Hear 'em singing 'Happy Birthday'
Better think about the wish I make
This year gone by ain't no piece of cake

It’s my birthday. Not coincidentally, it’s also my annual existential crisis. It’s an opportunity to reflect on this past year. And all I can say about that is --- wtf was that?????

These 365 days felt like 365 months. I am not the person I was a year ago. Which makes me wonder who I’ll be a year from now. I guess I could say that about any year but this one in particular felt very different. I’ve had multiple mindset shifts and friendship shifts. Priorities have massively adjusted. My time and focus are elsewhere from where they were just a year ago.

Time is interesting. It’s my most valuable asset and I waste too much of it. I used to think I was busy. Now I know what busy really is, in the best possible way. But figuring out where my time is best spent is challenging. And sometimes that means I have to step away from projects and even people when priorities shift. I’m not the best at that and don’t always do it well. I’m sorry to those who felt ghosted—it was not intentional (well, mostly).

I'm just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning
And it's good to know it's out of my control

This past year I sold my house – last remnants of divorce—and moved; went through another hurricane; had a relationship end, restart, and will likely end again some time soon; lost touch with old friends, made new friends; created another new class; and unexpectedly became a community manager. Oh and I joined a bunch of DAOs and even started one.

If there's one thing that I've learned from all this living
It's that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go

This time last year was pre-NFT.NYC – I hadn’t yet met anyone in my web3 life in person yet. The Noun Square had just started and I was still helping with POAPathon. A big shift was in process and I didn’t even realize it. Because there are only 24 hours in a day so I can’t do everything. But I certainly try. And my life was a about to shift greatly as I leaned more into Nouns. Oh yeah – and this year I bought a Noun. Well 1/18th of one. Then another with that Ugly crew.

Though you never see it coming
Always wind up wondering where it went
Only time will tell if it was time well spent

During this past year, my NFTs brought me experiences I couldn’t have imagined a year ago.  I saw Madonna on a stage 10 feet in front of me. I went to the TIME magazine offices for live TIME Hall with TIMEpieces and joined the community council. I helped with a Rose Parade Float with NounsDAO and sailed around the Statue of Liberty wearing noggles. I stood in TIME Square and saw art I owned on the big screens.

Celebrating what I should have done
With these souvenirs from my trip around the sun

My souvenirs from this last trip around the sun are POAPs, averaging at least one a day. I love my POAP gallery and flipping through the memories. Others are NFTs marking communities and artists I supported. And some souvenirs from this last trip around the sun are even physical, like multiple versions of noggles. ⌐◨-◨  

I have so many souvenirs from this latest trip around the sun and many of you are a part of that. Yes, it’s super corny but the people who have come into my life in the past year are my true souvenirs and have changed me. And these pixelated people (most of whom wear ⌐◨-◨ ) made me a better person in many ways this year. I can’t even imagine what this will look like a year from now. So I’ll just put on my ⌐◨-◨ and “just enjoy this ride on my trip around the sun.”

I’ve always loved this song and it’s my annual anthem. I usually take one solo trip to the Florida Keys around my birthday to do some snorkeling and touch water. This song always seems like a good one to play while I watch the sunset on my birthday.

And this is Day 5 of my writing challenge and I have 7 subscribers! I love each and every one of you! I've sent a POAP via poap.delivery which you should be able to claim here shortly: https://www.poap.delivery/profbday2023

Cheers to you for being with me on this trip and the next!