This morning, I stood on Louisville's waterfront park, watching geese floating on the Ohio River alongside park benches half submerged.
As the water rippled along the grassy edges of the park, I read today's
leadership meditation
from Aspen Institute. Inspired by Jackson Pollock's Number One, 1950 (Lavender Mist), Brianna Curran says, "Movement and passion are often linked closely, but for many of us it can be difficult to integrate movement into our work in an intentional way. Today, embrace movement in your own creative process. In what ways do you feel fully immersed in your passions? How do you bring a spirit of creativity and freedom to that which you’re passionate about? How are you leaving your mark on your work?"
Curran's words can be understood as physical movement, and, as forward progress toward what we individually and collectively seek to achieve. It's been nine weeks since COVID-19 directly and fundamentally shifted how we work, engage, and live. This has been a time that required all of us to evolve what it means to be creative, to be "immersed" in our passions.
In a recent conversation, Hannah Drake and I talked about how we've been busier than ever before. Not "busy" for the sake of being busy. But busy in the sense that storytelling, creativity, and engaging around topics that are meaningful and grounded in culture, have never been more important.
It's also been bitter sweet. We've closed up our office at Story - a decision we made as a team - and are working remotely. More updates on where we'll relocate coming soon. And, our work continues to evolve, as we seek to support and work with partners to leave our mark on the world, even if it's not in the way we initially intended.
With gratitude,
Josh Miller
Photo by Josh Miller, runJMrun May 21, 2020
