Illustrated inspiration from Book Passage Travel Writers Conference 2014.

“…The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

– Steve Jobs

It’s a Monday afternoon in Sausalito, California, and I am sitting here in the living room of my dear friend Erin’s house – the sea beyond her front windows as still as pale green glass, the sky heavy with this morning’s cloud cover that has yet to burn away.

I have just had the honor and privilege of attending the Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference in Corte Madera – held in the eponymous bookstore not too far north of the Golden Gate Bridge. And just as in previous years of attending the conference, my mind right now is a beautifully tangled ball of yarn – with so many textured threads of conversations and connections that I hope to very soon begin to process.

There’s a wonderfully practical side to Book Passage – one that fills our days with panels on personal essays and digital platforms and sessions on storytelling and social media. But in my own humble opinion, as someone still very much new to the BP scene, I’d say the heart and soul of the conference lies in that it never lets you forget the why. Why do we travel? Why do we write? Why do we share stories and images that illuminate the world?

I could try to offer up my own reflections, as I have posted here the last two years, but this year I thought – why not let the conference speak for itself? The past four days gifted me a series of phrases that have been circling in my head from the moment I heard them. They were shared in the context of travel writing, but hold just as much meaning when considered in light of our broader life experience.

And so it was that I pulled out my paint kit this morning, swayed in my seat to the French café tunes playing from Erin’s iPad, and brought some of my favorite overheard quotes from this weekend to life with watercolors. It is my hope that no matter where you are in life and no matter what your line of work, they’ll speak to you as much as they did to me:

Many, many thanks to all who made this weekend so wonderful! To co-chairs Don George and Bob Holmes, to the amazing team at Book Passage – Kathryn, Karen, Dana, and co. – and to the incredible faculty and students. It’s an honor to share this journey with you.