May 6th, 2008
Planning this Full Hearts, Full Hands retreat is one of the more challenging and most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It is giving me the coolest opportunity to talk to people and realize talents I didn’t even know they carried. My next door neighbor in the dorm is a photoshopping wizard–two girls across the hall, who are also in the business school, are great at planning logistics, and second hand connections across campus are proving absolutely invaluable when it comes to gathering feedback on past leadership/service/international experiences. Self-actualization is an understatement of the ways this is using all my past experiences and stretching my current abilities. I love it.
Today I met with a fairly visible member of the Mays team, partially preparing to make a fumbling explanation of my goals and reasons and for them to be met with only mild interest or questions that would pop my big red balloon; not so. I left the meeting completely encouraged, rejuvenated and with quite a few concrete concepts that will help me turn these ideas into something I can hold–and yet something so much bigger. It’s always refreshing to meet someone who is so visible to so many people and find that, on a personal level, they are as interesting and interested as at the front of a crowd or class.
There are people coming out of the woodwork willing to help, and everyone in my path has been hearing about it from me lately. There’s definitely something to be said for the people who endure two hour conversations with me when I get going about this; it’s really ridiculous. Still, I’m hoping to find a productive role for all the willing souls out there. I am convinced that, if someone is willing to lend a hand, whatever their talents, there’s a chance to really expand. More responsibility? Yes. Worth it? Emphatically yes.
The energy boosts of all these doors opening is good for my running, and I just feel like this whole thing makes me come so intensely alive in every area of my life. I hope I can play a part in helping everyone I come in contact with find this “here’s what I am made for” feeling. It’s incredible.
