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Hi everyone. As you might have sensed, things have slowed down a lot on BikePortland lately. There are a lot of reasons for that, and I might share them in more detail some day. For now, I just want you to know that I need a bit of space from the daily grind. BikePortland has taken a lot out of me for 21 years, and I\u2019ve finally taken time to think deeply about what that means for me, my family, and our community.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve always been honest with you and I just want you to know where I\u2019m coming from. This is me saying I need a reset and the community needs to reset their expectations of BikePortland. For now, at least.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not sure yet exactly how things will be different going forward, just that I\u2019m sure things will be different. I\u2019ve come to realize that I can\u2019t find the clarity and space I need to chart a different path forward until I get off the path I\u2019m on.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure for some of you this won\u2019t be a surprise since I\u2019ve been dropping hints for a while. Heck, there was an article about me in The Oregonian in 2007<\/a> \u2014 just two years in! \u2014 where I was already talking about the toll of this work on me and my family. I\u2019ve come a long way since then in my work-life balance and in how I handle my role in the community. But the fact remains that doing BikePortland to the extent I believe it needs to be done, is a heavy burden. I need to let some of it go.<\/p>\n Maybe I\u2019ll come back with a smaller editorial scope. Or perhaps I\u2019ll stop creating as much for social media. Maybe I\u2019ll turn BikePortland into just a podcast, or just focus on videos, or focus solely on watchdog journalism. It\u2019s the trying-to-do-everything-well-at-once which has really wore me out \u2014 in addition to the natural shifts in energy and mindset that happen to a 51-year old). I might also consider an entirely new role in the community. I\u2019m not exactly sure yet!<\/p>\n And to be clear, I\u2019m in a really great place right now \u2014 mentally and physically. I just passed the one-year anniversary of my knee replacements<\/a> (it\u2019s going well, thanks), I\u2019ve got a new basketball coaching side-gig which I\u2019m excited about, and slowing down with BikePortland recently has put me in a much healthier head space in general (although a messy one at times, as I try to figure out what this all means).<\/p>\n As always, I\u2019m very grateful for your support and I\u2019ll keep you posted on the future as it comes into focus. For now, I hope you\u2019ll consider coming out to the 20th Anniversary Party and Beer Collab Release Party at Migration Brewing on May 13th<\/a>. And while I have your attention, consider grabbing tickets to the \u201cTough Shit\u201d event on April 24th<\/a>. It\u2019s hosted by Oregon Humanities and I\u2019ll be one of panelists for what will be a very engaging discussion.<\/p>\n Feel free to ask me questions in the comments or via email<\/a>. And I\u2019ll still hold my virtual office hours Friday from 10:30 to noon if you\u2019d like to meet and talk face-to-face (sign up for a 15-minute slot here<\/a>).<\/p>\n Thank you!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n