Pleased to Meet You

I launched The Growing Life two weeks ago and the reception has me enthusiastic and grateful. I’m glad that you’re here. And given recent friendships and the humbling generosity of people I’ve never met, I think it’s time to introduce myself.

About one year ago, Unitarian Universalist minister Kate Tucker related some thoughts on identification that hit home. While boarding a train, Reverend Tucker was asked to show her ID; in that situation, the criterion for train boarding was simple: who you were, and who you said you were, had to be the same. On this page I’ve hopefully honored this criterion and her remarks.

So let’s get to introductions. I’m Clay. Pleased to meet you. I’ll say a bit about myself and am all ears to responses. Here goes . . .

Some of my favorite things are Quetzals, food prepared in a campfire (or a Dutch oven), the outdoors, backpacking, and human rights. Like a mutual fund, I seem to grow up more than down over a five-year period, but the key is to hold on, not sell

(out).

The North Shore of Lake Superior really gets me, as do the music, stories, myths, and geography of Northern Minnesota. I enjoy carpentry (though I want to get better), wish to cook more, roll my eyes at self-help books but read them anyway, and want to learn the banjo. I don’t own a T.V.

Random Facts

I was raised in rural Southern California and lived part of my childhood on a citrus nursery. (It’s hard to compete with the spring smell of 600,000 blossoming citrus trees).
I left home and high school at age 15 to co-found a software company.
I went to a small liberal arts college in Iowa; Grinnell College.
I grew up in California, went to college in Iowa, and now live in Wisconsin. Minnesota, however, still feels like home somehow.
I’ve lived in both Ghana and Guatemala, and will be relocating to Croatia (the Dalmatian coast) in June.
I’ve written a few academic articles, see here and here.

All-Time Favorite Books

Long Walk to Freedom (by Nelson Mandela); The Unbearable Lightness of Being (or anything else by Milan Kundera); A Force More Powerful; The Poisonwood Bible; Man’s Search for Meaning.

Favorite Music

Burial; The Be Good Tanyas; Ravel; Tchaikovsky; Rodrigo & Gabriela; Jolie Holland; DJ Rekha; Bill Evans; Horse Feathers; Charley Patton; Mississippi John Hurt; Po’ Girl; The Wrens; Iron and Wine; John Hiatt; Sigur Rós; Great Lake Swimmers; Leo Kottke; Sun Kil Moon; Red House Painters; Valet.

Your turn, I hope (TheGrowingLife {-at-} gmail {-dot-}).

Posted on 2 Mar, 2008

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39 Comments so far »

Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker said,

Wrote on March 2, 2008 @ 4:08 pm

Hi, Clay, it is nice to meet you too. I just added you as a Stumble fan and came here from Slade Roberson’s Spiritual Blogging. Slade and I have been friends for months before I started blogging in June 2007. Have you checked out Slade’s Shift Your Spirits blog yet? That is how I met him. Slade and I are both in the niche of spiritual blogging hince the name of my blog, Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker. I write about several different topics of my spiritual journey—healing from incest, Al-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, The Secret, Law of Attraction, my 3 trips to India, and my first series was about the most influencial people in my life with Slade being one of those. Hope you will take the time to check out my blog. I look forward to reading more of yours as it develops.
Patricia
JEMi @ InMyHeels said,

Wrote on March 2, 2008 @ 5:00 pm

well HELLO! It’s very nice to meet you too!

I have to giggle at the fact that you’re this outdoorsy kinda guy because I think we are becoming good blogging buddies and I am the polar opposite. Well maybe not POLAR but I am a New Yorker- I told my husband that I was bewildered with the wilderness he was bringing me into in Washington .. in which he replied “Baby. It’s Grass.”

:-|

I’m coming around though - I like Lays - Kettle Cooked chips! and um.. well I live in the suburbs now .. which is me being open minded lol

I love this statement - “Like a mutual fund, I seem to grow up more than down over a five-year period, but the key is to hold on, not sell (out).” I will keep this in mind as a reminder to help keep me on course

Lol about the self help books
:-| at you don’t own a tv. Well, when I stopped watching it, I never missed anything. Then - last summer, I was exposed to soaps… its a never ending black pit and my favorite guilty pleasure.

