Historically speaking, I have not been much of a podcast-listener, though I have put great effort into jumping on the bandwagon! However, about a year ago I stumbled upon a podcast that I just can’t get enough of. It’s called The Unmistakable Creative, and Srini Rao is an incredible interviewer. At the end of each episode, he asks his guests what makes something or someone unmistakable; by and large, the most common answer is that someone is unmistakable when they are authentically themselves. There can be no mistake in being who you truly are. This inspires me to fully show up every day and appreciate my own talents as well as those of others.
I’m rather fascinated by the whole Industrial Revolution. When I was a child, I remember being in awe at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. I would have really loved to see the Wright Brothers first successful flight. It was on my birthday, though a few years before I was born! I can’t even imagine how unattainable inhabiting the space of the sky must have seemed. They dreamed big, never gave up, and had the courage to do what had never been done. The joy that they must have felt in the moment when the plane stayed in the air had to be incredible!
While I enjoy many activities, from rock climbing to gardening to writing, one of my most dear pastimes is getting lost in my imagination. There is something delicious about sinking into a quiet moment and finding ideas and stories floating in the air around me. I’ve been a great daydreamer my whole life and recently read an article in The Sun that talked about how daydreaming increases the strength of our long-term memory. When we spend time mentally wandering, our brain is busy cataloging and shuttling information away. Now I don’t feel so guilty for enjoying my idle time!
Mary climbing Ancient Art in Moab, Utah
This probably comes as no surprise, but I really wish I could fly. I’m so envious of the way birds catch a current of air and ride it! I wonder if it feels like surfing; I’ve experienced one successful surfing attempt and it was an incredible feeling. I have also found exhilarating moments while climbing rock faces; I wish I could jump off and soar! When I was more fearless, I wanted to try one of those squirrel wingsuits, but now I think I need to sign up for some hang gliding lessons instead.
There were two things that I wanted to be when I was a child: a writer and an adult. I seem to have attained both things! I find that writing fiction allows my imagination to play and nicely balances my more structured side that greatly enjoys working and being productive. I suppose it speaks to my innate nature that even when I was a child, I wanted to make money and pay bills!
While I’ve only been with Synergy for a few months, I have been pleasantly surprised by the can-do attitude of the team. Have you ever watched the movie Yes Man? It’s been a while for me, but the idea that has stuck with me is how we don’t know what we can achieve unless we try. Often, our ideas or efforts don’t play out how we thought they would, but sometimes they do or are even better than we could have imagined. The most important thing is showing up and putting in the effort. It is very rewarding to be given the latitude to think, plan, and act. Thank you for the opportunity!
