Today I’m celebrating my 35th birthday (which doesn’t feel anywhere near as surreal as my 30th). As I reflected on the day, I thought it’d be nice to share who I am beyond my poetic reflections.
Nothing makes my heart sing like play – be it with a basketball, a board game or words.
I was afraid to call myself a poet publicly up until a year ago. Before that, I kept a secret Google doc with poems I’d jotted down in moments of emotional turmoil.
I still get nervous before I send my poems out each week (which is one of the reasons I continue to do it).
In 2023, I started this newsletter as a personal challenge to embrace vulnerability. Reading the touching words of writers like , , , , and more, inspired me to keep going.
The older I’ve gotten, the more afraid of heights I’ve become.
I used to be a really picky eater. Now, I’m only kind of picky.
I fell in love with anime watching Dragon Ball Z after school. Twenty years later, it’s still the genre of art I enjoy watching the most.
My 8, 5 and 3 year olds were all oopsie babies. As I type this, I’m wondering if that many “oopsies” can be consider an accident.
My wife and I were best friends for almost two years before we started dating. She’s still one of my best friends.
I knew my love for basketball basketball the day I didn’t make my middle school team. When I finished my college career, my love of the game shifted to coaching. Thanks to some amazing players, I’ve since become the winningest basketball coach in my middle school’s history.
My favorite dish is chicken vindaloo (spicy of course). Win or lose, I get it after every basketball game I coach.
Speaking of eating, I have misophonia which means I can’t stand hearing other people chew their food.
I write under my middle name because I think its beautiful and one of my goals when I write is to create beautiful things. My first name is Chris.
One of my favorite things to do when watching a movie is figuring out whats going to happen ahead of time. One of my least favorite things to do is watch a movie again.
I ran my own basketball training company full-time for 3.5 years. Before that I was marketing strategist and copywriter. I am now an Athletic Director and PE teacher (but that too will be changing soon).
I drink my medium roast coffee with oat milk and raw sugar…twice a day.
I think cussing is like seasoning for language.
I am extrovert through and through. Which is another reason I love the way writing makes me slow down and spend time with myself.
I’m a hugger.
In my fourth counseling session, I learned that my self diagnosed social anxiety was actually deep seated insecurity.
Over the last 5 years, 95% of my wardrobe has been all black. At first it was to reduce my need to analyze what I was wearing (i.e. self-diagnosed social anxiety). Then it became a way to express my love of simplicity and to explore the depths of less.
I listen to slow or love songs like this and this when I workout.
I smile a lot. It used to be because I was optimistic but after experience grief, it’s largely because I now know what hope looks like.
Thank you all for entertaining my words and thank you for inspiring this wonderful idea for a piece.
Hey there birthday twin! Happy Birthday!
Happy belated birthday, Jamal! Grateful to be on earth at the same time as you.