On May 5, 2000 the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were aligned. This is why my friend dubbed me the Anti-Christ. He said the gravitational pull would end the world. Obviously this was my fault being that I was the only child born that day. As much as I was tired of micro aggressive bullying from brother types, I was kinda cool with it. I was in college. I was open. To living. Or to the end of everything.

Nothing ended. The planets didn’t roll like marbles and knock the others out of their loops.

It was the start of a new journey. One that made me expand and shrink for decades.

Alignment is something that I’ve contended with personally and professionally. What you see isn’t always what you get. What you get is not the only thing that is possible. There are hidden rooms. Open windows. Gravity.

I’ve always been a late-bloomer. I’ve also decided to interrogate that idea.

And imagine believing you’re not meant to have a long life. Blooming late looks more like not blooming at all. I’ll take a note from Nature and try to bend towards the sun. ☀️ 🌱