ARE YOU TOO OLD FOR THIS?

Give Yourself Permission to Celebrate Your Birthday

I resist parties. I hate being the center of attention. But these days, embracing life is a necessity.

David Dennis, Jr.
LEVEL
Published in
5 min readApr 15, 2020

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Illustration: Moya Garrison-Msingwana

Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.

I’m 34 years old. It’s a weird age, teetering between being in touch and stuck in my ways. And I know I’m not the only one standing at the intersection of Young Buck and Old Head. Every time something comes along, whether it’s slang or pop culture or a new tech platform, you confront the same question: Am I too old for this? That’s why I’m here — to work through these conundrums on your behalf, on a weekly basis. Together, hopefully, we can face some harsh truths about our own washed-ness.

IfIf you’ve been playing those annoying-ass math games on Facebook that have sprouted up over the past few weeks, then you know that looking at every minute detail is the way to look smart online. (Are you too old to care about looking smart online? God, I hope so.) Well, that skill has paid off: The keen eye will notice that my usual introduction has changed. That’s right, I’m now 34 years old. My birthday was Monday.

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David Dennis, Jr.
David Dennis, Jr.

Written by David Dennis, Jr.

Level Sr. Writer covering Race, Culture, Politics, TV, Music. Previously: The Undefeated, The Atlantic, Washington Post. Forthcoming book: The Movement Made Us