No Time Like the Present

Photo: Ching Juhl

Hello, hope that you are doing great for the holiday weekend! 

I turn 49 today.  I am celebrating with friends and family over the long weekend. 

49 feels not old, but not young either.  I’ve been young my entire life.  I skipped kindergarten so I was always young for my grade.  I ran for President at 44 and turned 45 just as the voting started. 

When I turned 30 I did some youthful things – like skydiving with buddies.  I hated my birthdays as a kid as I didn’t have many friends; as an adult I’ve kind of made it a point to do something enjoyable. 

Now, I’m a bit less young.  I visited my parents over the holidays – my father is 83 and my mother in her mid-70s.  I’m trying to appreciate these golden years while they are still healthy and vital and my kids are old enough to form memories. 

An older friend of mine told me that I’ll be happier and more productive in the next 10 years than I have ever been in my life.  Is he right?  I’m proud of the way I’ve lived my life.  I built a business that created opportunities for people.  I started a non-profit that does great work to this day.  I helped mainstream the idea of Universal Basic Income that will help us alleviate poverty.  I pushed for cash relief.  I’ve written a few books that people tell me impacted them.  I’m helping make the case for political reform with Forward. 

And of course, I’ve got two wonderful children and a loving family who are, generally speaking, thriving. 

I’ve had incredible experiences, the kind of things that I never could have imagined growing up.  I’ll confess that there are times when I have my doubts about whether my best days are ahead of me.  Some people do their best work at a particular time of life.  There’s no shame in that. 

I have stood in front of thousands of people at a campaign rally and helped channel their – our – hopes for a brighter future.  I still have those hopes.  I hope you still have them too. 

When people ask me whether I’m running for President again, I respond, “Apparently I’ve got 40 more years” which always gets a laugh.  But that’s not actually the way I think.  I’m more, “How can I effect maximum change for people that will improve their lives?”  I want to attack every day with that energy.

And right now, I have a very clear answer – it’s to help Dean Phillips become President.  

I see Dean as our best chance to improve our trajectory as a nation.  He’s for universal healthcare, baby bonds, ranked choice voting and more.  He’s raised $1 million since declaring and could use our help.  I’m heading to New Hampshire next week for the campaign – Dean is at 26% in New Hampshire and rising fast! 

If you’d like to help me celebrate my birthday, please donate to the Dean Phillips campaign or, if that’s not your speed, the Forward Party or Humanity Forward. 

And please get the word out about Dean.  Call your friends in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Michigan.  He’s the me of this cycle, and if he wins, we’ll be there at the table.  And then, our best days really could be ahead of us.  That would absolutely make my birthday wish come true.