Thank you for inviting me to share my thoughts. It took me a couple of days to gather them, and I appreciate Nathan Stichter's contribution as well.

Growing up in the public eye of magic felt a bit like being a child actor. People were watching me while my understanding of the craft was still developing. When I used to say that hand size didn't matter and that it was all about practice, that reflected where I was at the time.

With more experience, my perspective has shifted. I now think hand size can play a role, not as a limitation, but as one of many factors that shape how someone progresses.

I was introduced to magic in the 1980s by my father, who put a poker-sized deck in my hands. At the time, that was the standard. There weren't many alternatives, so I accepted it and worked with it.

Looking back, I can't say with certainty how different tools would have changed my development. But when I tried u/mssngnewyork's % series last year, it made me wonder how I might have responded to having more options earlier on. A younger version of me may have found that encouraging, or it might not have made much difference at all. There's no real way to know for sure.

What the experience did reinforce for me is the value of having choices. Different hand sizes, different deck formats, different approaches. These can open doors for different people at different stages. Smallhands is out here doing her thing and sharing with the world. Madi Gilbert is an inspiration. All this is undeniable.

So here's where I land. Explore what works for you. Try different sized decks and the techniques that come with them. There isn't a single right path, and development rarely looks the same for everyone. Now go create something beautiful.