Transcript
Here’s the scoop behind the Who, Why and What behind Nara Fellowship.
Why do I think of myself as a bridge, a prism and the moon?
Who am I?
Professional bios are designed to impress clients and book readers. If that’s what you’re looking for, feel free to go to my website and check out my About page.
I’m a Writer and a learner. Instead of impressing you with my showbiz background, let me describe who I am in essence.
I am a bridge, a prism and the moon.
I spent the majority of my life as an outsider looking in. Living on the bridge between two worlds. Never quite belonging to either.
I have visual and hearing handicaps, but I’m not deaf nor blind nor do I have normal sight or hearing. I understand a different mode of being. Missing some of the reality you can easily perceive.
Intellectually curious, I’m not simple minded nor am I super smart. Again in the middle of the bridge trying to embody the simple truths I believe in yet mentally understanding that life is complex and full of nuance.
I stand as a peacemaker between the right and left. I have conservative convictions and libertarian leanings yet have a majority of moderate and liberal friends.
People’s characters are more important than their ideology.
A prism has many facets. Its design is embodied by its many sides. Creating beautiful enlightenment from its many dimensions and angles.
Having many interests, hobbies and diverse perspectives with the willingness to explore the margin yet remain centered in one’s being.
The moon is a beaten up space rock that seems unappealing on its surface in the mundane depth of the emptiness of space, light years from the stars.
It doesn’t hurl her pains, sorrows and scars onto us down here on earth. Her gentle light whispers to us that even in the darkness there is hope, life. We can overcome the nightmares that plague us with a greater love that will wipe away every tear.
She dreams of a better tomorrow, not in ignorance, but because she has stood the test of time and meteorites, so can we if we choose to. A witness to what has been and what’s to come.
Transcend bitterness and resentment and do good, shine on. Sometime she wax than wanes, she’s fallible, that’s human. She’s weak, vulnerable, yet she turns again to the sun for strength, courage to carry on. Even if all she can do is just shine on through one more night in this uncertain world, the sun will rise yet again.
Who is Nara Fellowship for and Why?
So in a culture of everyone and their brother doing podcasts to climb up the popularity ladder, why should anyone listen or watch my Nara Fellowship channel?
They shouldn’t.
I’m just like everyone else who wants to be rich and successful, but I decided to take a different path. It may not lead me to being wealthy, of great renown or with a lot of subscribers, but that’s okay. I’m aiming for something higher, more meaningful.
In the “Don’t Subscribe If…” video, I state what I’m really about. But I’ll add a few things here on my aim and purpose. I want deeper and more meaningful conversations where I connect with like-minded souls beyond the surface level. I’m not a fan of shallow chit chat, gossip or whatever is the controversial topic of the moment, because something bad happened in the news.
In the Bridges of Meaning community, they talk about the mundane and the profound. They wrestle with hard questions and thoughts. And I don’t know how to join them at their level. I want to have more meaningful conversations with friends, family and people of renown. But, I need to learn how to do that better.
I’m not a thought leader or expert. I’m a writer and learner. Just a regular person with big dreams but is grounded to my limiting reality. I can’t be what I’m not, but I can grow and learn to be a better person than I am now. I can try to be the tree in the book of Proverbs that drinks in wisdom to be a more mature person in mind and body.
I’m no Stoic or deep thinker. I’m somewhat between simple folks who are the “salt of the earth” people and the highly educated experts and theologians. I like learning to edify myself, escape my humble life and handicaps, and hopefully build a more prosperous and meaningful future for myself and my family.
The world’s wisdom says “Success will bring you happiness.” Jordan Peterson counters this with one of his rules, “Don’t do what’s expedient, do what’s meaningful.”
Brené Brown, research professor, of the University of Houston, says something like, “If you want people to respect you, be strong, If you want to connect, be vulnerable.” Jesus says, “Don’t hide your light under a basket.”
Does this resonate with you?
What is Nara Fellowship about?
Nara is a word that has many meanings around the world. I chose it for its Japanese meaning of “oak”. It also implies connotations of “wisdom” and “spirituality”.
As a writer and lifelong learner who enjoys following rabbit trails wherever my curiosity leads me, this podcast is a documentation of my learning journey. It will be a mix of short monologues and interviews with regular folks and people of renown.
Even though I may have conversations with academic guests, the focus will be for self learners, creative professionals and history reenactors/ enthusiasts.
The topics include writing, marketing, history, essential oils, health, care-giving, living with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions, emergency preparedness, community and self directed learning.
Life is an adventure. The journey’s sweeter with friends. But don’t subscribe yet!
Don’t Subscribe If…
For my first video, I put a fun spin on the typical “About the Channel & Host” video. It’s titled, “Don’t Subscribe If…” Even though the title is a fun poke to the mantra of all the articles and books for YouTubers to have that incessant call to action, “Like and Subscribe”. I do share what’s the purpose of this podcast and six reasons why you shouldn’t subscribe.
A very smart and successful marketing maven, Beryl Wolk, gave my father and me a saying. It goes something like, “If everyone is going one way, do a 180 and go the opposite direction of them.” Wise and sound marketing advice.
You can follow the link at the end of this video to watch the “Don’t Subscribe If…” video. If you haven’t already.
First Rule: Be Interesting
I’ve done quite a bit of research and learning of how to build a writer’s platform, brand and grow a professional network. One of the common themes is to be interesting. I took that to heart, personally and professionally.
I can’t predict what would be interesting to everyone, but if it’s interesting to me, it might be for you too.
Since I’m putting the work in, I’m gonna be selfish. The goal is to make this edifying, enjoyable and to satisfy my curiosity.
Having said that, there are two areas that I do want to help others with.
One is helping other care-givers, disabled folks and people with chronic health issues with the various things that would help knowing about. Things I’ve learned from finance to different programs to health alternatives that are available to us.
The second is helping people who want to get into media production, whether as an actor, writer, voice talent, filmmaker or content creator like me. Maybe you’d like to learn about some of the lesser known crew positions that will help you make money, such as a location scout or caterer?
What’s the Posting Schedule?
Some of the more prolific YouTubers tend to do somewhere between 2-4 videos a week. I’m looking at you Paul Vanderklay!
I can’t do that. I’ve got care-giving responsibilities, a book to market and life commitments to fulfill.
So I decided that I’ll try to produce one video a month for each channel, (Nara Fellowship and Writers of Meaning). And periodically one livestream per channel once a month to have conversations with folks in my little corner of the internet.
That makes it 2-4 videos a month for me. Quite a full plate.
And, that’s a wrap!
“For all you Dreamers, Doers and Helpers:
Stay Humble and Shine On.”
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