NotebookHappy birthday to me - please get me something!?
So, I'm 23 years old today. Strange. I feel sort of like an adult now. But then, I've felt like that at a lot of birthdays.
When I turned 16 I felt like an adult because I could drive. (Ha.)
When I turned 18, I felt like an adult because I was you know, 18 and legal and could vote for things and enter in contests that always said "you must be 18 or over to enter". It didn't matter that I'd never wanted to enter any such contest or that I haven't since, but darn it, I had the freedom!
When I turned 21 I felt like an adult because I could legally consume alcohol. You know, because that's truly mature.
When I turned 22 I felt like an adult because I was graduating and getting married soon.
Now I'm 23 and I feel like an adult because, well, I really am one. I'm married -- into nine months married now. I'm working full-time. I'm surviving and borderline thriving as a freelance writer, something I truly could not imagine a year ago.
At 23 years old, though, I feel like man, I should be starting to do things with my life. Then my mom and wife both brilliantly reminded that hey, I sort of am. I've written a book. It'll be published this year. I've become a sports columnist, if only for a four-month stretch. I've raced a triathlon. I'm writing The Lighthouse Project, which has already sort of exploded. It's a tiny explosion, kind of like one of those Fourth of July firecrackers you can buy at Wal-Mart, but hey, an explosion's an explosion.
Literally, while walking down the streets of downtown Wilmington today, I heard someone call my name. It was Scott Mitchell, sitting in his car with Earl Johnson. They're the two DJs for local Christian radio station The Edge 88.5 FM, which I profiled a couple of months ago for the Wilmington StarNews. They told me they'd been following The Lighthouse Project and that it was awesome and, long story short, they want to interview me about it on Friday for their show.
So that's pretty cool.
So here's all I want from you, my faithful and amazing readers, for my birthday: Tell someone about The Lighthouse Project. Email it to someone, text somebody about it, tweet about it, Facebook message someone, or all of the those.
I'm not a huge fan of blogging. Honestly, I'm not. That said, I realize its value and realize that so much good can come from it. Sure, it would help me as a young writer if I could gain a bit of recognition through my blog. But the only reason I would ever want such fame is so I can share the stories I've heard, stories that I believe will help others and touch others as much as they have me.
My brother, Kramer -- yes, his name is Kramer, and no, he's not named after the Seinfield guy -- once said to me, "Write what people need to read."
I'm hoping to soon start working on a series about why I started The Lighthouse Project. It definitely wasn't just random. But in a nutshell....I write TLP because it's what I feel like people need to read. And I'm trying to do it in a way that, as difficult as some of the stories are to get through, lets people enjoy reading it.
Right now I'm in the middle of a story about a man I've named Todd. Some of you know him; some of you don't. But his story is one with which so many of us can relate, and though it's shocking and painful and appalling in parts, it ends so beautifully. It has helped me, writing it, and I hope it helps others, reading it.
Sooooo all I ask for is that you help me share The Lighthouse Project. I'll make it easy: here's the bit.ly shortlink - http://bit.ly/b6ULSN.
Thanks, you're all awesome.
Reader Comments (1)
hey, happy belated birthday, Brandon!
hehe, without even knowing, i fulfilled your b-day wish :D
keep up the writing - you rock :)
Zee