This poem is featured in V137 now available for purchase

Historically speaking, those who inspired the world in the most hopeful ways, were the human beings who had the courage to do things differently. The human beings who had the courage to trust in what they wanted to create, the human beings who never took a back seat to their curiosity, or their hope, or the way they desired to show up and hold space within their lives. It was these same people—the artists, the multi-hyphenates, the whistleblowers, that all weathered misunderstanding. It was these same people who were told that they had to express themselves, or exist in a way that was neatly organized and easy to understand within the rules and the expectations of a world that failed to truly see them. It was these same people who trusted that there was more out there for them; the same people who risked, who believed that there were more colors to discover, more sounds to experience, more texture to what they could become. It was these same people who never stopped elbowing their way into this world, and that is why they impacted it.

Remember—old maps will not get you to new destinations. I hope you have the courage to be the kind of person who takes the risk, to be the kind of person who leads with their heart and shows up in their life with a ruthless dedication to learning and growing and exploring all of the things that ignite something deep inside of you.

I hope you have the courage to never let comfort or apprehension convince you that you are better off staying still, that you are better off  following in the footsteps of those who came before you. I hope you have the courage to be your own person, to trust in your individuality. I hope you have the courage to fight for a future that inspires you. I hope you have the courage to make your life your own. Beautiful things are vanishing each day. Now more than ever—it is time to burn for what you love. Do not hide yourself away. Show the world what you can do with all of that fire inside of you.