Tonight I hosted the first Storytelling at Halyards of 2018. Next month will be the show’s one year anniversary. It’s a small show in the back of a bar in Gowanus. It’s rare the we get audience members and if anything is going on in Halyards, we’ll get bumped. Yes, the name of the bar is the name of the show. I’ve thought of changing it to something else but somehow the simplicity just fits. Just come to the back, put your name in the pitcher and tell your story. That’s all it is.

On our first date, my ex-girlfriend and I ended up at Halyards for a drink after a show at The Bellhouse. We had a nice time and it was a couple of years later that we ended up there again. We wandered in the back and saw the back space which is perfect for shows. I had always wanted to host my own show. So, I asked and they said yes. It was that simple. My ex was even at the first one.

Once, when I was complaining about my life and it was clearly starting to wear on her, she asked me, “Are you just never going to be happy unless your famous?”

At the time, deep down, I felt like the answer was yes. It wasn’t fame that I wanted, though, it was validation. I was listening to the vainest part of myself, the part that says, “Please, just tell me I’m good and that I’m not wasting my time.” It’s not a part of myself that I’m particularly proud of but it’s there.

The first show of 2018 was great, though. I’m thankful to Halyards for letting me use their space. I love hosting. I love listening to other people’s stories. I love just being part of the storytelling community. It’s nights like these where the vain voice keeps quiet and I think, no, I don’t need to be famous, this is enough.