R&R: Reflection and Re-motivation

To preserve my sanity I’ve decided to take a break from Louisville neighborhoods this week. Why? In all honesty, it’s exhausting.

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy it, but stepping outside of your comfort zone on a weekly basis would drain anyone. Let me take you through the process I go through each week:

1. Spend a couple days mulling over the numerous Louisville neighborhoods I have left.
2. Find my inspiration (normally in the form of a person or an event).
3. Go out and explore the neighborhood, taking photos along the way.
4. Normally, sit down and talk to someone from the neighborhood, appreciate their story.
5. Go home with pictures, conversations, ideas, and experiences in hand.
6. Start writing.
7. Then rewrite and write again.
8. Try to take that place and those people, do them justice, and turn them into words that captivate and engage.
9. Write some more.
10. Finish, hit publish, hoping that when the story is read the neighborhood will come to life.

For some people, the idea of exploring a new neighborhood each week sounds thrilling – I’m normally one of those people. But for most, it probably sounds daunting, enervating, and down right terrifying.

I get it, it’s natural to enjoy being in the comfort zone we’ve created for ourselves. Unfortunately, people often forget that their comfort zone is just that, a zone. It is an area, a sphere, a realm, – it’s something you can leave.

Which is why I began this project in the first place. I wanted to open people’s eyes to world outside their comfort zone. Specifically the neighborhoods, people, and places right next door and around the corner.

Think about it. People are more likely to go on a cruise to another country than to step into their own backyard and really get to know the people and places around them. Don’t believe me? When was the last time you visited the “far side of town” or the “rundown” neighborhood? For some, your answer will be recently or often. For most people, though, they will not be able to recall the last time they reached out of their comfort zone in that way.

This is what motivates me. I’m here to show people the world that is right in front of them, easy access, while hopefully inspiring them to step out of their comfort zone and get to know Louisville for themselves.