Texas Politics, Mr. Miyagi, Ellen and Yoda

Slaying the resistance dragons is an on-going, daily and weekly challenge. Last week I dominated the battlefield! My main focus was to get myself completely ready for a Texas, bi-partisan, political event that I attended last weekend. The event was fantastic and will continue to payoff as I enter the Austin journalism scene.

The week leading up to The Texas Tribune Fest forced me to get my marketing materials in good order. I made business cards cheap and easy style. I wish I could say value-driven and efficient. Alas, you get what you pay for and it was just about having my name, contact information and blog address on a card I could hand out.

After many years of my byline hanging out in a closet on actual newspaper clips tucked away in a portfolio, I now have scanned, digital clips.

The Tribune Fest, held on the University of Texas campus, was 3 days of more than 100 speakers and 11 platforms addressing statewide issues from immigration, education, transportation and the ilk. I viewed it as a launch to engage my political mind and pen in my new community.

Yes, nearly 3 years in Texas and I am finally becoming an official Texan, new Driver’s License and all.

In volunteering for a Saturday morning shift, I received a free badge ($250 value) to attend the event. It was an excellent induction to Texas politics all under one festival umbrella. My volunteer buddy, John, a political-science major from Baylor, proved to be the Cliff Notes version of the Encyclopedia Britannica of Texas politics.

Daniel Witt, Tesla; Justin Kintz, Uber; Lee Jones, B-cycle; Rick Casey, Moderator and Mayors: Ivy Taylor, San Antonio; Nelda Martinez, Corpus Christi; Lee Leffingwell, Austin

I attended two transportation panels in the afternoon. The second, “The New Urban Mobility,” featured the 3 mayors from Austin, San Antonio and Corpse Christi. Nelda Martinez from Corpse is quite simply a bad ass with progressive, out-of-the-box thinking and an affable, politically savvy personality. Ivy Taylor, who was appointed in July as San Antonio’s mayor, is impressively composed, educated and professional without being too political.

In the last event of the day, I live tweeted from Wendy Davis’ One-on-One with Texas Tribune Editor Evan Smith – twice! Engaging in real-time politics and commentary was an invigorating experience that ignited the fire in my belly.

Back in the day, as you can see from the clip above, I covered local politics in Charlotte, NC. The way a city grows fascinates me. As I continue to hone my focus as a writer, after the initial submergence into learning all the different ways to make money freelancing, it becomes clearer how I want to spend my time and efforts.

As I continue to forge down the path, I draw my inspiration from three characters: Dory, Mr. Miyagi and Yoda. They all motivate through simple messages. I find myself singing, both in my head and out loud, the song that Ellen DeGeneres sings as Dory in Finding Nemo:

“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.

What do we do? We swim, swim.”

This is a great tactic to fighting resistance. As long as you’re moving in a forward direction, you’re beating resistance. For me, it’s ticking off an on-going and continually revised To Do list of everything I need to do to keep myself moving forward down the right path.

As Mr. Miyagi insists in The Karate Kid in the conversation with to Daniel-san paraphrased here; it’s all about decisive action.

Walk on road, hmm?

Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe.

Walk middle sooner or later (squish).

Either you do Yes or do No.

You do Guess So… Squished like a grape.

Understand?

What I now understand clearly is that I am a writer.

What that means exactly will continue to evolve.

Everything organic always does.

As Jedi Master Yoda teaches:

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

I choose do.