For Momo

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." — Winston Churchill

I pondered how to begin this, yet here I am, still navigating through the labyrinth of my thoughts. I envisioned myself as an articulate, well-versed poet whose words effortlessly resonate with you. However, I do not sing, (I don't sing well) and the title of a poet eludes me. Instead, I will strive to unveil the essence of who I perceive myself to be. So here it is, greetings, my name is Kelly (hi Kelly, I know). I often jest about my Irish heritage, proudly declaring it as a testament to my strong Irish name, and while it holds true, the reality is that my parents simply really wanted a daughter. This sentiment was, of course, relished by my older brother throughout our childhood.

I have been involved in mentoring and coaching in various capacities for quite some time. Honestly, I believe many have. A while ago, I decided to pursue formal education on the topic and have continued to do so. I think, in some manner or another, I will always. This has been beneficial in relating and connecting with my three children and my beautiful wife. At times, I have counseled friends who were mentally preparing to end their lives or supported those who had already attempted to do so. I have battled depression and other mental struggles for longer than I care to say. I have often found that these struggles have given me insight that I wouldn’t have gained without the experience of the struggle.

I share this so you may understand where I am coming from as we move forward. We can connect, take what we know, and attempt to understand one another. I can guarantee this road will have bumps, and there will be times I will be wrong. That’s kind of the point though, isn’t it? To learn, to move past the pride and shallow swell of admonishments and accolades, and get to where we can both grow and learn simultaneously.

I have already rewritten this at least six or seven times, each time drawn away by some mental distraction. So, reader, I must apologize in advance for the moments that seem disjointed. I am both easily distracted and prone to ponder. I am not sure if that’s a good combination or not, but it's mine nonetheless. Before I am further enticed by those mental distractions, let me lay down the premise for this blog.

In a world where we can't even have conversations without the thought of offending or being "cancelled" lingering around, this blog is nothing more than a veiled attempt to maybe facilitate one or two of those conversations. To slow down and give credence to those around us, who may be perceived as crazy, obstinate, or may even, lord forbid, disagree with us, and simply attempt to see the world through their eyes. It's an attempt to understand without immediately condemning, to think that even if we unequivocally disagree, we can understand that the way they see it may be influenced by factors we never even considered. Simply a shot at having a hard conversation, maybe learning something, and realizing that this topic does not define people as a whole, and we don't have to write them off, even if we disagree.

So if you've made it this far, I welcome you. Even if it's just you and I, let's start the conversation and learn and grow. Let's start a murmur of conversations that may grow, lift people up, and bring people together, with in the challenges, even if just for a moment, to share a perspective and hear one as well.

"When we talk, we are only repeating what we already know. But if we listen, we may learn something new." — Dalai Lama