Turning Points

Until a few months ago, I could pinpoint the moment in my life where everything changed. There was this hug.

It was at that leadership conference, the first one I ever went to. At the end, I was hugged by a crying guy, which made me cry a bit and want to go back the next year. I did go back, which led me to other conferences. I met new people. I became more outgoing and confident. And ultimately, even though I was rejected for leadership role at the one conference that meant the most to me, that changed me too. It kept me humble, and it gave me something to prove.

That hug changed the course of my life (and I'm not even talking about the monster crush that it inspired). It made me go to activities I never would have considered, like summer camp, which led me to a different summer camp, which led me to visit a friend I met there in England, which inspired a really bad case of the travel bug. That led to me discovering photography, the desire to live overseas, and even blogging.

I can pretty much draw a straightish line from most aspects of my life back to that hug. I have no idea where I'd be today if I'd bent to tie my shoe or wandered off to the other side of the room instead of staying put and being hugged.

I think, recently, I've had another turning point. I've had to let it sink in for a few weeks, but after mulling it over I'm pretty sure. Jack Layton's death, and the events immediately surrounding it. Meeting my old friend a couple days before reminded me who I am. And then Mr. Layton died, and reminded me of my potential, of who I want to be. From there I did a bunch of roaming and even more thinking. Loving, hopeful and optimistic, and we'll change the world. Words to live by.

So I will.