Browsing Tag

People

Inspiration

Spreading Joy

March 23, 2012
Brandon & Jeremy - Hunger Walk/Run 2011

Joy. It’s one of those words that gets used far too infrequently in my opinion. I believe that we are at our best when we are living in joy.

Some people exude joy everywhere they go, even in the most mundane activities. I’ve been fortunate to know several people like that over the years. 3 days ago, I lost one of them in a tragic accident and my heart feels very heavy today as I think about it.

My friend and neighbor, Jeremy Smith, was one of the most positive, upbeat, enthusiastic people I have ever met in my life.

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Inspiration

How Do You Connect?

December 19, 2011
Brandon_Jessica_WDS

2011 is almost over, and it seems like a good time to reflect back on the year and look at some of the ways we have grown increasingly connected to each other and the world we live in.  Interconnectedness is a big topic for me and I look forward to hearing what others think about this.

In 2011, I connected with more people through Twitter than in any other online medium, but I also noticed more engagement here on my blog as well. Interestingly, I felt an overall reduction in engagement on Facebook, despite the fact that it’s such a behemoth in the social world.

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Social Causes

Occupying Life

November 23, 2011
Jimmy Carter Quote

The original plan was for this week to be a ‘writing retreat,’ but I’m pretty far away from that goal so far. I’m sitting in my friend’s house in the suburbs while he and his family are out of town and remembering what life was like out here.

I like my loft in the city, thanks. 🙂

Despite my assurances to get back into a more frequent posting schedule, it hasn’t played out that way. Now I know why Chris Guillebeau is so militant with his post schedule.  Once you slip, it’s over.

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Being Present, and Saying Yes

November 11, 2011
Kids of the Gulf Team and Ian Somerhalder

The past couple of weeks have been some of the most intense, yet incredibly rewarding of my life. Mainly because of people I’ve met and experiences I’ve had out in the world.

In the online world of blogging, check-ins, status updates, tweeting, liking, sharing, posting, etc., it’s easy to forget that real relationships can be formed by putting our phones and laptops down and sitting face to face with people or bonding in groups.

Some people balance these two worlds well, but I struggle with this at times, and my silence here over the past couple of weeks proves to me that I have a lot of work to do in this area. Continue Reading…

Gratitude

166 People & 48 Countries

October 23, 2011
Kids of the Gulf

166 people from all over the world came together over the last month in a showing of support for Kids of the Gulf and the belief that we can all make a difference if we choose to. There are hardly the words to describe how meaningful this support is to me personally.

Last year when the BP spill first started, I had this idea that people who couldn’t go to the Gulf themselves would be willing to support others who were willing to go and witness the disaster unfold, and help the situation in some way. That idea proved to be valid beyond my wildest dreams. Continue Reading…