“There is no passion to be found in playing small — in settling for the life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
- Nelson Mandela
Photo by Jessica Knowlden on Unsplash
This week we’re focusing on the light we choose to bring to the world and even more than that paying attention to the opportunities always around us to bring the light to our offline or virtual communities.
It’s not overstatement to say I’m here (back again sharing online and here in general) because of the light many of *you* have brought me.
Quick story (which is not how this will go on typical Wednesdays but let’s call this one special because it’s the first):
For the past 4+ years my work has been in East Africa.
I spend a lot of time working with my Team across 8000 miles (I’m the only one in the US) and less than I like actually in Kenya where they all are.
My last trip was the longest yet.
As I traveled across Kenya meeting new people and preparing to launch a project, each time I was introduced people marveled at my name.
“Carrrrla.” They’d say and roll it around in their mouth and furrow their brow.
On the day I left my team gave me this mug and announced they had chosen for me a Kiswahili name.
Nuru
adjective
Light — the illumination that guides through the darkness.
Bringing the light can feel like an arduous task.
It’s an undertaking we are already too damn tired for right now (raises hand).
And yet? Often times we are already doing it just by consistently showing up in the world as ourselves.
The key to consistency is simplify. Don’t overcomplicate it all.
Thanks for being here, hope you enjoy the first Wednesday microcast.
I love the microcast because I love hearing your voice. I want to start writing more and showing more online again (including my own substack!!), but the internet feels like a much scarier place than it was in ye olden days of blogging.