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Hey guys,
Jason and I are back home after wrapping up TWLOHA’s fourth year on Warped Tour. It feels good to be home. It feels weird to be home. I think when you’re surrounded by the same people all day every day for two straight months you can either become annoyed with each other and choose to pull away, or you can experience growth together – learning the things about one another that makes them laugh, what you can poke fun at, and the simple things you can do for someone to make them loved.
Every year on Warped has a different feel to it. From the people on the tour to the music being played. I’d say the only consistent thing is the greasy catering food offered to everyone on the tour. This year I went out halfway through the tour with a certain kind of optimism. One that had hope to see people on the tour encouraged, enjoying each other, and more than anything going that extra little bit to get to know people.
Within a week, a friend came onto the bus and said, “I don’t have it in me to have another mindless conversation.” He wasn’t the only one feeling that way. More and more people started retreating to their own buses at night, and the conversations were about how hot the days were and the anticipation of getting off the tour. No substance. No foundations being built beyond connecting over the fact that you were both exhausted by the end of the day.
My whole time out, I had been anticipating my friend Jered Scott’s arrival for the last week of the tour and getting to share some time with him. We’ve had maybe a week total of days spent together over the past year and a half of our friendship, but we have a kind of friendship where he can call me out on things that I need to be called out on because he cares for me. I compare him to be the parent that sets the rules and ticks us off when we’re teenagers, but thankful for those same rules they set in place when we’re 25 and can appreciate that it was out of love and wanting what was best. So when he asked about Warped Tour and what I had been up to, he was very quick to point out that I was a contributor to those mindless conversations. That I wasn’t taking the extra steps to learn things about people outside of those on my bus. That I was resorting to old habits to make me feel better but that I knew weren’t beneficial for me. He was doing everything a friend who intentionally knows and cares for someone should have done.
We wanted something to change. Jason, Jered, and I got together and talked about getting people together at 8 o’clock every night for the last week of tour to have time to unpack things from the summer, share what was our mind, and ultimately create a space for people to move away from the mindless conversations and move toward honesty. A place to talk about the great times the tour brought, while acknowledging the temptations and struggles we never seem to escape from, and deciding that we didn’t want to go through another two month tour without communities where we support each others’ positive actions.
The first night there were eight of us. The second, ten. It was refreshing to get away from the party for an hour, even if we were going to get thrown right back into it when we broke off for the rest of the night. The third night we gathered, Jered and I were setting up chairs and we put out 12. We joked that we were getting ahead of ourselves. Over the next hour and a half the sound of chairs being moved around and a circle widening could be heard over our words. Over thirty people showed up that night. There weren’t any flyers or announcements about what we were doing, only word of mouth.
The fourth night we meet in a small building. We set up chairs along the wall and every seat filled up. There were even people sitting on the floor in the middle of everyone. Seeing something grow to what it had become in a short amount of time really showed how much everyone needed something different. We all did. A new place to go. A place that welcomed our mess.
For me, finding that place, whether it was with eight or thirty other people, where I could share the things I was dealing with, and hear about what others were dealing with during those two months on tour, was incredible. The feeling of knowing I wasn’t the only one struggling with the thoughts that live in my mind helped me breathe without a weight on my chest for the first time in a while. I think that’s what we all need to strive for with one another.
We are surrounded by people. We have this chance to have a community, big or small, to “go there” with. The thing is, we have to take the risk of being honest and being known. We have to find that place inside us where we’re ready to challenge ourselves and grow. We have to be willing to know that sometimes someone won’t show up. Caring about and loving others takes risk and probably more than we have in us most of the time. But I think the more we put out there, we’ll have something returned greater than we could have imagined.
This year, I left Warped and people that I miss after only being away from them for four days. This year, I left Warped and my bottom right bunk on bus 40 that I called my home for four weeks with eleven other people and a few extra riders here and there. This year, I left Warped with phone numbers and friends on Facebook. I left with great conversations, summer crushes, and incredible memories from around the country. This year, I left Warped with a community that challenged me to grow and be there for someone else. This year, Warped left me completely grateful for everyone I met on the tour, but especially every single one of our supporters who stopped by the booth to say hello, buy a shirt, or talk about what TWLOHA means to them.
You guys were constant refueling for long, hot, exhausting days. Jason and I are truly thankful for being able to share this summer with all of you and we hope to see you again next year.
All the best,
ChrisPosted in General by Chris Youngblood
Comments (16)
Thank you for your words.
I continue to have hope
1 | Left by Michelle | Aug. 19, 2010 at 3:51pm
"This year, I left Warped and people that I miss after only being away from them for four days. This year, I left Warped and my bottom right bunk on bus 40 that I called my home for four weeks with eleven other people and a few extra riders here and there. This year, I left Warped with phone numbers and friends on Facebook. I left with great conversations, summer crushes, and incredible memories from around the country. This year, I left Warped with a community that challenged me to grow and be there for someone else. This year, Warped left me completely grateful for everyone I met on the tour, but especially every single one of our supporters who stopped by the booth to say hello, buy a shirt, or talk about what TWLOHA means to them."
