Things I'm Passionate About Part 1

In learning to find my “voice” as a writer, and in an attempt to build a portfolio of work, I decided to share a lot of personal insights online because a) it’s the style of the time, b) it will be good to look back on when I’m older (or for my family when I’m dead and they want to revive me as an AI simulacre) and c) it’s therapeutic for me right now. Especially in this case as I’m going to be using it to try to figure out what I’m passionate about in order to give my writing more focus, and hopefully my life as well. Here are things I’m passionate about in no particular order. Part 1:

1. Being A Dad

I love being a Dad, cliché though it is, it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done or been a part of. Speaking empirically and without bias, I’m the best Dad I know, and that’s only partially tongue in cheek. My autistic math brain has broken down a lot of it to a science; empirical things you can do to be a good Dad or Parent. Making sure your child engages daily physical hygiene habits, eats a good and healthy nutritionally complete diet for them, gets daily rigorous exercise for at least an hour, gets to bed at a timely hour so they get enough sleep by the time they need to wake up, forming good bedtime habits to facilitate optimized sleeping, dresses appropriately for the weather and any situations they might find themselves in while doing your best to maintain their fashion sense up to date because even though it shouldn’t be important, and is less so than in previous generations, kids need to feel good about the way they look. The list goes on and on.

2. Being A Dog-Dad

Much like being a human Dad, I love being a dog Dad. The owner, provider, and caretaker for an unconditionally loving member of our family who sleeps on the foot of my bed and is always happy to see any of us at any time for any reason. She’d happily die to protect us, and that kind of loyalty needs to be repaid in kind. Much like human children, there are empirical things you can do to be a good dog parent; daily walks or exercise and play for at least an hour, making sure they can get to use the bathroom as much as they need to, making sure they have healthy food and treats and clean water, making sure they’re well behaved and disciplined enough that they can be trusted not to accidentally hurt anyone while they think they’re protecting their family. This list, while similar to the human parenting one, is different and also goes on and on.

3. Bald Head Health

Like many, perhaps most, men approaching middle age, I am a member of the folliclely challenged. Mine isn’t as bad as some, but it’s much worse than others regarding my male pattern baldness. Mostly due to the strange pattern of cul-de-sacs on my forehead and my asymmetrical widow’s peak. That said, I took matters in hand and freed myself of worry about it by becoming a fairly regular head shaver. Best decision ever and everyone should do it at least once in their life to free themselves of the mental hold that hair has over us. I used to be pretty vain about my animal pelt of hair due to its thickness and darkness. Now, it holds no sway over me and being bald is so freaking convenient. You still have to shampoo, and moisturize, and use sunscreen on it more regularly, but it’s just so much easier than messing with hair product and styling and going to the barber every 2-3 weeks.

Thus concludes part 1 of things I am personally passionate about. You’re likely to see these pop-up as their own articles or entire article series in the future.