I attribute much of my life to working really hard. Not in the white privileged way where I think if everyone else just worked hard they would have as much as me. But in this way where I’ve always had a naturally strong work ethic. M commented last time I saw her about how amazing it is that people get up every day and go to work. I grew up listening to my father saying that is just what you do, even when you don’t want to, you get up and do what needs to be done. To some degree, I put what needs to be done before taking care of myself. I acknowledge that taking care of myself probably needs to be done.

I wake up some mornings and check my email extremely hopeful that something in the world has changed and someone has something meaningful to say to me. I’m almost always disappointed.