That's awesome man, really inspiring. I bet it'll show in the running of next years tour, when all these people you met get together once again - but this time EAGER to see one another. Excited to catch up on what everyone's been doing.
Energised and inspired by the community spirit they can see and feel woven deep into something they're helping create.
I think everyone wants to connect. Sometimes we're just all too caught up in our own lives to speak up ;)
2 | Left by DJ Eddie K | Aug. 19, 2010 at 8:10pm
Thank you Chris. I needed that today. Peace and Love to you and all you know
3 | Left by Danielle | Aug. 21, 2010 at 7:42am
Glad to hear the tour went well. Welcome home. Not to many people now have a home or job these days. It amazes me to many others too that folks are just in a daze about what is going on in our Nation. Job loss is up to 24% regardless what monkey media propaganda states. We have took action, to help others in these difficult times. At ZBOSignup.com we are offering for a limited time "FREE" sign up to FantaZ. FantaZ is a gaming site that will be launching Sept 1st. FantaZ is not only a gaming site but a business. You can play games for profit. There is no other site on the net that pays you to play. People who are looking for work or needs cash sign up today. If you know some one who is out of work, tell them about zbosignup.com tell them to sign up, we will help everyone who sign's up get started with their business. We are SEO Web Developers and want to make a difference, unlike our leaders who only know how to make more debt for us and our children. This is a real shot for folks who need work. So please pass it on. They will thank you for it..have a great day friends :)
4 | Left by Lori | Aug. 25, 2010 at 7:34am
I have heard it been said, but this is the first time, in a very long time, that i realize what it means. Chris, your actions have spoken to me louder than your words. With only your words, you seem to fix a broken piece of me.
5 | Left by Tanner | Aug. 25, 2010 at 8:51pm
I wasn't sure where to say this, but...
I just wanted to say to someone that I haven't cut in 1 year as of today.
Praise God. I can't believe He's brought me this far. Amazing grace...
6 | Left by Anon | Aug. 27, 2010 at 5:44am
Hi Chris,
So glad to hear the tour was a success in the end. That's awesome that you were able to gather so many people in one place and talk about heavy and light subjects. I've always wanted to participate in something like that. It's a pretty rare and special thing.
Peace to you and everyone at TWLOHA
7 | Left by Jovie | Aug. 29, 2010 at 4:08pm
That's sooo cool. Intentional conversations about the things that matter. My favorite. (:
8 | Left by Kendra | Aug. 30, 2010 at 7:37pm
This is the first time I'v been on this site. And I have to say, your words inspire me already. This is probably one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
9 | Left by Cassandra | Sep. 6, 2010 at 10:43pm
i look up to this organization so much. words cannot describe how amazing i think of this. i appreciate everything you guys are doing to help people. GOD can work some miracles♥peace...em
10 | Left by emily | Sep. 8, 2010 at 8:07pm
"Contact us"
I dont need a trained professional, i just need a friend. a real friend.
11 | Left by Anon. | Sep. 9, 2010 at 8:41pm
Well written Chris. Thank you TWLOHA for all you do! I love you guys! Even the ones of you that I don't know!
12 | Left by Michael M. | Sep. 21, 2010 at 10:57am
I love you! Wish you could help me trough this rough time
13 | Left by Amanda | Sep. 24, 2010 at 7:06am
Just yesterday I found the courage to face the fact that I need to speak up about how I have felt and lived for so many years, and I wrote on my blog about how i had been into self mutilation and what it felt like. Today I come across this article of yours as well. It brings a smile to my face. For so many years I was scared and hiding, now I realise i am not alone. your words:
'The feeling of knowing I wasn’t the only one struggling with the thoughts that live in my mind helped me breathe without a weight on my chest for the first time in a while.'
They just hit home, real deep. It's wonderfull to see the work you people are doing. Thank you.
14 | Left by Sai.A | Sep. 26, 2010 at 4:56am
Hello TWLOHA. My name is Monet Moore. I am 17 years old and I live In Tucson, Arizona. And I know of so many teenagers like me, who suffer from depression, and anxiety and other tribulations that make life difficult; that make it hard to even fathom coninuing on. And in my town, people are unaware of the severity of this problem with our youth. they think we're all just angsty, rebellious highschoolers who listen to too much rock and have no morals. I wanted to start a club similar to TWLOHA at my school. I want to help raise money for your cause in any way shape or form, but even more important, I want kids to have a network in their community where they can talk and go to, that they might understand that you are NEVER alone. That people care, that they are loved and all hope is not lost. I wanted to approve this through your organization because it will after all be founded in your likeness. Inspiration is a priceless gift, and you've given it to me, and many others like me, and for that, I can't thank you enough. If you have time, any time at all, please, feel free to contact me at: sailor_chococat@yahoo.com so that I can ask you more questions, and get some advice on how to realize my vision. My sincerest thanks,
-Monet(:
15 | Left by Monet Moore | Nov. 6, 2010 at 9:51am
Dont ever let anyone bring you down and try to make you feel like your worthless. Keep your chin high and never look down. Be brave dont regret anything its about learning new things even if they hurt you.
Lindz
16 | Left by Lindsey | Nov. 11, 2010 at 7:14pm
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