Hosting

Being open- willing- can change your life.  I didn't know it a month ago, but mine was preparing to change when my roommate asked me if I'd be alright with hosting two musicians for SXSW.  After hearing the details, I agreed to hosting.  I didn't think much of it until this past weekend, when those two musicians arrived from California.

Selena and Nick stayed with us for a few days, but we didn't really have a chance to hang out during the SXSW madness.  On their last day here, we finally had some time to chill and get to know each other.  In our discussions, Selena mentioned that she was traveling cross-country from Los Angeles and was keeping a blog of her journey.  I asked some questions about what a blog is, why people keep them, and how you get started.  I was reminded of suggestions from friends and mentors that I should experiment with writing a blog.  I had never acted on the suggestions, but this conversation was causing me to rethink my inaction, as it spoke to my creative mind and its need for an outlet.

As the conversation flowed, Nick and Selena asked what I might write about.  I began with the timid answer that I didn't know.  Then I started talking about what is really important to me- health (mental, physical, emotional, dietary, relational, environmental, ecological, spiritual); community; talking to, rather than past one another; leading with the heart. Our guests resonated with what I said- requesting that my very response be the first blog post.  Encouraged, but still timid, I bashfully thanked them.

While Selena and Nick continued on their road trip, my mind continued mulling the idea.  It began to take shape as I visualized the pieces falling in place- first with the title, then with topics.  For the first time in a long time, I was in 'the flow' as I furiously jotted down topics that have impact.  I got excited as the desire increased to actually try this blogging thing.  And with that, I was committed.  I knew the title (Impact), the discussion (to write about how our choices, actions, and behaviors impact the world and what it means to me), and the point (to share my experiences and lessons learned in hopes of increasing others' awareness, if not at least causing others to think).

So here we are.  The blog is up, the first post is in print.  And I got the final push I needed from two traveling musicians.  Their encouragement bolstered me, pushing me from timidity to confidence and purpose.  Theirs was a positive impact.