It was one of those cosmic interactions. You know, the kind that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and everything in your immediate vicinity hits the pause button. Time freezes, hovering over the moment.

We’ve met for over a year – always the same coffee shop, always a new seat. A mutual friend introduced us, and immediately we knew to walk through the door of connection. He was a professor at my university, though I never took his class, I was his student. His lessons were far from academic curriculum, instead, they concentrated on the beyond, the unknown, the fear, the why. In the hustle of coffee beans scenting the air, we exchanged our stories. Everything was up for discussion, from his recent bout in culinary school to my trials of accepting my soon-to-be wedded sister. I gave him my trust and he gave me honesty.

This past week was one of our last interactions before my departure. I am leaving on another chapter of self discovery and adventure, something he surprisingly supports as a well-adjusted adult.  I presented him with the idea of sharing my experiences openly and publicly. My intention here is to offer a firsthand narrative on the pursuit of happiness, truth and authenticity. I wanted to write something that others can chew on, digest and expand from.

“If you do it for other people, it will change the nature of your experience,” he said.

I felt tears well up on the verge of moistening my dry cheeks. His reaction not only inspired me to wholeheartedly plunge into this, wherever it may lead, but also accept my voice as is. The rather beautiful part of having your own experience is you are the only one that can know what it means to you, only you can feel the impact and savor the taste. While the caffeine buzz has faded, his wisdom lingers as a reminder that wherever nature’s winding road may lead, the experience will always lead you home, back to you.