One of the best experiences I had was going to Dialog in the Dark. Basically, you walk into a setting where it is completely blacked out and you are guided through different scenarios like crossing a major street as well as going to the supermarket. I’m not quite sure how they do it but there is absolutely no light! Your eyes never adjust to even see a shadow. And the best part is that your guide is really blind, so they teach you how to adapt and really understand what their experience is like. My guide that day was a young MBA student who attended GSU in downtown Atlanta. He was incredibly energetic and was born blind. We all asked questions about his life and he was more than inspiring. This young man was so ambitious and excited about life! They say that when you lose one of your senses, the others get heightened and everything becomes so rich. The smells of flowers or fresh baked bread to the beautiful sounds of music and laughter. I walked away from that experience with a new found appreciation but also with a little envy for my guide who seemed to have the richest experiences and so much joy by the enhancement of everything he could touch, smell, and hear.
I remembered this day because I have been going “blind” in my own way. I’ve been so tunnel visioned about my dreams that I haven’t stopped to question whether or not I was making the right decisions. I was just following my instincts and have been following my passion blindly. Through it all, its been the most incredible journey with the most extreme experiences. But nothing worthwhile is easy, right?
The other night, for the first time in my life, I felt a tremendous amount of anxiety. My chest was tight, I wasn’t taking full breaths, it was like how I feel when I’m late for something, except this time, the feeling didn’t pass. After two bottles of wine, and being forced to talk through everything, I finally took a deep breath and let it all go. I said a prayer that night for confirmation or reassurance that I’m going in the right direction and literally within 24 hours, I got a call. We shot our 3rd episode the next morning and after we wrapped, I got an amazing opportunity to get directly linked to my dream. Kismet. So, I’m crossing all my fingers and toes, wishing on every star, and saying another prayer for this to be the beginning of the next chapter that I’ve been preparing for. I’m chasing my fate and secretly hoping that the chase never ends because I think the learning curve & experiences along the way are the best part. The beautiful struggle is to be cherished and every moment savored. Every step is a celebration.
