ON

JANUARY 2018

#1 Hello 2018

01 January 2018 // Coronado, California

New year, let's go build stuff!

Anyone else tend to cling hard to a lot of loved things from the past aren't the same anymore? You know the usual ones– Friendships that have scattered over time. Former hometowns. Adventures of previous years.

Last year, I realized how much I loved those things and wanted to relive or recreate 'em. But in order to keep pursuing my purpose, I saw I needed to focus on here and now.

That means being patient with the process as our new community is built one relationship at a time. That means committing to fewer "random projects" so I can take on each day with more heart. That means putting in the hard work it takes to build meaningful things- at home, at work, and in community.

So whaddup 2018? It's a time to build and a time to double down on what's in front of us. Let's get started.

#2 The Jihyun Visit

02 January 2018 // San Diego, California

One thing I’m trying to work on is being the type of person who immediately after seeing another person starts trying to serve them and being relentlessly helpful. I know some people like that and they’re the coolest.

Being like that doesn’t come natural. At least not to me. When I see people— these days my first response to people is wondering if they’ve seen Coco so I can go on and on about it.

It’s super helpful for me to get to learn from people who are awesome at serving others. Jihyun is that kind of person, and having him around for a few days to kick off the year probably bodes pretty well.

#3 Books on Adams Ave.

03 January 2018 // San Diego, California

Did a little stocking up for some early 2018 reads. I’m hoping to do some filling the gaps of books that seem like ones I should’ve read forever ago but never got to.

I don’t think the bookstore clerks see too many people walk out with just Ready Player One and Thomas Merton.

After reading more last year than I ever have, I’m looking forward to the good reads this year has to offer. I’ll probably be scaling back the amount of books and trying to absorb more from books I like. I tend to slow things down a lot when I really like what I’m doing, so that would be a sign I’ve picked up really good books.

#4 Julian & Jihyun

04 January 2018 // San Diego, California

It’s kind of weird that once upon a time I thought I was an introvert. Too long without quality time with people and I get a little stir crazy when it’s been too long without a night out and some quality time.

Strengths and weaknesses usually come from the same parts of our character, and they vary so much from person to person. I love learning from other people’s, in convo and just by being a part of their lives.

#5 Dense Living

05 January 2018 // San Diego, California

“I want to live so densely, lush, and slow in the next few years that a year becomes ten years, and the past becomes only a page in the book of my life.”

–Nayyirah Waheed

#6 Dia de Reyes

06 January 2018 // Tecate, Mexico

What was a fantastic day.

I took my Miguel’s invitation to his family’s home in Tecate for Dia de Reyes… every year they open up their house to the community for a day of service and partying and I admire that so much.

Dozens of kids and their families came in from the surrounding area to get food, clothing, toys, and a really great time that consisted of piñatas, woodfired pizza, gift wrapping, finding Jesus in cake, and an impromptu Boyz II Men serenade.

I really think that acts of service are at their best when you have a hard time telling it apart from celebrating life with friends, and today was that kind of day.

#7 JB: The B is for Birthday

07 January 2018 // San Diego, California

I brunched at Karl Strauss to celebrate JB because this weekend, the B stood for Birthday.

So happy we now live in the same town and family, JB. You’re one of the most loyal people I know and the world around you is better for it.

#8 The Quiet Nights

08 January 2018 // San Diego, California

Eight (seriously!) years ago, when I started the project of taking a photo every single day, I always asked myself what criteria I would use to choose “the one” at the end of the day. The best aesthetic photograph? The most memorable moment?

I hoped over time that as I got better with a camera and as life got more interesting, those two would meet along the way. Often they did. At the end of every day I’d have to ask myself which moments made the day worth it, and that question got me doing more worthwhile things with my time. And more often than not, those things were pretty photogenic.

(Also, I had some really arbitrary rules like only taking a self-portrait on my birthday or trying not to feature the same person twice in a year. I’ve totally dropped those!)

Now that this project is going on its ninth year, I’ve chosen to focus just as much on honesty. I’ve learned that not every worthwhile thing happens at the ridge of a mountain. A lot of the most meaningful parts of life happen in quiet living rooms, overly familiar spaces, and in the ordinary. How do you capture these times in a way that doesn’t suggest minutiae but instead reflects their subtle significance? More importantly, how do you remember the value of these times while you’re in them?