I find your travels fascinating and can only hope you will write about some of those experiences you had abroad (so that I might live vicariously through you.)

All in all, it’s a pleasure to meet you Clay :) I look fwd to reading more.
I’m sure many other readers will feel the same.
Essentially Me said,

Wrote on March 2, 2008 @ 7:18 pm

The virtual handshake is classic. Welcome!
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 2, 2008 @ 7:20 pm

@Patricia: Thank you for replying and introducing yourself. I look forward to reading your blog and seeing your around StumbleUpon. Thanks for stopping by.
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 2, 2008 @ 7:29 pm

@Essentially Me: Thanks! I’m glad you liked it. I’m off to check out your blog now…
Tannage said,

Wrote on March 2, 2008 @ 7:52 pm

Hey! Pleased to meet you. Good luck with the move to croatia!
Kelly Rigby@ SHE-POWER said,

Wrote on March 3, 2008 @ 1:57 am

Hi Clay

We may have done the “Pleased to meet you” thing on StumbleUpon, but one can never say these things too much, so I’m very pleased to meet you!

Sounds like you’ve had an interesting life journey so far, I hope the ride stays just as thrilling. I’ve studied Spanish in Antigua, Guatemala. What were you doing down there? And Croatia is said to be awesome. I am so jealous. I am amazed though that I do not have reasonably diverse tastes, so will have to try and track some of this stuff down.

What can I tell you about me? I’m 36, married, have one gorgeous almost 4 year old. My parents were quite hippy-ish and nomadic so I grew up moving every 18 months or so in my childhood - all over New Zealand and the east Coast of Australia. I’ve lived in caravans, campervans, houses and Greenie camps. I went to 14 different schools, and left home at 18 to go live in a city where I wanted to study, though didn’t know anyone.

As an adult, I’ve always been a seeker of truth and life experiences so I’ve travelled a lot, changed jobs and careers a few times, studied 3 different degrees, and moved house about 42 times. Funny enough though, I have kept the same friends for 20 years.

I’ve been writing ever since I was a girl, and now I blog at http://she-power.com where I write about Life, Inspiration and miscellaneous “Chick stuff”.

:) Kelly

PS. Your blog is coming along really well considering it’s only been up 2 weeks
Desika Nadadur | I Am My Own Master said,

Wrote on March 3, 2008 @ 2:53 am

Hi Clay,

Very nice to meet you, too. I have added you to my stumble friends. I like your passions in life.

What can I say about myself? I live in Seattle area in Washington, with my wife and 8.5 year old son. My passion is self-mastery, enlightenment and ascension, and this is what I blog about. I believe that we project our inner world to create our outer world. That is the state of our outer world is a result of our collective dreams. I believe that current state of the world is a condition created by a few powerful dreamers to satisfy their own selves. If we want to change the outer world, then we have to dream about the new circumstances we want. If we all collectively dream of a golden era of equality and abundance for all, then we can achieve that through powerful dreaming. This was proven in modern times, by Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., to name a few. If one person’s powerful dreams can change the world for the better, as they proved it, imagine what we can all accomplish as a group, if only each one of us dreams so powerfully. As within, so without. Well, that is what I believe.

You have a great blog. Hope to read more of your articles.

Thanks,
-Desika
Kelly Rigby@ SHE-POWER said,

Wrote on March 3, 2008 @ 3:34 am

Had a typo attack me in my second paargraph.

I was talking about not knowing your “music tastes” before. I listen to a lot of different stuff, but I don’t know most of these artists.

Not sure where half my sentence went…

Kelly
Laurie said,

Wrote on March 3, 2008 @ 3:47 am

I love this post! What a great idea!

I left home and high school at age 15 to co-found a software company.

I never knew this about you, but somehow it doesn’t surprise me at all.
Pat R said,

Wrote on March 4, 2008 @ 12:13 am

Hi Clay - we met on StumbleUpon and I’m happy for your success with your blog. Great job after only 2 weeks.

