Making Myself Visible

Choosing to be seen

Hello world—Nope. Too formal.

Okay, how about this: Hey Chat, it’s my—no. Absolutely not.

Starting any kind of writing has always been hard for me, especially introductions. I deal with social anxiety even in my writing.

So let’s just do this the simple way.

I’m Keith, and this is the intro to my first blog post.

Baby Keith on a bike around 1994

Why Start A Blog?

That awkward intro? If you know me in real life, that tracks. And honestly, that awkwardness is one of the reasons I wanted—needed—to start this blog.

So why did I start one?

The short version: I have a lot of free time, and I need to put something into the world in the hopes that the right people hear what I have to say and actually do something with it. We live in a digital world where nobody cares unless it’s online—and if it’s on the internet, it must be real. Right?

Sarcasm aside, I have a voice. I have a purpose in this universe. I want this blog to be an excuse to—or maybe a catapult that pushes me—in a direction that gets me moving forward. And let’s say the quiet part out loud: it’s also an excuse to be heard, even if nobody’s reading.

Here's My Story

This isn’t my first attempt at starting a blog.

I was 16—little Keith, very much in the closet (a glass closet, but still)—and my family had just bought Julie & Julia on DVD. Of course I loved it. Miranda Priestly—sorry, Meryl Streep—was in it, playing a cook my mom would jokingly imitate in that voice she does. I didn’t fully appreciate Julia Child at the time, but late nights watching PBS slowly did the trick.

My Mother, sister, and myself on the floor in 2007

Ironically, it wasn’t Streep who inspired me. It was Amy Adams. I didn’t know it then, but her character—the blogger—lit something up in me. She was passionate about cooking, about writing, about doing something simply because she loved it. That felt so cool.

The problem was: that was a movie. I live in the real world.

I was optimistic and wildly undisciplined. I didn’t research anything. I didn’t even look up the real blogger. I just watched a movie and expected magic. When it didn’t happen overnight, I got discouraged. Looking back, I missed the lesson entirely. I was afraid nobody wanted to hear what I had to say—and instead of pushing through that fear, I stopped.

Sixteen years later, I’m still learning that lesson. At least now I know what chapter of the life textbook I’m actually reading.

When I look back at my 16-year-old self, I see someone incredibly nervous. Don’t let the witty banner and charming persona fool you—fear has fueled a lot of my life. Fear of failing. Fear of being misunderstood. Fear of not fitting in.

All of it circles back to my ultimate fear: being seen.

My father, sister, and myself on my graduation day in 2016

What if someone actually sees me and understands me—and all that fear was for nothing? What if I’ve been wrong this whole time? What if I’ve been trying to be visible not for the world’s benefit, but because I deeply needed connection?

We could unpack that forever—self-love, self-acceptance, the roots of it all. That’s for me and my therapist. But I think I’m ready to try this again. And this time, I want to stick with it. For that glass-closeted, scared 16-year-old boy.

The Next Chapter

In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 was the Year of the Snake—about shedding old habits, strategic planning, and letting past efforts bear fruit. I did a lot of shedding. I picked up a lot of wisdom. I cleared space.

Me in a bath tube at Ikea with a bowl on my head in 2025... I don't know either

Now comes 2026: the Year of the Horse. Energy. Freedom. Bold action. Momentum. Independence.

I’ve spent much of my life small and timid. Maybe this is the year I choose visibility. The year I move forward with excitement while learning how to stay grounded.

If you’re reading this, thank you. I can’t wait to start this journey—sharing stories, lessons, art, and whatever else life decides to teach me along the way. And no, this isn’t an Oprah-style blog where I email you a car.

This is just me. Being visible.

Welcome to my blog, stay tuned for me.