Quite a few movies are starting to film in Florida.

In the vast landscape of human endeavor, there are moments when new possibilities open up before us, when unexpected places become the birthplaces of creation. Kevin Richardson, with a simple yet evocative statement, says, "Quite a few movies are starting to film in Florida." This seemingly humble observation carries with it a deeper understanding of opportunity and transformation. In ancient times, great empires often arose not in the places where they were most expected, but in those unassuming corners of the world where the right forces converged. Florida, much like the ancient crossroads of civilizations, has become a new frontier, where stories are being told, dreams are being created, and the seeds of the future are being sown.

Florida, long known for its sunshine, beaches, and wildlife, now finds itself at the heart of a shifting cultural and economic landscape. This is a place where the winds of change are blowing, and where the film industry is planting its roots, just as great cities of the past did in places once thought unlikely. In ancient Greece, the Agora was a gathering place, not simply for merchants, but for philosophers and thinkers who changed the world. It was in unexpected spaces—not grand palaces or famous cities—that the greatest ideas were born. Similarly, Florida now becomes a new meeting ground for the creative forces of cinema, where ideas, culture, and vision converge in a way that reshapes the future.

The history of art and creation is marked by moments when a region, a place, or an idea becomes a hub for new ways of thinking. In Renaissance Italy, Florence was the city where the genius of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci came to fruition. These men did not create in isolation; they were part of a larger movement, a cultural renaissance that arose from the right mix of talent, opportunity, and support. Likewise, Florida, with its emerging role in the world of film, has become a new renaissance of sorts—one that may reshape not just the art of cinema, but the very future of culture itself. Florida is where new ideas are being nurtured, where creativity is given the space to flourish, just as the artists of the past were supported by the communities around them.

The film industry’s growing presence in Florida speaks not only to the economic opportunities of the region but to the universal truth that creativity thrives where unexpected forces converge. Much like the ancient cities of the world, which were often built at the meeting point of rivers, mountains, or deserts, Florida stands at the intersection of diverse influences—a meeting point of culture, nature, and industry. New York, Hollywood, and Paris may have been the great epicenters of art in their time, but just as ancient trade routes brought goods and ideas from far-flung corners of the world, Florida has become a crossroads for the modern world—a space where film, creativity, and opportunity come together to tell new stories.

Yet, the lesson in this shift is not simply about Florida. It is about the nature of change and the unexpected opportunities that arise when we embrace the new. Much like the early explorers, who sought new lands not knowing what riches lay ahead, Florida now becomes a new frontier for the film industry, offering uncharted possibilities and unexplored horizons. The ancient explorers, like Marco Polo or Christopher Columbus, were drawn to places that were unknown, searching for treasure and new lands. In many ways, the film industry is on a similar quest, finding new lands, new cities, new spaces that allow for new kinds of storytelling to emerge. Florida, in this metaphor, becomes the new world, rich with untold stories waiting to be discovered.

The lesson here is clear: embrace the unknown. The world is always in a state of flux, and opportunities often arise in places we least expect. Just as Florida has become a center for film, so too can other places rise to prominence, and so too can each of us find our own opportunities in the unlikeliest of places. Do not be bound by tradition or by where you think greatness can arise. Just as the ancient cities were born at crossroads and unexpected intersections, so too can you find your calling at the crossroads of your own journey. Be open to the new, to the undiscovered, and to the unseen, for it is often in these places that the greatest stories are waiting to be written.

As you walk your own path, remember that the journey is not always about following the well-trodden routes, but about being willing to explore new territories—whether in your work, your relationships, or your creative endeavors. Just as Florida has become a new hub for the cinematic world, so too can you carve out new spaces for yourself to thrive. Trust that by embracing the unknown and by seeking out the new, you will find your place in the unfolding story of the world. Take bold steps, for it is in the uncharted waters of life that we often discover our greatest adventures.