THANK YOU, MAYA.

First off, I want to thank you all for the support that you have shown for this project. I am so excited that you all are excited! To those of you who have emailed me your stories, it has been an honor to read through them. I love each and every one of you. 

As many of you have probably heard, Maya Angelou passed away yesterday. She has been one of my biggest inspirations, especially for this project. I miss her, even though I never knew her. 

I was searching on Goodreads for some of my favorite quotes of hers, reading over some of her best work, and this one popped up. 

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a “life.” I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Those words are beautiful. I want to live, being fully alive for Jesus. I want to make people feel loved and special and needed. I want to make a life for myself, centered on Jesus and surrounded by good people. I do still have a lot to learn, and I want to have an open heart. I guess that’s the message behind Unfolding Passions as well. To live with an open heart and a zest for life. 

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” That’s my favorite Maya quote. I believe that we all have stories to tell, we all have a purpose on this earth. I hope that Unfolding Passions is a place where you can share your story with other people, and encourage them in a way that only YOU can. Don’t bear an untold story. “No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” You are worth knowing. You are worth loving. 

Thank you, Maya, for telling us these things. 

xoxo

P.S. I’ll be putting up a FAQ page here so please send any and all questions about this community + my book to unfoldingpassions(at)gmail.com! Or if you’re on Twitter, tweet your questions using the hashtag #unfoldingpassionsfaq. Also, continue to send in your stories! I do want to feature so many of you in the coming weeks! 

A COMMUNITY

Welcome. Welcome to this space, this community. You are indeed welcome and wanted here.

I grew up with two parents that cared deeply about my passionate heart. My dad tells the story of how when I was 6 and I wanted to teach a class called, “Little Ladders.” The point of this class?  I was apparently going to teach other 6 year olds how to jump through the rungs of a ladder that was laying on the ground. When I was 12, they listened to me dream about being a wedding photographer. When I brought up the idea for a book, they were behind me 100%. They have never doubted me, never discouraged me, and never questioned God’s call for me. I am forever grateful to them for that. I am grateful to Jesus because He gave me and continues to give me everything in my life that I need. It’s all good, and I am indebted to Him for His mercy + grace. (I know, this is sounding like an Oscar speech. But without Jesus + my parents, I wouldn’t be anywhere. I know that for a fact.) I attribute a lot of why I am a dreamer to my support system growing up. I am a wannabe full time adventurer. I hope that you all have a support system. People that love you and want the very very best for you and push you further and higher. If you don’t, I hope and pray that this place becomes that for you. A comfortable, safe haven to be creative and be inspired to accomplish the things you set your mind to.

The book, also titled Unfolding Passions, is set to be published in the Spring of 2015. This won’t be a “blog to book” kind of deal, but more of a culmination of what this next year holds. A coming together of ten young people (or groups of young people!) that represent the message behind Unfolding Passions. The book will be a tangible, hold in your hands way for us to get the message out, the message of passionate people doing what they love.

The idea for this community has been swirling around in my head for a few years now but it wasn’t until last Christmas that God gave me the idea to write, or photograph, a book. To write a book has been one of my dreams for a long time, and I am so excited that it is coming about. Thank you for going on this journey with me!

There’s just few rules for this space. ;) Comment and engage with these posts, share this site with your friends, and email me your stories. This is a COMMUNITY and I want to involve each and every one of you. I really don’t want it to be me talking the whole time which is why I’ll be featuring other young creatives (and maybe some “older” creatives too ;)). If you have something to say, say it! I have huge dreams for this place. I look forward to building it together.

xoxo
Ellie