The most beautiful sky I’ve ever seen was my own city, at night, from a turbulence-tossed plane. As the tiny aircraft flew in from the north the river slowly appeared, molten pewter, reflecting the lights and early summer stars. Along the circular horizon the sun was setting in a smoldering persimmon glow. I held my little cup of cold ginger ale tightly, attempting to keep it from flying out of my hands and across the aisle. My belly kept appearing in my throat as each dip and leap from the tiny plane threw my back against my seat and my elbows into the air. The lone flight attendant slid into the seat across the aisle and buckled in. Even he looked a little green. He showed me how to set my drink on the floor, where it wouldn’t launch from my unsteady hands, and as I attempted to carefully set it down I asked him, “Does this ever get old? I mean, does all of this—the sky and stars and river and enormous expanse of beauty—does it ever finally get passé? He smiled as the plane jumped again and passengers in front of us started to voice their discomfort. “No,” he said. “It doesn’t.”

We took flight here at Vivid last week. We took off into the blue and grey of known and unknown skies and our hearts have soared. We have literally felt like we’re flying. There have also been the expected bumps and dips of learning and change. When you open up wide to your deepest dreams and longings for change, you are exactly that: open. It’s a really vulnerable and sensitive place. Our hearts have felt ecstatic and more than a little raw. We’ve had to adjust course at times due to unforeseen weather. We’ve also seen beauty we never could have imagined. We’re looking at our own sky from a new location and we are blown away by the colors and the multitude of stars.

What has quickly become apparent to us is that the fuel of reinvention is DESIRE. What leads us to clip strings on our balloon hearts, what prompts us to board planes, both real and imaginary, to destinations previously unseen, is desire. The longing that sits in the deepest place of our soul is desire. The dreams we wake from shaking with need and hope are birthed in desire. The ache in our heart for something more from our one precious life is the ache of desire.

Join us this week as we explore the ache, the longing, the dreams. If you’re feeling raw and vulnerable after last week, we’re right here with you. If you’re feeling triumphant and joyful, we’re here with you too. The turbulence is as much a part of the journey as the thrill.

xo

Annagrace