How you like me now?

July 15th, 2011, 9:46 AM. How You Like Me Now by The Heavy. According to Spotify’s new feature, “My First Plays,” this was the first song I listened to on the platform. Fourteen years later, I am still listening to Spotify and still making playlists. The time seems to have flown by. In 2011, I didn’t have a master’s degree, a doctorate, a podcast, or novels. My son was 2. I had no idea what I was doing — but I can be encouraged by the song title itself: How you like me now? I have accomplished a great many goals and am thankful.

Looking ahead fourteen years puts me at 68. Honestly? That scares me a little. I’m not sure if it’s the number itself or the weight of everything I still want to do before I get there — but I don’t need to answer that question. I just need to keep moving forward, keep creating, and the answers will come.

Now what will the next fourteen bring?

When you look back at who you were fourteen years ago, what accomplishment surprises you most — and what does the fear of the next fourteen tell you about what still matters to you?