Here is me at age 6, bottom right, along with my siblings and some of my cousins and my paternal grandparents. It doesn’t have anything to do with this post, but I thought it was a cute picture.
Today is my 50th birthday! I’m so happy to be alive. Here’s my life update.
Highlights from the last decade
Meeting the love of my life, Tara! If you haven’t met her yet, I look forward to introducing her. She inspires me to be kind and caring, and she tends to my fears and challenges.
I donated my kidney (read more about it on this blog) to a stranger. It was extremely challenging and just as rewarding!
Trying lots of new (to me) animal advocacy and in general lots of organizing. My efforts have shifted somewhat from outwards advocacy to community wellness. These efforts have included hosting meditations and retreats, serving on the board of Encompass, which facilitated racial justice in the animal protection movement, serving as advisor to the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit North America for its first five years. I feel more holistic in my approach every year, and I am curious about weaving my work more intentionally. Relatedly,
I’ve been working on a new animal advocacy project for the last couple of years, and that’s been exciting and going well. It’ll be a while before I have anything really public to share about it, and feel free to message me. My friends at Animal Outlook recently released this investigation of a farm in Minnesota. As I turn 50, I have the bittersweet experience of 30 years of animal advocacy – lucky to put so much time and energy to speak up for animal freedom, and sad to see the cruelties and abuses continue.
I’ve done a lot of men's work, attending a retreat, co-hosting a mens group, organizing events, etc. around healthy masculinity. It’s as relevant as ever.
Having meaningful time in India, including attending the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit and more quality time with family
Regular bike trips and triathlons. I did my first triathlon in my late 30’s, and after a while realized the wisdom in continuing to run. Moving my body outside is my favorite way to regulate my emotions, meditate, relax, and feel alive. I did a bike trip to Elm Creek Park Reserve last week, and stayed in a cabin there. It was delightful to have my phone off for a couple of days and enjoy the fall colors.
Seeing and participating in my lifelong dream of a world full of activism and organizing twice – during the 2020 uprising for racial justice, and this year’s resistance to Metro Surge for flourishing for all. Everywhere I looked, people were speaking out about oppression, supporting their neighbors, creating infrastructure for care and communication (whether or not they call themselves ‘activists’).
Low or challenging things over the last decade
Not having kids. I had intended on having kids, and the season for that has passed (relatedly, see the next item). Thankfully, I have a life full of all kinds of love, and I have had the great fortune to try the things I want in life (see above).
Realizing I don’t have as much energy as before – I’ve struggled with sleep for a long time, and in general my energy levels have gone down. I now am able to work half time or less.
Lots of meandering in my life and vocation. Getting clarity on how to have my actions align with my beliefs is very challenging, even if it looks smooth in retrospect.
It’s a season of transition for me, as I was laid off from my job at Better Food Foundation last month. It’s been a surprisingly challenging upheaval considering I’ve changed jobs so many times (though always on my terms, previously). I’ve struggled with getting health insurance, and I have felt discombobulated.
I also think it’s a great opportunity to find a new job that works even better for me, and I’m in no hurry. Here’s what I’m looking for in my next role. Are you doing activist / nonprofit / volunteer work that aligns with my values, or know somebody who is? I’d like to connect with you, learn about your work, and help if I can. I’m leading this free workshop on fundraising for animal advocacy folks in a couple of weeks, and I want to connect with folks in mutually beneficial ways.
I wrote this post mostly today (and with no AI assistance) on my birthday, and very quickly. It’s been years since I’ve posted anything, besides my kidney donation, and I’m embracing imperfect thinking and writing!
As always, reach out to me – I’m happy to connect.
