Waiting to be Noticed

Following passion is going to be an epic ride.  No longer waiting to be noticed by others, it is time I noticed myself.  This is truly a breakthrough thought that occurred to me, as I started researching a new follower on my Twitter feed.  I can't begin to explain how social media works from an entrepreneurial perspective. How this follower came to follow me is a mystery. It doesn't really matter.  What caught my eye was her apparent courage (and fear) as she defined herself.  I started to look at her life as it appears online.  As I studied her, I felt a familiar feeling that, in the past, has been momentarily riveting, but that I have never actually followed.  The feeling is passion.  The passion for taking risks, for walking in truth and outside of ego.

In my youth, I took risks, both personal and professional. In some instances, I mistook ego for passion. The result was many stumbles and bruises. At the time, my ego was quite fragile.  The stumbles and bruises  felt like mortal wounds.  In fact, they were not. They did, however, lead me in a different direction.  They also humbled me. I had "failed". That "failure" haunted me for 13 years.  Until now.

Until today.

Today, as I read about this woman's life (online brand) I began to connect, once again, with my own passion.  I noticed that this passion was pure and disconnected from accolades, riches, and fame. Rather, the feeling was a nudge to notice myself, to notice my excitement and my potential.  It was a nudge to depend on myself and define my own path forward, one step at a time, in tune with my gifts, and ready to dive headfirst into an immersive and authentic life.

Building a Wall of Love

The title seems idealistic...even to me. Yet, no other stance seems plausible.  We cannot become like "them".  Whoever "they" are.... in a given moment.  Perpetuating fear, anger, and pain will only create more of the same.  To be clear, I am not suggesting that we are not and will not feel these emotions.  I am and I do, and I am certain that you are and that you do.   We are human.

I am suggesting, however, that we cannot let fear, anger, and pain drive us.  Even now.  Especially now.  We cannot build walls that are cemented with these emotions.  These types of walls will only degrade us and those who stand on the other side of them.  They will weather and crumble, as they are not constituted of a material that will unite and bond us to one another.

Love is the most durable essence.  It is difficult to describe it. But, we each know it when we encounter it or offer it.

I do not believe this is an #LGBTQ issue.  Many of you may disagree.  I believe this issue is far broader and deeper.  #Terrorism has touched people of all colors and types. We have not been "singled out".  We are simply the latest fatality.

Over the coming days and weeks, we will grieve for #orlando.  We will mourn the lives that have been lost and will seek to comfort those who remain.  Those left behind must begin the arduous task of recovering from the brutality that has touched their families and their community.

From afar, we can continue to solve this global crisis by standing together in love.  The greatest leaders of human change have taken this path.  Let's continue their work of building a wall comprised of love. Ultimately, it is the only element that can truly transform our world.