My husband of 41 years and I have lived in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for 25 years. It’s a small town around 8500′ in elevation and we’re only about 45 minutes from the outskirts of Denver. I can relate to you when you say you like the outdoors. Living where we do nature is evident all around and I love it. There’s nothing like a freshly fallen snow on a cold, crisp night with a full moon illuminating the mountains all around.

I love family - children and grandchildren and love to tell stories about them and my life. They’re such a kick the second time around. I write about my life and what I’ve been learning walking and testing out this spiritual path and the inspirations I’ve received along the way. My passion is connecting with people. In Eckhart Tolle’s book “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose”, I finally found the definition of what this connecting is: “When another recognizes you, that recognition draws the dimension of Being more fully into this world through both of you.”

Welcome aboard from a really new blogger to a new blogger. I wish you well and much success and trusting we’ll connect again and our paths will continue to cross.
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 4, 2008 @ 12:51 am

@Pat: I like your introduction, especially what you say regarding telling stories about your family. And that Tolle quotation is powerful; thanks for sharing it. Now I’m going to have to go out and buy the book :-). Thanks for stopping by.
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 4, 2008 @ 12:55 am

@Laurie: Yup, that’s my nerd story. It was a long time ago, but some of that entrepreneurial spirit lingers :-).
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 4, 2008 @ 1:01 am

@Deskia: Regarding my blog: the feelings is mutual. And I like what you wrote about “Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr.” their autobiographies are probably three of my top 10 favorite books (well, MLK doesn’t really have one, but an editor made an unofficial compilation). Dreams are powerful indeed and I believe it is sometimes possible to love our dreams into existence. Next stop: your blog. :-)
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 4, 2008 @ 1:02 am

@Kelly: I do that all the time in comments. This isn’t where I do my best writing, and I’m glad that I’m not the only one who makes mistakes here. Why don’t the themes let you go back and edit?!
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 4, 2008 @ 1:08 am

@Kelly: I was in Xela studying Spanish in Guatemala, and then I came down with Malaria. Talk about throwing a wrench into my plans :-). Your childhood sounds fascinating: I guess the only way to rebel would have been to become conservative. Ha! I hope to make it to New Zealand and Australia someday; I’m jealous of your geography.
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 4, 2008 @ 1:10 am

@Tannage: Thanks. Sometimes I consider settling down in Minneapolis instead. I’ve been moving for quite some time and would like to eventually lay down roots, become a yokel, and see the same landscape and people day after day. Croatia might be my last hurrah (or however you spell that :-).
Desika Nadadur | I Am My Own Master said,

Wrote on March 4, 2008 @ 6:42 am

Clay,

Thanks for visiting my blog.

-Desika
Michael Moniz said,

Wrote on March 5, 2008 @ 2:42 am

What a great way to welcome your blog. I look forward to reading your blog as it develops.
Hunter Nuttall said,

Wrote on March 5, 2008 @ 8:19 pm

Clay, is that one of those complaint bracelets? How long did it take for it to arrive? I’ve been waiting 6 months, but hey–I can’t complain, right?

I’ve only read your 4HWW/GTD smackdown so far, but it was enough to make me an instant subscriber!

Regarding “Why don’t the themes let you go back and edit?!,” try leaving a comment on nezsez.com. He has a plugin that lets you edit your comments for a few minutes after you leave them.
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 7, 2008 @ 1:13 am

@Michael: I’m glad that you’ll be coming back. Hope to see you around the site again.
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 7, 2008 @ 1:19 am

@Desika: You blog’s a good read. I’m glad that I followed the link.
katy said,

Wrote on March 11, 2008 @ 12:13 am

Mandela’s autobio is my favorite book, too! Never met another person who’s said the same. Cool!
Charlie Gilkey said,

Wrote on March 22, 2008 @ 3:18 pm

Bah, I already commented on the “Add Friend” section. And then I read this one and want to say welcome to the blogosphere.

This is a great intro, btw. I forgot to mention in my own About page that I like camping, dutch oven cooking, and backpacking! I’ll have to go back and add that, too.

