My full name is Robert Clarence Allen Cain Jr. And for far too long, I spelled my middle name “Clarence” as “Clearance” — like the discounts you find at the 99 cents store. When Mother finally got wind of my faux pas and her oversight, I was happy to hear that I wasn’t on sale.
In any case, most people call me Robert, but you can call me Rob. I’m a writer, futurist, and multihyphenate creative currently based in Nashville, originally from North Little Rock, Arkansas. You might know me from The Aftergrad Podcast where my friend Victoria and I talk about the challenges of navigating work, careers, and adulthood as recent graduates in their 20s.
My work has appeared in PhotoVogue, Quilt, Fresh U, and Handshake. In 2021, I graduated from Claremont McKenna College with degrees in Media Studies and Applied Mathematics.
What is loveall?
The newsletter’s title is a reference to tennis, a sport I love deeply. In tennis, the word “love” translates to zero, representing a score of zero. Even though there is no clear rationale on how it came to exist, this convention has been in effect since the late 1800s, with the most accepted theory suggesting that those with zero points were still playing for the love of the game, despite their losing score.
At the start of any tennis contest, the score is “love all” because both players (singles) or teams (doubles) have zero points and zero games. However, the beginning of a match is not the only time when this idiomatic phrase reflects the scoreline. Each new game and the first point of any given set or tiebreaker begins with the same score: love all. The goal of tennis is to win enough points to win a game, enough games to win a set, and enough sets to win the match. Per game, points progress from love to 15, 30, and then 40, which are relatively equivalent to 0, 1, 2, and 3. With some exceptions, the first to win 6 games wins the set, competing to win the majority of sets, usually out of 3 or 5.
Therefore, the notion of “love all” is quite significant in that it symbolizes a fresh start, an opportunity to begin anew, from scratch, despite what the score might suggest or how poorly one is performing. Tennis offers its players multiple chances to raise their level of play and address past mistakes, forced or unforced, by integrating moments of pause, reset, and reflection. The same is true in everyday life, or at least it should be. And my hope is that loveall becomes one of those moments for you.
This is not a newsletter about tennis. This is a newsletter about life. It just so happens that tennis is a marvelous metaphor for life.
loveall is my attempt to explore the considerable curiosities that tug at my mind, body, and soul and contemplate how they might connect to a bigger picture regarding our beautifully complex, mysterious planet. These thoughts are often multidisciplinary and expansive with roots in philosophical inquiry, creative practices, and industries of culture.
It features essays, ramblings, recommendations, narratives, and other formats for unpacking the baggage and flight of ideas, big and small. I’m at a point in my journey where I’m thinking a lot about the future while trying to stay present as I connect the dots in my life and career, often ruminating on countless concepts at once. Join me as I slow down and reflect on personal histories, modern life, and societal shifts.
Why Subscribe?
Subscribe to loveall for free to receive my musings directly in your inbox. You’d be supporting the writing practice of a recent graduate. A noble contribution, which is much appreciated.
I can’t promise weekly posts because I believe in writing until you’re finished, unequivocally, independent of time. However, I can promise that when you do hear from me, it’ll be intentional and thoughtful. No fluff. No bullshit. Let this be a collaborative environment where we learn from one another and deepen our understanding of the world — together, in community with each other. If this sounds like your predilection, then consider sticking around.
Thank you for taking the time to connect with me and engage with my work. Your support means everything to me.
Please feel free to reach out to me via email at info@therobertcain.com with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
With love,
Rob
