In 2014-ish, I was sitting at the small conference table in my boss’s office discussing a project. Vicki, from marketing, walked into the room with a photographer—camera already aimed. She announced “We’re here to take some candid shots of the team.”

A lifetime of awkward photos flashed through my psyche and my reflexes kicked in. In an instant, I slipped from my chair to the floor, safely hidden from view beneath the table. Thanks to the polyester/rayon/spandex mix of my work pants and the slick surface of the laminate chair I’d been perched on, this was a lightning-fast process and I was successful. I’d evaded the camera and created a room full of laughter in one fell swoop.

I said it that day, and I’ll say it here: “I don’t like photos.”

The plot twist I never saw coming is, it turns out, I’m wholly willing to overcome my discomfort with photos and video for the sake of creative expression and freedom. That’s right. Freedom.

Polyester-mix pants, cubicles … performance evaluations?! They’re unimportant, insulting on every level, and, most definitely, NOT JOYFUL.

I’ve done time in those trenches and my soul said, “No more.”

But if not the career I’ve labored at for decades, then what? The answer, I hope, starts with the spark of curiosity that lit my full-blown fixation to make a YouTube channel. Something about vlogging called to me, and it simply wouldn’t stop. Vlogging? It felt silly. Me? I resisted.

… but it also felt important, so here I am. Finally.

I’m still ironing out the wrinkles, but it’s been a delightful mess, so far. And it would mean so much to me to have your support and community in my YouTube comments. If the vibes feel right, I hope you’ll watch and subscribe.

Thanks for stopping by and (obviously) LOTS OF LOVE.

~Shannon