I look forward to getting to know you better and doing the internet personal development dance.
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 23, 2008 @ 5:13 pm

@Charlie: Indeed. I’ll be sending you an email soon.
Edwin said,

Wrote on April 7, 2008 @ 12:43 am

Hi Clay,

I knew I had to comment here, you have a very good intro. I have been staying in your blog recently and I must say, I LOVE it. Definitely love your style of writing and not to mention, the simple blog design you have. You officially have a new subscriber :) I hope to see more great post from you so yea, keep up the good work!

Edwin
Chris said,

Wrote on April 8, 2008 @ 7:33 am

Hi Clay,

I’ve seen your comments at zenhabits. Like you, I am also a fan of Leo…I honestly don’t know why it took me this long to visit your site. I guess it’s just the way I am. It takes me a while to warm-up to things but once I committ, I loyal to the end.

Anyway, your site has piqued my interest, and I will be visiting often. I may not make a comment every posts, but I will be visiting everyday.

Chris
Mazlina said,

Wrote on April 9, 2008 @ 5:26 am

Im always interested in lifehacking issues and/or articles. pleased to meet you also. im from malaysia
Monika Mundell said,

Wrote on April 10, 2008 @ 5:15 am

Hi Clay,

Pleased to meet you. After reading your blog about 2 weeks ago and subscribing I’ve been too busy to come back. Then today I read your hilarious pot on Copyblogger. Thanks for a great laugh gansta.

Then I saw Hunter talking about signs from the Universe and linking to you and that got me round the block again to say welcome to the blogosphere.

Loved your introduction and for some reason I already feel like we’ve been camping before. Like you, I also love the outdoors but I do own a TV (nbot that it’s much useful anyway).
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on April 10, 2008 @ 6:36 pm

@Monika: Thanks for introducing yourself! I’m glad that you came back, even it if it took an entire copyblogger guest post to get the job done :-)
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on April 10, 2008 @ 7:01 pm

@Pleased to meet you to! Thanks for dropping by my friend.
Torley said,

Wrote on April 11, 2008 @ 9:56 am

Clay, good to see the Growing Life keeps… growing!

Have you looked into TwitterFeed to automate announcing your posts yet?

Also, what plugin do you used for the tabbed “Most Popular” on the right of your blog? It’s pretty spiffy! :)
Maria Dalva said,

Wrote on April 11, 2008 @ 10:34 am

It’s so funny the photo. So friendly! hehe
Great idea!

Nice to meet you too! :o)
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on April 12, 2008 @ 9:37 pm

@Torley: I have looked into twitter feed but I really just prefer writing my own feed announcements. That way I can customize them, spice them up a bit.
Torley said,

Wrote on April 13, 2008 @ 12:52 pm

@Clay: Cool, what works for you best! Pardon for the rehash but what plugin do you use for the tabbed “Most Popular” on the right of your blog?
Torley said,

Wrote on April 14, 2008 @ 6:43 am

NVM — thanks muchly for your email and rock on, Clay! =)
Gal Morale said,

Wrote on May 20, 2008 @ 4:21 pm

Clay,

Thanks for your comment on my blog. I’m currently having issues with links on typepad - and have tried to fix yours 3 times to no avail. But your link on the comment works….and I’ll link back to you again soon!

Warmly,
Gal Morale
Jennifer Mannion said,

Wrote on May 23, 2008 @ 6:40 am

Hey Clay, Cool blog — I really like your writing style… look forward to exploring more…. I write 2 blogs — one on natural healing/mind/body connection as I have healed myself of several illnesses using these techniques and one on kid’s non violent computer game recommendations. I was born in NYC and now live in upstate NY — I love raising my kids here. Being a club kid at 13 in NYC was great for me but somehow NOT how I want to picture my kids! ;-) I love the great outdoors as well….hiking, cross country skiing, BBQ! Just wanted to say a quick hello and introduce myself — congrats on your accomplishments thus far — I can see why you have gotten such a warm reception and look forward to hearing of many future successes! Cheers! Jenny
Jade said,

Wrote on June 11, 2008 @ 7:56 am

OMG - you’re on AllTop — way to go! The antiguru of the antihack… so glad that more people will benefit from your unique brand o’ wisdom. Keep it up!

PS, Doing the happy dance for ya over the sunny side of the Pacific :)