My parents always told me not to talk to strangers. I think every level-headed parent teaches their child to be careful. Yet, for me, this instilled a sense of fear rather than caution. I hardly talked to anyone when I was younger, and this continued well into early adulthood.

However, over the past few years my desire and ability to talk to strangers has increased exponentially. My philosophy has changed a bit; caution is important, yet interpersonal interactions are one of the best ways to learn something new, to gain a new perspective. Talking to someone new is challenging for me and most conversations involve a lot of awkward silence, but they are often worth the effort if I simply take that first step.

I’ve continually refered to my blogging circle as my friends, my motivation, my inspiration. I feel as if we’re all part of this elite group who simply know that each person is a vessel of potential; we’re part of this special group who incessantly pursue their dreams, who love learning new things and acquiring wisdom. I think it would be an absolutely phenomenal experience if I could sit down in a room with all of you, with each of you individually and talk about life, dreams, and wisdom.

The other day, that dream came true for me, on a smaller scale. For the first time, I met one of my blogging buddies in person. Chris is an incredible person with an inspirational passion; Chris is a guy who is turning his dreams into a reality. Over the course of the next year, he’ll be traveling all over the Americas – visiting 35 countries, capturing 35 portraits, and sharing 35 stories. I highly suggest following his journey at Dream to Reality! When he said he’d be in town and suggested we meet, I couldn’t say no.

We went back and forth referencing our favorite TED talks and blog posts by Chris Guillebeau and Tina Su, sharing our experiences and philosophies on life, talking about our dreams and lessons we’ve learned. We covered spirituality, politics, the educational system, relationships, society, and every other topic you aren’t supposed to talk about. I felt as if I were having a conversation with an alternate version of myself. We climbed Camelback Mountain and as we watched the sun set and the moon rise, we discussed the effect of social comparisons, our hesitations, and our dreams. It was nothing short of incredible.

A few days later, I read that twenty-three year-old Nate Damm just completed his walk across America. This serves as yet another awe-inspiring example of the fruits of  perseverance and the rewards for following your heart. How can anyone read these types of stories and not feel driven to action?

I tend to keep to myself, but hearing about experiences has inspired me to 1) make an effort to meet more like-minded people in real life because they do exist and 2) fearlessly pursue my own dreams and passions. It will take faith, courage, and tenacity; it will involve defying conventions and facing resistance; yet seeing just one or two other people passionately chase after their dreams is all the inspiration I need.

Rather than standing back and looking on in awe as others achieve their dreams, I need to join them. Each of us is extraordinary; each of us has so much potential. As children we’re told that the sky is the limit and anything is possible; as adults, I think we need to be reminded that we can do anything we put our minds to, that life is our canvas and our legacy.