot to learn, a lot to share. A lot of work ahead, and some porch to paint.