The Wisdom of Frogs

I have a piece of paper hanging on my bulletin board that reads, “There isn’t a person you wouldn’t love if you knew their story.” When I first saw that quote, I wasn’t sure if I believed it. But throughout this project, I took the time to intentionally listen to the stories of 150 incredible individuals. And I fell in love 150 times. This collection examines purpose-driven interviews that create a narrative time capsule of the 150th year of TCU and uncover the threads tying us to the same place to leave our marks. How many strings connect two souls who cross paths on the same sidewalk every weekday? Would a glimpse into a stranger’s story inspire someone to look up and look into the lives of the strangers surrounding them? Could we ever evolve into a community where there are no strangers? These questions beckoned me with a calling I could not ignore. The best decision I ever made was deciding to answer. Before I stepped into each room where I was meeting a new stranger, I always paused. These moments of hesitation before taking a leap without seeing a safety net are inevitable human experiences, but when they color our lives, we have two choices – back away, or step forward. One smile opens the door to conversation. One moment of vulnerability establishes a connection. One heart, reaching across a table and being brave enough to beat out loud, encourages its receiver to humbly do the same. We just have to take that first step.