BEGINNINGS
With a new website, spring around the corner, and an age of transformation surrounding us, it seems only appropriate that the first blog should be on beginnings.
Sure, we have had an internet presence for about 25 years. (ATC is going to be 28 this June, and we were not on the web in our early days). So it cannot be said that this is a full-out “beginning.” But anytime we do something new, you can also be pretty sure, something else is ending. In this case, the website I’ve been updating for the last dozen years or so, is no more.
Now, don’t misunderstand. I am thrilled with the new site. I thank Matt Locker for taking the reins and igniting the drive in both of us to stick with this daunting task and get it done. But, I have been experiencing anxiety over letting that old website go. A mountain of “what ifs” rose up and almost paralyzed me from pushing that re-direct button. First of all, I didn't want to end our webhosting relationship with friend and tech-wizard Matt Perosi and his company, PsiPrime/Sapphire Collaborative--i am so grateful for all he and his company have done for ATC. And what if some obscure bit of information was overlooked? What if we missed a photo that we don’t have anywhere else? What if we didn’t catch some nuance or turn of phrase that was particularly clever? Never mind that it described a class we no longer offer… I might want to use it again someday. And… this is HISTORY!
Oh yeah. I can find a multitude of reasons not to let go. But I know I must.
Letting go of the old; embracing the new. Ending; beginning. Releasing the past; opening to the future. Leaving a comfort zone (even if you’ve grown to despise it, it is still a comfort zone); taking a risk, and doing something you haven’t done before. Leaving the known road; blazing a new trail. Putting down the familiar; taking up the foreign.
Beginning is messy. Beginning is scary. Beginning is exciting. Beginning brings change. Beginning starts with a clean canvas. Beginning is magic. Beginning allows for all things to be possible. Beginning begs the question, “What happens next?’
I welcome you to this journey. Let’s begin it together. Look back to the previous paragraph and let’s replace the word “Beginning” with “Acting ” Acting is messy. Acting is scary. Acting is exciting. Acting brings change. Acting starts with a clean canvas. Acting is magic. Acting allows for all things to be possible. Acting begs the question, “What happens next?’
And guess what? You can also substitute “Creating”.
A new ABC: Acting. Beginning. Creating. Ready to explore the rest of the alphabet?
I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
--Kathleen Kellaigh
Blog entries will be posted as written, and SHACK members are encouraged to submit entries as well! Send them to atcstudios411@gmail.com and make sure BLOG is in the subject line! We look forward to hearing from you!