To the city I call home. The friends and creators I have been fortunate enough to share a bond with.

To my wife and family, who have stood beside me.

And to this journey. . . One that I have often spoken against with impatience and disdain.

I owe you an apology.

I have wandered these years saying I want to leave, yet staying only in part, showing up only when necessary, and letting opportunities pass without care. This letter is my recognition of all that I have taken for granted and all that I have failed to give back.

Over the past fifteen years I have given half-hearted efforts to the creative projects I care about. I have let fear, indecision, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and self-protection dictate my actions. I have changed brand names, paths, and projects thinking that avoidance or rebranding would solve my struggles. I have let gifts, collaborations, and opportunities die before they could thrive. I have been a spectator in the lives of others instead of a participant. I moved here to create the life of my dreams, yet too often I have done the bare minimum to exist rather than to contribute, create, or connect.

To my wife and my family you’ve provided me patience, belief, and support while I squandered chances to grow, share, and fully show up. I regret the moments I have been absent, the opportunities I have let slip by, and the energy I have spent protecting myself instead of creating the life of my dreams.

I recognize that I have spoken too often about wanting to leave, about hating the place I live, and in doing so I have shown disrespect for the community, for the creators who welcomed me, and for the life I was given the chance to build.

This is not a promise of perfection but a recognition of the choices I have made and a commitment to shift my mindset. I want to show up fully, to make art whether it succeeds or fails, to engage in ways that are meaningful, and to live actively in my own story. I am taking responsibility for my actions and for the life I have shaped by inaction and beginning to choose differently.

I am grateful for the love, patience, and support that surrounds me. This apology is a start, a reminder to myself to be present, accountable, and fully engaged in the life I want to create.

-Rom