Being Real.
If we aren’t growing and learning and changing and challenging, what are we even doing here?
Consider this post:
1) An appreciation post.
2) A little call to action.
I’m grateful that you are here. It’s an honor that you’ve chosen to spend a few moments with me, reading my words as I get deep in my mind, deep in my thoughts and try to interpret this world and translate it through my own words.
Writing is my passion. I can’t explain it. It’s just always been there. I remember as a kid just wanting to be a sports writer, that is if I didn’t make it as a big-league shortstop or an NBA shooting guard. I just have always wanted to share my thoughts, ideas and concepts about life. It was my wife who convinced me to start a blog eleven years ago when we had just started dating. Early on, she unlocked a part of me that I didn’t know was locked. So babe, I write because from the beginning, you believed I could.
I often feel a bit selfish, a little self-absorbed and it feels like I must have a large ego to put my words out there as if anyone would be interested in what I have to say. For some reason, you are here reading and you’ve signed up to allow me to invade your inbox whenever I feel it is necessary. So, here’s to you. Thank you.
I despise being misunderstood. That might be obvious, considering the name of this space. I lose sleep over misunderstandings. I’ll over-explain to avoid being misunderstood. I replay instances where I’ve convinced myself that there are misconceptions about me, always wanting to correct those who might have the wrong impression. It’s different from caring about what people think about me, I can’t control that, nor do I care to. But, if someone was to think of me, I at least want to give them the right impression. Anyway, so I created this project, in hopes that I’m never actually misunderstood.
This writing venture is a work of expression. I never want to tell you what to think, what to feel. I do however want you to open your mind and think deeper, harder. I want you to feel - something. I want you to feel moved. If we aren’t growing and learning and changing and challenging, what are we even doing here?
I want to use my voice, and of course to be heard. I also want to encourage others to use theirs, on whatever platform and with whatever volume. Some people are outgoing and loud, others reserved and quiet. Either way, your voice will always matter. There are no qualifications, no prerequisites. Just start where you’re at. Activate your voice.
My selfish hopes are to grow this space into something a little larger than it currently is. I always have ideas swimming around in my head of what this could become. Question & Answer posts, guest posts, collaborations, interviews with individuals doing work in the community, etc. I want to highlight others’ voices, not just my own.
I daydream that this work will someday be my full-time gig. Gotta have goals, right? It’s also possible that I don’t really know what I’m doing. That’s just me being real.
The call to action is simply this: if you like what I write when I invade your inbox, please share it. Tell your friends. I don’t post private work, it’s out there for people to read, share, comment, critique and debate. Please do all of those things on here and on your social media spaces. Of course, if you would rather not have a public discourse, I don’t want you to ever feel obligated.
Many of you have decided not only to subscribe to this space but to pay for it as well. Thank you. I can’t really express how much it means to me. It’s quite humbling really. If you have not signed up for a paid subscription, that’s okay, but please consider it. Most of my posts will soon be for paid subscribers only. It’s only fair, right? It’s just $5 a month - which these days is like the cost of one small latte a month. You can also sign up for a yearly subscription for $55 - save yourself $5 and buy yourself a small latte.
Once again, thank you for being my audience. I do not take that lightly. I will continue to work hard to give you my best work.
-JG