home from storyline

Friday, October 18, 2013

{photo credit: me}

home from the storyline conference and had such a great time! it doesn't seem like it's already been a week since i've been home. last friday i was drinking a hot fuzz latte at bongo java, listening to donald miller talk to a group of bloggers about the passion of writing. 

the conference was refreshing and inspiring. i didn't have an life-altering {eureka!} moment and nothing i heard was super profound. but everything that was shared by the various speakers was exactly what i needed to hear. messages of action, messages of inspired change, messages of "your story matters". 

one speaker in particular asked us to think about what old stories in our lives are we still hanging onto that are preventing us from living out new stories? good question. i think the old story that i hold onto the most is the story of the girl (me) who didn't know quite what she wanted to be when she grew up so she thought she would never figure it out. did that make sense? it's like my own precedent is keeping me from a establishing new one. did that make even less sense?

how about i explain it this way: i was encouraged to keep being proactive with my creative endeavors. making my jewelry and cards is what gets me going, it's what makes me feel happy and alive. i want to keep pursuing opportunities that will help me expand my craft line. i want to learn new techniques, i want to meet more likeminded people, i want to take more classes. i've always liked making things with my hands and have always appreciated the art of handmade goods, but i want to go further. i don't know exactly what that looks like as of yet, but things are happening people. things are a-happening. 

another thing i learned during the weekend? nashville is a cool, cool place. when we weren't listening to speakers like bob goff, shauna niequist, brandon heath, john richmond, and joshua dubois, we were out and about, exploring the neighborhood surrounding belmont university and downtown nashville. we went to some awesome coffee shops including bongo java and crema. we ate dinner at pub5, a cozy and delicious restaurant down one of the quieter side streets in downtown nashville. we walked as far as we could on the shelby street pedestrian bridge (which was not very far as the bridge was closed for a private party), we took pictures outside of the blue bird cafe, we ate fro yo at sweet cece's, we walked around green hills, we shopped at festivity

what a wonderful trip. i'll probably be mentioning it again as i go back through my conference notebook and process more of my notes. it's hard to recap an experience like this so bear with me if it takes a few more blog posts to cover all my bases. (i also want to show you guys the pictures i took, but i need to get a new camera cord. be on the lookout). 

if you made it to the end of this long-winded (for me) post, congrats! drinks on me. 

10 comments:

  1. gosh....i can relate. i thought i was a total slacker for not knowing what i wanted to "be" during my 20's and early 30's. deep down i knew, but thought how could i ever do THAT for a living?? we just have to keep plugging away at it. God gave us these desires and i know he is using them in our life for a purpose. i want to order a necklace for christmas. do i need to go to your etsy shop?

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    1. i am so encouraged and inspired by your new business venture! i feel like i should have my whole life figured out at this point in my life, but it's kind of just all coming together in pieces. it's more fun that way, right? and yes i'd love for you to order some jewelry! currently, my etsy shop is not well-stocked, but keep checking and i will have new items added for the holidays. :-) thanks for stopping by and commenting.

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  2. LOSS OF THE CAMERA CORD. i feel ya sister.

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    1. oh, camera cord. how i do miss thee. (and how i do miss YOU! xoxo)

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  3. remember, God's best if always before us. He created us , handmade and handcrafted. keep joy and hope always alive in your soul.

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    1. one of my all-time favorite things you say to me. it's so true. :-)

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  4. I love the theory of creating your own story. I'm kind of in that boat of not feeling like I'm ever going to figure out what to do with my life! Sounds like a great little trip!

    writteninthemidst.blogspot.com

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    1. I hear ya! should it be this hard?? haha. ah well, the journey is just as important (if not more) than the destination, right?

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  5. That sounds like so much fun! The speakers and the city! I would love to visit Nashville someday :) I am excited to see what you learned and how you were encouraged & influenced by the conference!

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    1. it was a great trip, yes! i did a lot of writing and thinking and brainstorming during the weekend. will keep you guys posted on how i process through it all. thanks for following! :-) (and you need to visit nashville! such a cool place. i want to go back again).

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