“Things will happen, but not to me. Things are gonna happen naturally.” This lyric was advice given to me by an ex-girlfriend. We were still close friends, though. She was much wiser than I and was helping me evolve. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, focusing on lack, write a list of things you’re grateful for – and presence abundance in your life! I did and it worked. The song isn’t about that person, but it was my jumping off point to pen a thank you song to my first girlfriend; a wordsmith who inspired me to think and rethink, to write and rewrite, and to not give a fart and just sing from the heart. She and I wrote the lyrics to my earliest coffee shop setlist, many of which were based on her poems (“After an Afternoon” and “0% Interest,” to name a few). I’m so grateful for the relationship we had. We were young. Under 21. But our magic together felt infinite. We would never run out of words. You and I Both • Track 1 on Waiting for My Rocket to Come (Expanded Edition) – out now! (Link in bio) • 🎥 @ryan_dilmore • #WFMRTC20