Thanks for reading

Photo by Aaron Burden

When I started writing here, I was jobless against the backdrop of a pandemic, and despite all the uncertainty surrounding those circumstances, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to take the opportunity to write more.

I sent my first essay almost four years ago to just two people, and today, this one is going out to about 300 across 30 states and 13 countries. Though it’s fun to hear from readers I don’t know personally, the goal has never been the reach or rewards of those who make their newsletter a full-time business.

It’s always been a mechanism to write, to think, and to give others a context in which they can examine some part of their lives. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tickled when you open, like, and comment on my writing, but the real compliment is knowing that you felt something while reading my words.

I’m thankful for a lot of things—my wife, whose indomitable spirit is a daily example of how to get the most out of life, our dog, Birdie, who reminds me that one seat is better with two butts in it, our extended family, for making sure there’s always a place to go and a meal to be had on holidays like today—and I’m thankful there’s a space like this to share and a community to share with.

I’d probably still be here even if you weren’t, but it’s much more fun knowing you’re on the other end.