What is this even about?

I’m told my writing resonates with people because of vulnerability and openness. Like GLASNOST for the soul. I’d say these people are probably right, but it always still feels weird.

It’s about music.  Not primarily, but it is.  I played in bands in the 90’s. I have opinions. They can be strong.

It’s about nostalgia, the 80’s, 90’s, not so much the 2000’s. I also define the 90’s as the years 1989-1995, the back half a garbage pile.

It’s about my constant battle with depression, with perfection, with wanting greatness, and constantly falling short, because of course.

It's vignettes (I hate this word) from my life written when I awake at 4 a.m. and follow the words down.  Most times I catch the typos. Most times.

It's about healthy living and pushing my limits and inspiring you to consider the same. It can be exhausting. I use common sense to back up these claims. It will anger you. This tells me I am right. Mostly.

It’s about motivation through seeing yourself in me. In my failures and my successes. 

It's about Mississippi and Louisiana. The south. Somehow also Michigan and Canada.  This is not being willfully obtuse.

I’d say it’s about middle life, but kids I coach like it too, so maybe I’m not as lame as I think.

This is why it’s worth reading.  I promise you’ll get something.  I can’t promise what.

I’ve been writing since the 80’s in different formats.  For school, as a musician, on forums, then my first blog.  From 2008 or so on I’d have spurts of creativity and blog three to two hundred and seventy days in a row, then eleven for the whole next year.  Around 2017 it began to increase.  Maybe with the death of my father.  In 2018-19 I posted about suicidal thoughts and depression and somehow this began what this has become.  Sometimes daily, always multiple times a month, posting about whatever I awake to. 

Once in 2008 or so I became irritated with receiving emails with “best” and “kind regards” as the “complimentary close” in business emails.  Nobody talks like this. Nobody means this.  I began signing all my emails with “hugs + high fives” as this seemed like a much better thing to leave people with.

Since then, it’s become a mantra, a way of life, a little slice of positivity to close out every interaction. 

I’m proud of this, and I hope you enjoy it.

#hugsandhi5s