A Place That Shaped Me

This week, WP offered up a weekly prompt on “finding your place.” Of course, this refers to the idea of a geographic home, but also to a place that “shaped who you are…is a key setting in my life story…something that challenged” me.

You know how Facebook has an “On this day” feature and they show you posts from previous years? There was a picture I was tagged in from five years ago that a friend shared and tagged me in, along with a comment about the “golden years” of Couchsurfing (CS).

I’ve talked about CS before because, for awhile, it was a significant part of my life; my life was so full with it. As I reflected on this picture, I thought about how much it enhanced my life and helped me find my place. By that I don’t mean a physical place, like Seattle or St. Louis but it helped me find the person I truly am.

I found it in organizing, planning events, and reaching out. I found it in greeting strangers, extending hospitality and making them feel comfortable. I found it in learning to trust my instincts on the road. In finding the courage to go out among strangers and seek the experiences I was dreaming of. I found it in making friends all over the world, playing with them, learning and living.

I was more my full self with CS than anything else I’ve found, and if I’m honest, despite the icky corporate takeover, I still feel that way around a fellow group of earnest adventurers.

Finding your place prompt