I was sitting in the backroom at work last week, scarfing down my lunch when my co-worker Michael came to ask me if I had a minute. I spun around in my chair and raised an eyebrow while I tried finish chewing the bite I’d just taken.
“Would you be interested in interviewing a police officer who’s done some bike touring?” he asked.
Michael did an interview for the blog a couple of months ago and since then has decided to introduce me to people he thinks might have a great story to tell. The first time he did this, I walked sheepishly up to Ruth Ann White. She certainly seemed like someone with a great story, but honestly, I felt as if I lacked the confidence to tell it. Still, I told Ruth Ann about this blog and she agreed to give me her and her husband’s email and to meet Jackson and I for coffee to talk more about their adventures.
That interview turned into what I think is the best post on this blog to date. Ruth Ann and her husband, Allen, were genuine, kind people with an incredible story to tell that fit perfectly into the mission of this blog: remind people it’s okay not to know what’s next, follow your passions, things will work out.
I left that interview feeling jazzed. I was so excited to write their story. And I was excited to meet more people like this inspiring, funny couple with a great story to tell.
Working at an outdoor gear shop, I meet people like that often. I help people get ready for their next adventure while asking them to tell me about where they’ve been. I often feel a spark in my heart, a longing to hear more, a desire to become their friend and hear their wisdom.
However, I lack the confidence to say, “Would you be willing to do an interview for my blog?” In my mind it sounds desperate. There’s something that holds me back, something that makes me feel as if sitting down with me isn’t really worth their time.
So when Michael came back to me that day asking to introduce me to another potential interviewee, I nodded and told him, “You know I don’t make any money from this right? I can’t like, pay you, for referrals.”
I so appreciate Michael making these introductions because I feel as if this somehow validates me. When he says, “This is our assistant manager, Lindsey, and she’s got a blog…” it makes me feel as if yes, I do have a blog, and it’s pretty dang cool.
This blog is a baby, and I know that, but the only way for it to grow is for me to keep telling people’s stories, one at a time. For now (and actually forever) I hope Michael keeps referring me to cool people. But I also hope to work up the confidence to do more asks for these interviews myself.
I want to look more people in the eye and say, “I have this blog about finding your place in the world through adventure and I think you’ve got a story worth telling. Would you want to do an interview with me?”
Because the truth is, I think everyone has a story worth telling and I’m on a mission to tell them.
Tell me your story. This is a tiny little community right now (I know, I look at the stats) and I want YOU to feel comfortable here. I want to hear your story. Tell me who you are, tell me what you love to do, tell me how you’re struggling.
We all feel lost and confused sometimes and I want you to know THAT’S OKAY. It’s okay to not know what you’ll do after college. It’s okay if you feel stuck in a rut. It’s okay if you’re longing to jump into something new but afraid of the fall. It’s okay if you’ve spent a lot of time and effort on one thing and now you don’t think that’s the right thing for you. It’s okay if you feel alone in a new place. It’s okay if you’re scared of what’s ahead.
“I think a huge step forward to where we want to be is realizing that it’s okay to be in-between.”
-From the blog post that started it all.
I’m working to build a community of people that embrace those feelings and encourages each other to overcome them.
You are welcome here. So tell me your story!