Heartland

For Steve

Heartland- either it’s the heart of a place, or it’s a shop that sells Live Laugh Love paraphernalia and motivational posters with dolphins… “All of the dolphins, none of the endorphins”. While the latter sounds fun to mock, in this case, I’m talking about the true origin of the term.

It turns out that Heartlands aren’t just reserved for places like the American Midwest and the Karoo.

The heart of a place is broad. Where exactly it is, depends on who you ask. The best Heartlands are those that you have to know about to gain access, and you won’t find them on maps. I’m distrusting of maps. Who decides the borders, and who decides what documentation you need in order to be there? Way better are hidden gems… Places where you have to be “in the know” to find them… The truest real estate.

As it also turns out, the best people can be Heartlands… As if by magic, people can become places. Certain people become important sanctuaries where you can go when you need to experience calmness and serenity. The kind of calmness and serenity that doesn’t need a swanky brochure, dress code, and overpriced spa treatment.

WELCOME TO STEVE… POPULATION ONE.

“Steve, you’re a Heartland because everyone who meets you is drawn to you in a way that’s magnetic without being creepy.” ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

“Everyone who meets Steve immediately feels his energy and warmth.” ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

“Steve, you would make the most phenomenal cult leader, if only your ego would allow for it. Instead, you’re a Heartland, because you have no ego, only equity.” ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

The Heartland of Steve is an open-access space, provided you’re somewhat of a good person. As with maps, I’m also distrusting of people who label themselves as nice/kind/good. I’m the type of person who scrutinises kindness and looks for fault behind the thin veneer of perfection. Luckily, I’m not in charge of who enters Steve’s Heartland. Frankly, I don’t know how I got through the border.

Steve, you’re a pivotal space where kindness is celebrated and not one platitude or Live, Laugh, Love trinket is visible. It’s kindness without being told to “Choose Kind”. Your Heartland embodies kindness without sanctimony and postulating. It’s real and doesn’t make you feel like you need to rebel because it’s too vanilla and kumbaya. It’s the type of kindness that you stare in the face and think, “I want to emulate this”. It’s kindness that’s just there to wrap you in its warm embrace, to share a witty joke, and to feel truly seen.

Steve’s Heartland is unique because to benefit you have to show up and realise that this is not a place of flags, colonisation, and exploitation. To benefit and thrive, it’s 50/50. And this symbiosis is why Steve is a Heartland. Steve owns his vulnerability and has the bravery to ask for help, to tell you what he needs, and to lay out boundaries. It would be easy to set himself up for exploitation but that’s an unsustainable environmental model, and no one knows this better than Steve.

Steve embodies growth, and through his growth he encourages everyone to do better. Not because it’s a competition, but because growth is the future. When you’re around Steve you feel Life… There’s always music, laughter, good food, bubbling conversation, thoughtfulness, the warmth of feeling seen, and, dare I say it… To set off the LLL trifecta… Love. And if this is starting to sound like one of those sales pitches to sell timeshare at the world’s greatest Heartland, well don’t get too excited. Steve is actually a person, not just a metaphor, and he’s not for sale.

Plus, if the Heartland of Steve becomes too popular and commercial that’ll mean sharing, and it turns out, we’re not that kind.