And so it begins.
Today I venture into the blog world, in hopes of discovering, inspiring, and empowering people to connect meaningfully with worthy causes in the world.
To be honest, I'm excited about starting this--but I don't really feel like writing anything tonight. Especially not about me. See, for the last 6 weeks, I've been looking for work. And, as so many know, it can take a lot out of you--the résumés, cover letters, networking, interview preparing, interviewing, re-evaluating, re-writing....and so on and so on, and over and over.
Just about yesterday, the last crumbs of novelty had officially been wiped away. Discouragement set in. And fatigue, and overwhelmed-ness.......Instead of grinding out another afternoon the same as so many before, I took a break to reflect on the last 6 weeks--and more: the things I've learned about job searching this time around; what I'm looking for in a job and how determined I am to find it; the skills and abilities I have to offer, and what I still need to work on; my dreams, and how I present myself.
How I present myself....
During that reflection, two things came together for me, to bring me here: First, last week I was asked in an interview how "plugged in" I am (Social networking? Yes. Tweet? NO!), and I realized--not so much. I've wanted to think I am--I do social and professional networking here and there, I check in on other blogs, I stay connected to current events.....but the truth is I'm good at input, not output. I've had a certain resistance to getting too connected, because there's this little part of me that still believes that something of the quality of relationships gets lost when we reduce them to commenting on someone's status update about what they ate for lunch that day.
But, okay. In the year 2009, especially when looking for a job, there is something to be said about the advantages of personalizing your space on the world wide web.
This realization suddenly collided with the fact that I remain committed to pursuing my dream, this mission that has emerged with clarity in my life over the last couple years: To connect people to causes in meaningful and sustainable ways, thereby supporting the work of worthy causes and enriching the lives of those serving and served.
This dream has various possible shapes for me: A coordinator at a church, or at a higher ed institution, or as a consultant for corporation(s), or--dare I dream this big?--as a TV talk show host bringing awareness and opportunity to thousands. (Hey, might as well dream!)
And so here I am tonight--taking steps toward that dream, by getting "plugged in." What does that mean for this blog? My hope is to bring awareness, to as many as possible, about the ways people are trying to make a positive difference in this big, ugly, rusty, old, crippled, beautiful world. To broaden our windows of perspective to include the unthinkable, the controversial, the unexpected and exciting, and hopefully be moved to act--perhaps in ways we never expected of ourselves.
Where will you plug in?
