It’s been a good while since I had written anything, so let me reintroduce myself. My name is Ryan James. My friends and family call me R.J. I decided to give this page a face-lift with a new name. I decided to go from The Reaper’s Notebook to Reaper’s Reflections, here’s why. I love writing, and I was always good with words on paper or, in this case, keys to digital screen as you’re reading this now. Writing is the ultimate reflection of everything. Reflection of experience. Reflection of good times and the bad. Reflection of things you may have experienced that have molded your life in a different and hopefully a better direction. Life has many mirrors, and this is why I decided to retitle my page.

I wanted a different title because I wanted something that was more abstract and subjective. Not limited to one category. In the current state of the world, people want to put everything under one label or category, and I don’t believe life should be looked at that way. It’s like someone is going to be the same way and same outlook for the rest of their life and closed off to any evolution of themselves or open to new ideas, outlooks, and beliefs. I can tell you right off the bat that I am not the same person I was 5 years, 10 years, or 15 years ago. Yes I have the same name but how my mind has evolved over the years because of events in my life have given me a huge lesson in humility and forgiveness, and that’s just one example of reflection.

I fell off for a few months keeping up with my page because of life circumstances, but I don’t want that to be an excuse. What I want to do the most with this is true uncensored honesty about a variety of subjects and life experiences throughout this road in life no matter how ugly my opinions are to people nowadays with so much sensitivity, but life does not adjust to how sensitive you are. You need to learn how to deal with it to the best of your ability, and if not, ask for help or advice. It can either cripple you or make you more resilient. My opinions my differ from yours, and that’s okay. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not always right, but at least I can be honest. Unfiltered honesty is how people get better.

This is the first post when my page becomes online, and I hope whoever reads my posts will know where I’m coming from. I think keeping the Grim Reaper theme is a good mascot for me and my page because it’s good to have a character and have a consistent theme. That’s how things become more memorable. Get to know the man behind the character. Even at this age, I still like to hide in plain sight because I have no need desire to be the center of attention. I’m a writer, not an influencer, so I’m fine with being somewhere with my hood up, headphones in and with a pen and paper letting go what has been filling up my head at the time because I will admit I am no good at that out loud. Unless I become very close with someone and feel comfortable having those conversations.

So until then, this is my therapy, and it’s helped when I started, and it will continue to help if I keep working at it.