+++ title = “12” date = 2018 +++ When my child was born, one of the most common comments I got from people was “he’s perfect.” It caught me off guard the first time because I’ve always believed that no one is perfect. Other new babies seem to get the same compliment. It seems an odd thing to say. Babies are people, and people aren’t perfect. I know that it’s kind of just something that people say about new babies, but then I realized that there is some truth to it.

+++ title = “12” date = 2018 +++ A few years ago, I got a rejection notice from Pandora. I had submitted a new song months prior. But there’s more to the story. I had always thought about submitting music to Pandora so that new listeners could find me. I figured that so many new artists are discovered on Pandora, so why not me? For years, I resisted the idea of submitting music to Pandora.

I heard a lecture recently for PHd students. The instructor started by informing the class in quite a dramatic fashion that they’ve never written a thing in their lives. How can that be? He went on to explain that they have been writing to an audience of one for years – a teacher – whose job is to read their essay to see what they know. But for any other piece of writing, he argued, this won’t be the case.

In the last year and a half, I changed careers, became a father, and bought a house with my wife. Each of these experiences went pretty smoothly. My child is healthy and exceedingly happy. The house is perfect for us right now, and my job is flexible, rewarding, and fun. Sometimes I wake up and think: _I am so lucky to live this life._And then right after that, I also wonder how it’s possible to be so lucky (beyond the “luck” I have from being privileged in many ways, that is).

+++ title = “12” date = 2018 +++ This holiday season, I wish for nuance. If I could give each person a gift, it’d be nuance wrapped in a bow. I wish for nuance in our news headlines. Our diets and workout plans. Our political stances. Our religions. I wish for nuance in yoga, nuance in justice, nuance in movies. Nuance: that little pause, that deepening, that recognition of the difference between grey and taupe.