I can’t tell you what I’m going to do in the future, but I can certainly tell you about the past. I was born and raised in a small city in England called Worcester. Yes, Worcestershire; yes, the sauce. My childhood was mostly great, in the way that childhoods tend to be when you’re just existing and have few prior assumptions about the world. We didn’t have much—but then again, I wasn’t very aware of folks who had more.
Growing up in a small English town (if I’m honest—it’s only a city because we had a cathedral) often means that you get to know everyone pretty well. You’d typically play with the neighborhood kids and maybe pop around for a cup of tea. I lived in 10 different houses in 10 different neighborhoods over the years though, so this wasn’t my experience. Small town community might have existed, but I wasn’t much a part of the community.
That might be a weird way to start talking about my history, but it’s part of the reason I’m writing it. Many years (and 10 more houses) later, I find myself living in Oakland, California—far away from that small town, and trying again to build community. I took a detour through Cardiff, Birmingham, London and Brooklyn, sometimes staying just long enough to almost find community. Finally, with no plans to move, it’s one of the things I now most want to do.
So how will writing help? Many of the best events in my life have been caused by transmitting some words via the internet. I figure if a handful of words can help me meet my wonderful wife, gain countless friends, find talented collaborators and enjoy the work that I do, they might help me go further still. My life is richer today than I thought possible as a small boy, and the curse of being British is the persistent whisper: “tch—haven’t you got enough”.
Truly, I’m so grateful. I’ve explored the world. I’ve learned everything about anything that I can. I’ve moved thousands of miles to a place that I love. I’ve made some cool stuff with some even cooler people. I’m lucky enough to be married to the world’s best person, and lucky too that we’ve got the world’s best dog (your dog is great too; all dogs are great). When I pause, though? I want to find my people, and I want to stick around long enough for that cup of tea.
So here I am, writing some words on the internet to start exploring community and in search of my people—but who are they? I’ll keep it pretty simple: kind and creative people. Of course, I’m lucky enough to live in an area of the world home to many kind, creative people. I’m also not planning on leaving any time soon. The best way to build a community of kind and creative folks, though? To be kind and creative yourself, of course. To make, not simply to wait.
These are the first few words and might not do much alone. They might never be read by anyone, to be honest. But they’re less for you than they are for me, right now. A small token of a big intention. If you’re a kind and creative person, do reach out. One day we might share a cup of tea.