When I wrote this piece for my podcast eight years ago, I had no idea what was coming.

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Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

Read this episode’s script (as well as the entire IBSWTD archive) at medium.com/@ibetterstart.

I step into the day; I step into myself; I step into the mystery.

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Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

Read this episode’s script (as well as the entire IBSWTD archive) at medium.com/@ibetterstart.

I’ll eat you up, I love you so.

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Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

Read this episode’s script (as well as the entire IBSWTD archive) at medium.com/@ibetterstart.

It occurred to me one day that we were always peripherally close, but that we bonded over self-destruction.

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Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

Read this episode’s script (as well as the entire IBSWTD archive) at medium.com/@ibetterstart.

Suicide is a lot like poison ivy.

*Ed. Note: This episode contains a frank discussion of suicide. If that’s a trigger for you, consider skipping this one. If you do choose to listen though, remember that you can always call 1-800-273-8255, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and speak with someone right now.*

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Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

Read this episode’s script (as well as the entire IBSWTD archive) at medium.com/@ibetterstart.

If anybody deserves the benefit of the doubt, it’s a one-day-old.

*Ed. Note: This episode contains a frank discussion of a newborn’s death. If this is a trigger for you, consider skipping it until you’re in a different headspace. And I hope that you find that place in the future.*

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Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

Read this episode’s script (as well as the entire IBSWTD archive) at medium.com/@ibetterstart.

For my wife and I, with our third baby, things felt different.

We were—happy.

*Ed. Note: this episode contains crudely-recorded audio from the labor room. I did my best to smooth everything out and not have the levels fluctuate too much, but between limited talent, and the shortcomings of the recording, there’s still some quiet parts I wish were louder, and some loud parts I wish were quieter. Please try not to miss the quiet gold (think: headphones), and please don’t fault me for the fetal heart monitor announcing itself (that digital big dog bark).*

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Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

Read this episode’s script (as well as the entire IBSWTD archive) at medium.com/@ibetterstart.

I’ve been thinking a lot about dead people lately.

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Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

Read this episode’s script (as well as the entire IBSWTD archive) at medium.com/@ibetterstart.

The kings of comedy are at the height of hilarity in these outstanding film classics.

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Season 3 of I Better Start Writing This Down—coming this Fall.

Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.

I can talk to the winds.

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Season 3 of I Better Start Writing This Down—coming this Fall.

Find out more information about I Better Start Writing This Down at ibetterstart.net.