I feel I am entering my life’s second act.

My first act was about finding identity, self-esteem, my power. It took me 35 years to do it, but it was a necessary path to arrive at where I am in time and space, among the confluence of forces that now accelerate me forward on the path ahead.

The pains and pleasures of existence are necessary to shape us into the people we are meant to be. What is up to us is how we respond to what we are presented with, giving intention to the choices and actions we take. The most painful moments in my life are also the moments that drove the most growth, and I’m thankful for the lessons they taught me.

But there are also moments that are epochal, marking an inflection point in what would otherwise be inertial drifting. I’ve gathered the will, knowledge, and strength over the last several years to become what I need to be to have the impact I want on the world. There will always be more to learn, but what comes next is execution.

I’m standing at the top of one mountain; I’ve learned all I can from it. Higher ones extend before me. I’ll never be more ready than I am right now, and time will not wait.

Deep breaths.

— david