Welcome To My Blog

“3, 2, 1, Liftoff…and Welcome, everyone, to my blog!”

I cannot tell you how exciting it was simply to write that first sentence. You see, I am a writer at heart. And more than that, I am so utterly fortunate as to wake up every morning looking forward to the coming day. I have been blessed with a lifestyle and life experiences that I could never have dreamed of as a child.

(Before I continue, I simply want to share that this inaugural blog post will be a bit longer than I expect future posts to be. So thanks for taking a few minutes to read.)

Literally, I am often so full of positive energy that I feel I will explode if I don’t start sharing it with others. Even more, as I’ve grown, I am finally realizing the value of diversity, meaning, in this case, I am learning how each of us is on an entirely different road, not only with unique experiences, but perhaps more profoundly, with unique perspectives of even the same experiences.

Capitalizing on Diversity

So, one breakthrough learning for me, for example, is that no two people ever perceive or interpret an event or situation the same way. Sure, our broad perceptions are the same, but without even realizing it, the nuances of our interpretations immediately take us on a different perceptual journey. In psychology, it’s referred to as social constructionism. Each of us, based on our life paths up to that point in time, has been influenced, minute-by-minute and second-by-second, by entirely different things. That means, simply, that our understanding of anything is different than the next person’s.

I like to imagine that each person in any group setting has an empty bubble above his or her head, and the minute another group member begins speaking, each person begins subconsciously constructing within that bubble his or her own tower of interpretation, each with the same basic structure, but adorned with unique ornaments specific to that person’s life-experience thus far.

Why is this important and how does it motivate me to share? Because I’ve come to a point in life where I absolutely crave learning and growing, and one of the things that I’ve learned is that our deepest, most profound learning experiences often occur when two factors are present:

1. When we are nervous, anxious or fearful, and
2. When our view is strengthened by the lessons and learnings of others.

So, without going down the rabbit hole of diversity, I will simply say this: Appreciating diversity is not simply recognizing our differences so that we can live a more peaceful and comfortable existence with other human beings. Diversity is a powerful, infinite force that strengthens our lives with depth and wisdom. If we can learn to embrace the fascinating beauty of others’ experiences, rather than to envy or scoff at them, we can quickly begin to see each moment in life through more and more lenses. Essentially, we begin to see our experiences through the eyes of others.

To Share, To Inspire, To Empower

One of the richest aspects of my adult life thus far has been the network of friends I have acquired throughout the world. During repeat international tours, I have made lasting friendships and had fascinating conversations. It is in these conversations where I’ve gained a deeper glimpse into the stories and perspectives of some truly inspiring individuals. Not only has this diverse exposure blessed me with renewed ability to see the world from different perspectives, but even better, it has taught me to more routinely seek out different perspectives in my life.

My desire, therefore, through this blog and through “CHOICES,” my podcast, is not merely to tell you what I have learned. Heck, I’m still trying to make sense out of it all. No, my biggest desire is to share, to inspire and to empower. To share the friendships and the conversations that I have had, so that we might all have the opportunity to grow our perspectives and capitalize on the wealth of wisdom that exists in all of us, as one collective whole.

Gratitude

For all of you who have taken a few minutes to read this very first blog post of mine, I welcome you. And to those who have yet to tune in, I look forward to having you onboard, and I relish the opportunity to share with and learn from each of you and the stories that make your life so unique and valuable.

Gratefully yours,

-shannon