On this spot, a little girl hesitantly stands at the edge of a deep abyss. Spine stiff, her toes curl back as she stares over them into the space beyond. It seems unimaginable how deep that thing it is – no one told her it would be that way when she got here.
She says under her breadth, “Why, in the world, do I want to do this? How did I get here?” As if anyone could really answer her.
And yeah, there’s a dock, but look at it. It looks pretty sturdy from here, but who knows what it’ll look like once you’re on it.
She lifts her leading foot, hands clenching. After her stomach does a flip, her foot returns to the ground and she wipes her palms off on her thighs.
She realizes something. If she ignores the voices in her head, the ones quietly whispering, worrying or the ones manically gibbering, doubting…
That this spot is really….nice. It’s quiet and peaceful. If she stares at the space long enough, it almost sounds like the space is breathing back at her, slowly, calmly.
But it’s still…big.
So she cranes her neck, building up strength from deep in her gut, going up on those hesitant toes, and shouts into the air.
I VALUE VOICE.
…individual, authentic, unrestrained, equal and celebrated.
I VALUE CHANGE.
…making some sort of impact…using my hands and my brains and a camera…and probably some geeky homegrown tools.
I VALUE COMMUNITY.
…deep in it… on the ground…. surrounded by that dynamic noise of the personalities who value the same things I do.
Take THAT great unknown!
Back on her heels, she giggles a bit at herself.
Then she takes a deep breath
…lids dropping like her head does to her chest
…puts her hand out towards the rail
…and takes the first step.
Happy Birthday Sheldon.
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