What's Your Story?
Dear World was back. I would work for them in a heartbeat. I know my friend, K, feels similar. They're incredible. I'm so grateful we had them back on campus to help us kick off the year and help new students think about their story.
What's Your Story?
It's the question being asked of those who were brave enough to participate in the shoot. Sure, be the change, is still important and it still resonates but is it your story? Nah. So what's your story? HOW DAUNTING IS THAT?? Now granted, I often ask new people what their story is and what I usually mean by that is who are you and how'd you get to where you are today? I go all in with newbies. So people rattle off where they're from and what they do and a few other fill ins and then I ask more questions. But what if you only had a photo to tell your story? A few words written on your body that would convey a message about who you are and invite a conversation about your story?
The Executive Producer of Dear World asked me last week if I was going to participate. And friends, that day wasn't my day. Lots of little frustrations that kept adding up and I just wasn't in the right head space. So I told him no and bought him an iced coffee to make up for it. And one for myself, too. But I vowed to take the weekend to really think about it. Appropriate given last weekend was also my 35th birthday! And that I'd return Monday when Dear World is back on campus and be ready to rock and roll. Be brave. be vulnerable. Share my story.
Now I just needed to figure out what my story was. Or perhaps it's just the piece of my story I was going to share.
I know my story is one of acceptance. And one of rejection. One of self-love and belonging. One of self-hate and selflessness. One of resilience and grit. One of determination and defeat. One of struggle. One of ease. One of success and one of failure. One of grace and one of feeling disgraced. One of highs and one of lows. I am both Christian and gay. I am both conservative and liberal. I am both masculine and feminine. I am both fearless and afraid.
I am both.
I'm not sure I've ever fully been an either/or kind of guy. Never fit completely neatly into a box or a label. Never seen the world as really black or white. Never viewed my relationships and my place in this world as anything but messy. I see the world and people and myself as complicated. As more than any one thing that can be contained by a border or a box.
So perhaps that's my story.
I am both.
It's what I ended up writing on my arms when I took my photo yesterday. So simple and yet so complex. But people are complex. I was able to glimpse my photo last night during the slideshow of the more than 100 members of the TU community who participated and I think I like it. It's a softer me than the last time I participated. Seems more present. I should have the photo back in a couple weeks and I'm confident it will make an appearance on social media.
So what's your story? You don't need Dear World to really reflect on that. Who you are. What experiences and moments make you the person you are today. Know I'm eager to hear yours anytime you want to share it. Over a cup of joe or a glass of red. Your call.
What's Your Story?
It's the question being asked of those who were brave enough to participate in the shoot. Sure, be the change, is still important and it still resonates but is it your story? Nah. So what's your story? HOW DAUNTING IS THAT?? Now granted, I often ask new people what their story is and what I usually mean by that is who are you and how'd you get to where you are today? I go all in with newbies. So people rattle off where they're from and what they do and a few other fill ins and then I ask more questions. But what if you only had a photo to tell your story? A few words written on your body that would convey a message about who you are and invite a conversation about your story?
The Executive Producer of Dear World asked me last week if I was going to participate. And friends, that day wasn't my day. Lots of little frustrations that kept adding up and I just wasn't in the right head space. So I told him no and bought him an iced coffee to make up for it. And one for myself, too. But I vowed to take the weekend to really think about it. Appropriate given last weekend was also my 35th birthday! And that I'd return Monday when Dear World is back on campus and be ready to rock and roll. Be brave. be vulnerable. Share my story.
Now I just needed to figure out what my story was. Or perhaps it's just the piece of my story I was going to share.
I know my story is one of acceptance. And one of rejection. One of self-love and belonging. One of self-hate and selflessness. One of resilience and grit. One of determination and defeat. One of struggle. One of ease. One of success and one of failure. One of grace and one of feeling disgraced. One of highs and one of lows. I am both Christian and gay. I am both conservative and liberal. I am both masculine and feminine. I am both fearless and afraid.
I am both.
I'm not sure I've ever fully been an either/or kind of guy. Never fit completely neatly into a box or a label. Never seen the world as really black or white. Never viewed my relationships and my place in this world as anything but messy. I see the world and people and myself as complicated. As more than any one thing that can be contained by a border or a box.
So perhaps that's my story.
I am both.
It's what I ended up writing on my arms when I took my photo yesterday. So simple and yet so complex. But people are complex. I was able to glimpse my photo last night during the slideshow of the more than 100 members of the TU community who participated and I think I like it. It's a softer me than the last time I participated. Seems more present. I should have the photo back in a couple weeks and I'm confident it will make an appearance on social media.
So what's your story? You don't need Dear World to really reflect on that. Who you are. What experiences and moments make you the person you are today. Know I'm eager to hear yours anytime you want to share it. Over a cup of joe or a glass of red. Your call.
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