Finishing up the break between seasons, I’ve had a lot of time for reflection. I’ve enjoyed thinking back on the previous guests I’ve had the pleasure of hosting. I’ve also critiqued my own process and had plenty of thoughts about the future of this podcast. However, all of these thoughts are secondary to the internal reflections I’ve been having.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about myself lately—not in a negative way, but more as a reflection on how I might do things the same or differently if given the chance to relive them. I think we all have those moments, don’t we? Do you ever sit back and think, “If I could relive high school, here’s what I would do over again…”? I’ve had that chance during this break.
I was able to go camping last minute with friends in Oregon, and I had a great time. Afterward, I drove up to Washington to visit one of my best friends. Not only were he and his wife incredible hosts, but we were able to reminisce and ask each other those “what if” questions. Unsurprisingly, we both agreed we would continue living the lives we have now. Neither of us lives a life of luxury, but we are both oddly satisfied with how things turned out, though for different reasons.
Jake and I met in third grade. If you’ve listened to the Bleach Bros Podcast, Jake would tell you we met in second grade, but I’ll never correct him. We became great friends that year after I stood up to a bully in our grade. As it turns out, that bully grew into a big teddy bear later in life. Such is the world we live in, right? I moved away after that half-year in elementary school, and neither of us probably thought about each other until I returned to the same town in high school. When Jake and I reconnected, we picked up right where we left off, and we’ve been friends ever since.
Why am I telling you all this? Because I often think about the people who have had a lasting impact on my life. Jake and his family have become an extension of my own, just like many others I’ve “adopted” over the years. I’ve become a part of their lives as well. We can share stories, memories, good times, bad times, challenges, successes, and more with the people in our circles. This is the blessing life gives us. We get to build our relationships brick by brick, and like with any structure, we can also tear down and rebuild as needed to meet our own standards.
I also think about the people who have shared parts of my life but are no longer around. Some created space only for me to remove them. Others left for different reasons. But this is how my structure was built. Some relationships I build, others I repair, and some I demolish. I think most of us spend our lives creating a place of our own—a metaphorical palace where we share our lives with those around us. It might be a one-bedroom luxury apartment or a sprawling mansion with many rooms. The design is entirely our own.
As I interview guests, I often share common experiences with them, either on-air or off. For example, I may share my own circumstances to help relate to their stories, or vice versa. This is part of building relationships. The connections I’ve made, even if it’s just a one-time conversation, are valuable to me. I love having discussions about people’s lives because it helps me understand them. That’s a gift, and one I truly cherish.
If I could relive this part of my life, I wouldn’t change a thing. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to improve or make things better—I can do that from where I am now. What I mean is that the structure I’m building is one I’m satisfied with. I’m content, but don’t mistake that for a lack of goals. I want to repaint rooms, invite new guests, and host gatherings. I want to share holidays and celebrations. I want intimate conversations around the dining room table. I want to share laughs, tears, fears, congratulations, and more. Eventually, I’ll need to replace a few things in this metaphorical structure, but the foundation is solid.
I hope you can see through my metaphor and relate it to your own life (or structure). I’m cheering you on from afar, and I’d love to be a guest in your life as well. Thank you for supporting me on this journey known as Unfiltered Discussions. We’ll talk soon.
-Brian
