👓 CLEARER VISION

HELLO! Beautiful and Kind Human Beings,

I got a new pair of eyeglasses recently.

They help me see more clearly—but more importantly, they helped me think more clearly.

The label read:
Progressive lenses. Transition lenses.
And I thought: well damn, if that isn’t a metaphor wrapped in a prescription.

Let’s start with progressive.

In the past, that word meant “bifocals.”

A blinking neon sign that your youth was fading and your menus were harder to read. It was functional—but it came with baggage.

Today, “progressive” has evolved.

Politically.

Socially.

Spiritually.

It’s a rallying cry for some, a red flag for others. It gets used to inspire—or to insult. But here’s the thing:

I am progressive.
By values, by vision, and yes, by age.
And I wear that identity as proudly as I wear these frames.

Then there’s transition.

These lenses adapt to light—darkening in sunshine, clearing indoors. Simple. Smart. Fluid.

But the word hits deeper for me now.

I’m transitioning too:

• From corporate grind to coaching purpose.

• From external validation to internal peace.

• From my 50s into my 60s—with more joy, less armor.

• From solo chapters to marrying the love of my life.

This isn’t crisis. It’s clarity.
Not decline. But design.

And yet… transition is a word that’s been dragged into the culture war, distorted, and used as a weapon—especially against our transgender community. Their existence is not a debate. It’s a truth. And it deserves dignity, not legislation.

So yes, these new glasses made me stop and reflect.

We all wear lenses.
Literal ones. Emotional ones. Social and political ones.

Some are scratched or outdated. Some were handed to us without consent. But when we choose to update them—to adjust our focus with intention—we don’t just see better. We understand better.

Here’s what I see clearly right now:

✔ Progressive—and unapologetic.
✔ In transition—and fully alive.
✔ Aging—with clarity, kindness, and confidence.

This Pride Month, I’m not just seeing better.
I’m claiming my lenses.

Because clarity is power.
And so is perspective.

Let’s stop being mean. To ourselves. To each other. To those who live and love differently.
Let’s lead with clear eyes and open hearts.

With pride and perspective,
Jim

📬 P.S.
What lenses are you wearing right now?
What words have shifted meaning for you over time?
Hit reply—I’d love to hear how your focus is evolving.