big blog exchange

I've never done something like this before. Today I am #15 in the Americas in the, Big Blog Exchange and everyday there is a new friend, somewhere in the word clicking to vote for me or sending a fleet of their friends my way. I almost don't want to own it, these everyday happenings. It seems surreal and odd. I've been blogging now for three years, and so many of my readers, usually invisible are starting to make themselves known. 

At our graduation ceremony in June we stood in a circle with our hands encased in our neighbours. Facing each other we took a last look around the circle, and then dropped our hands, turning around so that our backs were facing eachother. We grabbed hands again and stood like that for a few breaths before finally releasing our hands and taking one step forward. We stood still then, feeling the warmth of the support from the circle now no longer visible. This is what it has felt like in the past week since I've entered into this contest. I don't see faces, but I can feel them nodding at me, to yes just go for it. Maybe your one of them. If you are, I thank you. 

I thank you for taking that moment to lead yourself away from your usual day to day internet jaunt. I thank you for stopping by and reading, caring. Regardless of if I am one of the 16 chosen finalists, I will take each of your votes and place them out into the world. As you may have seen, I have started a new chapter here on harness your breath, called Human Beings. Being Humans. This is a chapter in my life that I have been wanting to start for the last 4 years. When I was 18 I made a trip up north to see Tahltan Nation, my people. I was wanting to start collecting stories, because human beings of all ages from all areas in the world fascinate me. My dad here on Maui bought me a tape recorder, but I was shy and could never bring myself to ask for a story. 

A year later, I was in Greece staying up all night pouring over the YIP website and any information I could find out about the program. I signed up for the application process even thought I knew it was premature. I so badly wanted to take part in doing something that would leave me feeling fulfilled. I remember going through the questions on the application. They were so big and I felt so small in comparison to what they asked. I decided then that I was tired of feeling small and so two years before I actually attended YIP I decided to start living my life aligned with those questions. I decided to start something for myself that would hopefully one day cast a ripple. That same night I started a blog. I didn't know what I wanted to offer, I didn't know if I had a message beyond sharing words and images that made me feel alive. 

Three years later having graduated from YIP my documentation from that one night still lives on here. Human Beings. Being Humans is very much about my own personal process of having the courage to ask and to share. It is an opportunity for me to continue the outreach of warmth that your support has given me. 

Thank you. 

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