Katie Steedly’s first-person piece [The Unspeakable Gift] is a riveting retelling of her participation in a National Institutes of Health study that aided her quest to come to grips with her life of living with a rare genetic disorder. Her writing is superb.
In recognition of receiving the Dateline Award for the Washingtonian Magazine essay, The Unspeakable Gift.
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V is for Vulnerable: Life Outside the Comfort Zone
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“I’m trying to get you to stop being a spectator and a pawn in the industrial system that raised us, and maybe, just maybe, to stand up and do something that scares you. I want you to do what you’re meant to do, what we’re all meant to do, which is the hard work of creating art. The artist wonders, “How can I break this?” and “Is it interesting?” Go break something.”
Seth Godin
Dr. Suess’ The Lorax makes Seth Godin cry. Believing deeply and engaging fully is what we are put on earth to do. Finding our edge and living just beyond it is what we are put on earth to do. Crushing our comfort zone and raising a ruckus is what we are meant to do. Creating meaning and leaving the world better than we found it is what we are put on earth to do.
What does that mean in practice?
It means we live our lives as works of art. Breathing. Creating. Building. Breaking. Healing. Imagining. Remembering. Honoring. Connecting. Walking. Leaping. Reaching. Holding. It means our reach must exceed our grasp. It means our cracks must let light in. It means our bowls must always be empty enough to welcome curiosity. It means we must always be sweat and magic.
About Katie
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From Louisville. Live in Atlanta. Curious by nature. Researcher by education. Writer by practice. Grateful heart by desire.
Buy the Book!
The Stage Is On Fire, a memoir about hope and change, reasons for voyaging, and dreams burning down can be purchased on Amazon.