This morning, I had an essay in The New York Times‘ Lives column. The essay appears in the magazine insert and also online.

Huge thanks to the editors for believing in the essay and offering great edits. Also, a big thank you to Melinda Josie for the great piano illustration.

I’ve never had so many people read my work before, which is exciting! But I’ve also never gotten incoherent hate-mail from strangers before, which is less exciting.

I imagine that people like Roxane Gay and Arthur Chu, who write really well about difficult and controversial things, must get a lot of unfriendly mail. I have so much respect for what they do.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in to offer congratulations or to let me know that they enjoyed the essay. It means a lot.