Audio blog: Three Years

Thank you, God, for the last three years.

It's been an amazing journey that I could have never imagined or designed myself.

The last year has been a difficult time that has exposed and tried me in ways I would have never imagined or designed myself.

I moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Enid, Oklahoma exactly three years plus one week ago today.

It took the first three months before I ever even once felt homesick. It was Easter weekend. Easter Sunday. And after three months, the pangs of not having seen my family in as much time hit me all at once that day.

I sent a package back home to the kids - my brother and two sisters - with everything they would need to assemble their own Easter basket.

I wish I could have been their when it arrived - to help them put it together.

There were only a few major holidays where I wouldn't be able to see my family. It's hard for someone - a kid, really - who's moved out of his house for the first time and living 500 miles away.

I thought I knew what to expect. I had been fairly warned of the differences between Albuquerque and Enid - between big city and small city living. I had friends educate me on how small the community is and how much there is - or isn't - to do here. In fact, I felt so well-informed that I barely had any culture shock upon arrival.

Although, I'll admit - it took me awhile to realize that when people referred to Walmart or Starbucks - you never had to follow up with "Which one?" There is only one.

The thing I didn't expect - that I didn't realize would happen to the extent it did - was how much I would learn about myself out here and just how much that would change me.

Like I said, this last year has been especially difficult and, at times, even painful but the resulting change has grown me into a better person with a greater understanding of myself.

If if it had been up to me, I would have skipped over all of the pain. I would have bypassed the parts where I hurt myself and others through my actions. I may have strayed from the best path for my life but God still has a plan.

It's been a journey that I would have never imagined or designed myself.

And the next year will be a journey I can only begin to imagine and who's design I leave up to God.

--

More audio blogs from Follow Eric:

Directors and Producers
Lucky 13 and the Spelling Bee

Audio Blog - Directors and Producers

Here it is - the second audio blog. You should know the drill. Click play on the YouTube video and read along with the transcript. I recommend headphones.

A little while back I sat down for coffee to catch up with a friend in town. Among his many talents, he's most recently taken on a project for a feature film as the director.

Planning 33 Acts of Kindness

I had lunch today with a good friend and fellow blogger, Leslee (Fresh-Cut Flowers). The purpose of our meeting was to strategize and plan a list of "acts of kindness." Our goal is to reach at least 33 acts to perform in one day.

Why 33?

Lucky 13 and the Spelling Bee

I used to think 13 was my lucky number.

It was a very short phase when I was a kid in elementary school. Lucky 13 was my seat number for the spelling bee. I won that year. The next year I was placed in the same spot, thirteenth in line. I won again.

So obviously 13 was my lucky number, right? I assumed so. Until the next year, when I wasn't picked for that thirteenth chair.

It was that year that I realized 13 was not my lucky number. Because I won. And I went on to win again the following year. In fact, every year, regardless of what chair I started in, I was always the last one standing.

What I learned that year is a simple fact: Luck's got nothing to do with it.

It's a good lesson for a kid to learn. Just as good a lesson for an adult, too.

Successes aren't based on luck but on the hard work and effort you put into advancing. When you allow luck to be the reason for success then you're also allowing luck to be the reason for failure.

Take some ownership for failures as you would take pride in successes. Failures will come, believe me.

One year, failure came in the form of one, simple 11-letter word:

"Personality. P-E-R-S-O-N-A-L-I-T-Y. Personality."

It's hard to forget the word that brought your aspirations of victory in your elementary school spelling bee to a sudden halt.

"Ding." That's how the teachers signaled an incorrect answer.

Even if it's been years and years, I still can't forget the words that brought my beeline for the national levels to a halt. Maybe it's just time to let bygones be bygones.

"Bygones. B-Y-G-O-N-E-S. Bygones."

Dang it. There's another one. Who even knows which letter or letters I missed or added. What matters is that I went home that night, and instead of just giving up, I started studying for the next year's bee.

(Yeah, I was that kid.)

But I learned one thing: Luck's got nothing to do with it.

--

P.S.

This is my first stab at audio blogging. I'd like to know what you think of this new format.

Is it too short? Too long? Is this something you'd like to see more?


I'd appreciate any feedback!

What's missing? More writing.

You know what's been missing from this blog lately?

It hasn't been a stream of activity. It hasn't been a lack of giveaways or contests or events. It hasn't been a Blogathon.

This blog has been missing writing.

And I've missed writing, too.

So at least for this moment, I've chosen to sit down with a hot cup of coffee and a little time before work to share some words with you.

I want to make you a simple promise: More writing.

I'll still have events and contests and, yes, even another Blogathon is in the works, but I will not neglect the core aspect of quality writing that I feel was here in greater quantity before.

I've finally sent off the copy of "Start Something That Matters" that Steph won and I've got a Blogathon-style event in February that I'm helping a dear librarian friend out with. I've got big changes and new opportunities in the horizon in my offline life and that will help shape the future of Follow Eric. But for now I stick to my promise...

More writing.

RTB Recap - Eating good in OKC

For as long as it's been since our journey on the Road Trip Blogathon, I can still recall some very specific senses of taste and smell from the different restaurants and cafes we visited.

Here are two of my favorites.

Cuppies & Joe

This was a really nice spot for all of us to sit and relax during the chaos of the RTB. After flying all the way down Highway 81 and then darting the streets of OKC, it was so nice to be able find some comfy seats and enjoy some yummy cupcakes and coffee.

The best part about Cuppies & Joe is the fact that it's taken up residence inside a remodeled house. That helps explain why it feels so natural to walk in, order up coffee and a cupcake, and settle into one of the armchairs by the front window.

And the winner is...

Time to announce the winner of the "Start Something That Matters" book giveaway.

First of all, huge thanks to everyone that participated: Kelly, Melodie, Jess and Stephanie. It was a lot of fun reading the responses and getting to know about the causes and charities that you all support.

The winner will be receiving one of these in the mail very soon...

And that person is...

RTB Recap - Coffee Slingers in OKC

The end is near! The end is near!

2011 is coming to a close and I still haven't shared all of the pictures and video from the Road Trip Blogathon! I know, I know. I'm kind of a slacker.

So before year's end, my goal is to post all of the videos and pictures and share the final adventures of the Blogathon that took us down Highway 81 from Enid all the way to Oklahoma City.

Let's start with our quick stop for some serious caffeine in Downtown OKC.