Scrolling through posts for 2018, I realized that this was a slow “blog” year, but busy offline one. This little site sat on the sidelines for the most part, as I struggled to figure out a vision for it. But it was always here waiting when I was ready to revisit important memories and milestones.
This year we celebrated our 4-year anniversary in Venice and my parents’ 40th in Alaska.
We sold our first home and moved to a loft downtown.
I re-discovered my inner-activist, marching for the lives of young people and bearing witness to the aftermath of Botham Jean’s tragic murder (which happened across the street from us).
My life motto, inspired by Bryan Stevenson, was/is to be *proximate* — you can’t uplift stories of people or communities from a distance.
This year continued to pull me beyond my comfort zone and closer to self-actualization. Taking the biggest leap of faith in my career, I left my job at Big Thought, an organization that I considered a second home and started my own business.
Because I learned something in being proximate. There is a distinct difference between marketing and storytelling. Between stock photos and real, visceral images. Between speaking from a place of privilege and sitting back quietly to let other people’s experiences shine through.
2018, you were one hell of a rollercoaster. You shook me. You showed me light and shadows, beauty and pain, uncertainty and resolution. You strengthened my values and reminded me which ones I’m unwilling to compromise for the sake of stability. You prepared me for a new year of authenticity and possibility.
Cheers to you, 2018, in your final moments. And 2019… let’s do this!