I’ve come to understand recently that I have no idea what I am like. I’m not sure who the real me is, but I know he was displaced early by a different version, one who gathered the tools he needed to survive and walled himself off from the world. I am peering out cautiously.

I hope the new me is a nice guy. I know who I want him to be. I want him to be calm, peaceful, loving, humorous, generous and creative. But then, we all want that. I am done using fear and other devices to cloak myself from life, and as an excuse to hide from it. I had many issues, but I have worked hard to deal with them, and face up to them. Now I want to move forward and do my work, tell my stories, take my photos, share life with my girl.

I am understanding that like the rest of us, I did the best I could. That will have to do.