“What’s amazing about a leap of faith is how everyone around you is so sure it’s gonna work out, when deep down, you are so sure it won’t.” — Tess Vigeland
Back in July, I went to Portland for a conference, and I saw this talk. I have been thinking about it a lot.
It’s the story of an NPR reporter who quit her job because she wanted more. She wanted something else. She wasn’t sure what the something else was, but she wanted it.
But listening to it, I don’t really hear her story.
I hear her words, but I remember mine.
Because I, too, have felt ambitious. Really ambitious.
On that journey, I spent a lot of time, too, just asking myself: What the hell am I doing?
I look back now on that point in my life. Yes, I had faith in my ability to do something great, and enough desperation to want to do something that wouldn’t suck. But at the exact same time, I had this overwhelming sense of terror. I was so, so scared.
Doing what I did — and what many others have done, and what you’ll see Tess Vigeland talk about in a second — was insane. It was crazy. But also: It was a fantastic thing that changed me, and changed how I think about everything.
And to see it echoed back to me? I felt all of it all over again.
It’s gotten me thinking again. I’ve spent the last few weeks wondering if I’ll ever find the courage to do something that crazy once again.
I hope I will.
Anyway, for now, just watch:
That image of Tess at top comes via.