Time Flies When You’re Having Fun

This weekend, fifteen years ago, I came up with the alias “Middle-aged Mormon Man,” and wrote my first blog post. It wasn’t very good, and the blog looked terrible. I was at the beginning of the process that I never imagined would have any staying power. I had no idea what I was doing. I was just making it up as I went along.

There’s still an element of that on this blog after 15 years. Yes, now I am more inconsistent and only write when I feel like it. Yes, there is still a buffet available for those who like to feast on typos and overuse of the passive voice.

But the point of this blog was never about being glossy or fine-tuned. I started it as an honest exploration of my thoughts and testimony. It was never about fame and fortune. (For the first five years I wrote anonymously.) I was seeking to spread my writing, without Me getting in the way.

The Middle-aged Mormon Man years are now receding into nostalgia.

I’m no longer middle-aged, which saddens me.

I’m also no longer “Mormon,” which saddens me, too.

A lot can happen in fifteen years. We went from a house full of kids, to empty-nesters. We went from seven, added some bonus kids and some grandkids, and now we are at 20 in our clan.

Thankfully, it’s been years since I’ve had to sign any school forms. Now I need to figure out how to navigate Medicare this next year.

Three weeks ago, I attended a ward in a different town for a missionary talk. Afterwards, a man approached me, shook my hand, and introduced himself

He said, “You’re Brad McBride. I just wanted to meet you and say thanks. Years ago, I was in a bishopric and used one of your blog posts to teach a fifth Sunday class.”

I thanked him and asked him which post. He didn’t remember because it was a long time ago, but did tell me that it was from my anonymous years.

Little moments like that are sweet little reminders that I’ve been doing what I’m supposed to be doing, and that, once in a while, someone benefits from my musings other than myself.

Because I started this blog to help myself learn and work through things that inevitably come up in life. It keeps me grounded in the words of the living and the dead, prophets. It gives me motivation to try and make sense of things that I don’t understand, and gives me a way to share the things I do understand with others.

I consider it a gift to be able to share my testimony with anyone who wants to read it – anytime – anywhere.

“Time slips away, but its lessons stay.”

The part of this adventure that I never considered would be a thing is how so many of the much-aligned “online friendships” became real-life friendships. The MMM Community that gathered around my blog and social media has turned into lifelong friendships and relationships. For that, I thank you.

You, my friends, have given me countless moments of inspiration and been examples to me in tough times. You have also made me laugh a zillion times. What a funny, weird, wonderful group of people. Thanks to those “MMM Originals” who have stuck around all these years. I love you all – newbies too!

While I will never blog/social media at the frentic pace I used to keep, I’m still here, posting when I feel like something needs to be said. It has become a part of my life, and I really see no reason to stop – other than lazyness.

Fifteen years. A lot has happened in fifteen years. Most of it good. All of it necessary.

I love my life, and am grateful that you are a part of it.

Love,