Sharing his story with LMP this week is Joshua H.B. Dennard!
Joshua is a storyteller, through and through. He is creative and perceptive. He is full of wisdom and open-minded. And he has a heart big enough to hold space for everyone to share a little of themselves with him.
My path crossed Joshua’s in a work environment. He was brought on as an Assistant Editor on one project, and I was brought on as an Assistant Editor on another. Though we weren’t assigned to the same project, I felt only good vibes from him as my office neighbor and was curious to learn more about him and to befriend him.
Turns out, we have a lot in common!
As multi-passionate, artistic individuals, Joshua and I are similar in that we seek satisfaction and fulfillment through a spectrum of creative mediums, instead of focusing on just one. Sometimes we wear Editing hats; sometimes we wear Writing hats; sometimes we wear Cinematography hats; sometimes we wear Directing hats. Whatever style the hat, we make sure we fit it well and wear it with integrity.
When I was first brainstorming for LMP Season II, I specifically reserved “Integrity” as the final episode so that it could be my word. Such calmness, such relief, I felt in knowing how this season would end before it even began.
It soon occurred to me, though, that my confidence in reserving “Integrity” for myself was the very reason it could not be my word; I already have it. And the word I find for myself needs to be just that: found.
So, I reluctantly let go of my attachment to the beautiful potential of that episode and let “Integrity” return to the list of over 100 words in my little Could-Be-Fun-To-Do-A-Podcast-About-This note in my phone.
Evidently, it didn’t stay there long. For I soon met a new friend through Joshua, whose relationship with integrity runs as deeply as my own.
Me and Integrity? We go way back.
I’ll have you know that I am a Two-Time, Certified Kid of Integrity, as recognized by South Mebane Elementary. Please find my evidence below.
Clearly, I’ve been “honest, loyal, & sincere” since 20-oh-3.
These days, though, I’ve settled on a new understanding of integrity:
Integrity, to me, means alignment of intention, speech, and action.
Since embarking on this quest, I’ve likened “integrity” to discipline, and I have measured my discipline by how my intentions match my words and how my words match my actions.
I’ve found that, when my intentions, words, and actions align, I feel productive and satisfied. And when I feel aligned and productive and satisfied, I feel like I can trust myself to keep going down my path.
The opposite also proves true, though, and I sometimes find myself in cadences of self-sabotage and distrust where I consider myself more unreliable than not.
While it’s hard for me to pull myself out from under the weight of these spells, I’ve always shown myself that I can do it. In this way, I think integrity acts as a survival instinct when challenged; after Fight/Flight/Fawn/Freeze time out, my Integrity kicks in and inspires me to do the work so that I finish quests feeling encouraged and satisfied and unashamed of my efforts.
The momentum I feel from completing one quest energizes me enough to seek another, and the questing continues to lands unknown, full of potential and discovery.
My questing integrity has brought me much beauty so far; I’m very thankful to make new friends like Joshua who encourage me not only to keep playing but also to practice alignment along the way.
Keep up with Joshua’s stories on Instagram and through his production company, J19 Global Entertainment. And if you’re in the ATL area, join him for a live recording of his podcast, The Big “See” Word, at Bonfire!
Select referenced materials:
Encanto (2021)
The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)
All music for the podcast lovingly created by Ian T. Jones.
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