Where I am from and where I am going
My name is Keenan Maley. I was born in the, now, not so little town of Kirkland. The son of a Japanese immigrant mother and a Midwest American father, I grew up torn between my two selves. Part of me wishing to be one with my Japanese ancestry, and the other wishing to conform to my American identity.
This push and pull in my life led me to seek out many different hobbies to find one that would fit with my ever-changing desires. From trying and failing to love baseball, practicing fireball jutsu from a shonen jump in my bedroom, discovering a love for the decidedly Caucasian ice hockey, challenging myself for perfect grades and increasingly difficult curriculum, and learning to be “normal” to fit in with not-so-multicultural friends. Along the way only a few things truly stuck, while others became window dressing.
Food has always been my safe space where I can enjoy my heritage. Anime and manga were guilty pleasures, trying to connect with a culture I left behind. Gaming in all its forms are a way for the stress to fall away, to enjoy the experience to the fullest, and be deeply immersed in my own microcosm of fun.
When I had nothing else, I had my hobbies as a rock in the storm. A time where the whirling gyre of family, school, unemployment, finances, and loneliness was quiet.
If only for a little bit.
If I can provide that sanctuary for any one person with my words and my work, then I will have succeeded.
So please join me on my journey to help as many people as I can.
-Keenan
My Values
acceptance, not tolerance
I believe very strongly in the value of diversity and acceptance. I have no room in my heart for hate, prejudice, or half measures. My dream is for a world united, to seek challenges greater than Earth, but first we need to come together as a planet and find harmony.
Fun work makes good work
I will keep the voice of my work pretty casual for the most part. This is coming straight from me, and the authentic voice is part of that. That said expletives may be used or dark topics may be touched upon because exploring those aspects of life can be fun or interesting. I will always add a content warning to potentially sensitive topics.
data is most valuable with insight
Numbers don’t lie, but the circumstances around them can misconstrue. Data is an invaluable tool in seeking answers, but must be given context and given thorough analysis before concrete takeaways can be drawn.
the best teachings are transferable
The most valuable insights anyone can learn are the ones that provide impact across multiple aspects of life. I will try to impart what I learn in ways that can be implemented in many different disciplines. Whether it is comparing balancing a dish with building a deck, Identifying desired outcomes and finding a win condition, or when precision can be thrown out for convenience.
Never be ashamed to learn
Life is hard. It is the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do, and everyone that has tried to conquer it has died trying. Do not worry about knowing everything, for there will always be more to learn. Whether it is about what is socially acceptable, new scientific discoveries, or a new meta in a game you are revisiting. Ignorance is simply an opportunity to learn.
Interactivity is key for long term enjoyment
A healthy social life. A good card game. A deep and meaningful film. The enjoyment of these is heavily impacted by interactivity, how much you can feel, engage with, and learn from it. There is a time and a place for turn-off-your-brain movies, just like there is for potato chips and solitaire, but to get the most out of a hobby get challenged by it and overcome it.