The Beginning?

I suppose it might be strange to start a blog about my business, the Root Note, a year and two months after it first opened it's doors. However, like any un-expecting parent, it has taken some time for me to get my ducks in order. I have gathered clips of first steps, articles from the paper, pictures of its childhood along with countless memories. Now, my business is a rebellious teen, finding it's own path, and challenging my expectations. As every parent does, I find myself thinking, "What happened to those happy, easy, pre-teen years? Why didn't I take more pictures, save more mementos? What will I do when my baby is all grown up and doesn't need me any more?". So, I'm gathering my thoughts here, so that I can at least capture the last few moments before my business, my baby, lets me move on.

You, the reader, may be wondering why I am so quick to consider myself the parent in this situation (making my 4 partners husbands and wives, mothers and fathers). As I was beginning my own venture into adulthood, college that is, our first assignment was to read Plato's Symposium and discuss it as a class. Though I loved the many theories on the meaning of "love" (esp. Aristophanes famous take on the matter), I found myself particularly moved by that of Socrates (by way of Diotima). In it, he states that humans desire only to be immortal. However, because we are not, immortality, in a sense, can only be achieved by way of producing a child. Most will choose to create the first type of child, one of flesh and blood, in order to achieve immortality. Through this child their name, lessons, and genes will be passed on for, potentially, eternity. Socrates goes on to state, however, that there is a second type of child that will aid one in achieving immortality. This "child" is a creative endeavor; a book, a song, a philosophical theory, art, etc. In this way, one's ideas, feelings, thoughts, and actions can be recorded and carried on through history.

For me, the Root Note is my child (the second type of course). Since it's inception, it has helped me to reach thousands of others in countless ways, and has helped them to connect with one another. Under its name, I have helped to better my community and bring it closer, open minds, teach others, and give birth to new ideas. The reality of my dream of parenthood in this way, has helped others to achieve their own dreams. Through my child, I am bettering the world around me, and it is bettering me. What parent could ever ask for more?

And so, this introductory post will end here, though I could go on an on, (as many proud parents do), and probably will in future posts. For now, however, I am confident that this gives you a good understanding of what Raising the Root is all about.