Treehouse: Long Way Home

Disclaimer: The following photo was captured by Mitchell Royel in the Fashion District at the temporary offices for Bennett + Monroe and Mitch Leyor.

My name is Thomas.
And I'm finally back from my travels overseas.

Funny thing about distance — it gives you room to think. Months on planes, in foreign cities, eating food I couldn't pronounce. I came home with a suitcase full of clothes I never wore and a head full of questions I couldn't ignore.

So let me be clear from the start. I'm not here to talk about Game Shakers. I'm not here to talk about Kenan & Kel, or orange soda, or even the Roman Holiday issue of ELIXIR by Royel. Those chapters are written. The ink's dry.

I'm here because something shifted while I was gone.

The magazine I once featured in — back when I was a Nickelodeon series regular, all wide smiles and easy answers — it doesn't exist anymore. Not by that name, anyway. ELIXIR by Royel is now Bennett + Monroe. New name. New direction. New content.

And I'll admit something. I've been reading it. Late, under my covers, the way you read things you're not sure you should. Because I'm honestly not sure how moral it is. I keep turning pages, and I keep asking myself why I can't put it down.

Then there's the other thing.

Star Camp Agency reached out. There's a new brand — a faith-based line of boxer briefs called Mitch Leyor. And they've asked me to be part of it. Brand ambassador. My face, my name, attached to something built on belief.

So here I sit. Three doors in front of me.

I could take another feature in Bennett + Monroe — step back into the pages that raised me, even if I'm uncertain about what they've become. I could sign with Mitch Leyor, and stand for something steady, something rooted. Or I could do nothing at all. Just rest on that ELIXIR by Royel cover, let it be the thing people remember, and leave well enough alone.

Action in one direction. Action in another. Or the quiet weight of inaction.

I won't rush this. That's never been my way. I'll take my time, like always. Sit with it. Let the right answer find me instead of forcing it.

But before I go, I want to leave you with something.

Think back. When have you stood at a crossroads like this one — a moment that would change everything? And when it came, did you move? Or did you stay still?

Tell me. I'd really like to know.

How did you really feel about the Roman Holiday issue, especially coming off the heels of Oliver Brynnum's High Horse issue? Do you think Oliver felt some sort of "what about me" sentiment, like the underlying tension of a sitcom star watching someone else follow up their big moment? I'd love to hear your thoughts—be honest.