I don’t know yet, but the camera has been a great teacher thus far.

#9 The Yes Mingler

09 January 2018 // San Diego, California

Pro-Tip: If you ever get an invite to one of Gary & Amy’s workshops —a cross between an improv class and a networking event, you should do the improv thing and say heck yes.

If you make it a point in life to make the people around you look good and to have fun while you’re at it, you’ll go far.

#10 Here’s Karl

10 January 2018 // San Diego, California

When we get out of town guests, tacos are a must. You could stay with us for a month and we’d manage to do a different taqueria every night.

Loved having Karl come hang with us after his math conference and introducing him to Salud. A great reminder that I don’t come by here nearly enough.

#11 Stay Strong, SB

11 January 2018 // San Diego, California

Last night was a chill one en la casa, but a part of me was thinking about everyone back in my old/second home.

It’s been such a rough month for Santa Barbara, sad to see this all in such a beautiful and special place. Fuerza.

#12 25 Years of Scott

12 January 2018 // Rancho Santa Fe, California

One of the best parts of being at Plant With Purpose is the team I get to work with every day. It’s really rare to find a working culture where both humility and excellence are in full effect, and that starts at the top.

Tonight I got to celebrate Scott’s 25th year with the organization and that really is worth something celebrating. Directing a nonprofit wasn’t romanticized in 1993 the way it is now. Sticking with one through 25 years is really rare, through rebrands and recessions, earthquakes, expansions, and times when fundraising results were really scary.

I’ve only gotten to be around for about a year of that, but it’s enough to validate everything I heard people from eight countries say about Scott. He brings out the best in the people he works with.

#13 Africa Rocks

13 January 2018 // San Diego, California

One of my favorite marriage traditions is not getting each other stuff for Christmas, but using what we would’ve spent for some sort of an experience. This year it was an annual membership at the zoo, and it’s gonna be fun taking spontaneous, short visits or even using this place as a zone for reading, dreaming, brainstorming.

#14 Meet Hammie the Pug

14 January 2018 // San Diego, California

This weekend, we got to meet Hamlet the puggo. He’s eight weeks brand new to the world. Fun fact about Hamlet– he has a thing for scratchy chin stubble.

#15 MLK Promenade

15 January 2018 // San Diego, California

“The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.”

–Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you look at recent trends and demographics it feels like this is MLK’s most prophetic quote. The church exists to bring about God’s vision for the earth, rather than to make people feel comfortable, but the latter is really common. The way MLK’s legacy speaks loudly to people inside and outside of church is a reminder that in a world full of irrelevant social clubs, those who choose to live out of conviction will feed a hungry world.

#16 Newtopia Nights

16 January 2018 // San Diego, California

Things that would’ve been helpful to know before last night:

• Inglourious Basterds did in fact get more Oscar nominations than Pulp Fiction did.

• Lithuania is the newest member of the Eurozone.

• The first popular TV program created by David Kelley in the ’90’s was Doogie Howser.

Didn’t do anywhere nearly as well as the last time we were here, but whatever. We still won friendship points.

(Yeah, repost cause I put up the wrong vers. and I can OCD like that)

#17 Tenth and Ballpark

17 January 2018 // San Diego, California

“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.”

–Pema Chödrön

#18 Bookstack

18 January 2018 // San Diego, California

What were your best reads last year? My reading list is long as usual, but I still love recommendations.

Here’s to my very favorite reads in 2017.

#19 Milktee

19 January 2018 // San Diego, California

Spent a lot of time dreaming dreams and making plans this week. Plans for housing. Plans for travel. Planning comes pretty natural to me.

It’s a strength and a weakness. It’s a gift, because it makes sure my dreams don’t stay dreams and that I often end up living out wild ideas. The flipside is that too much time spent in the planning zone can take me away from the present, making it harder to enjoy moments that are right in front of me.

One thing that helps is setting up little outings as planning sessions. Somewhere out of the house, where a couple hours are actually dedicated towards the making of plans. When it’s time, I get to really engage my forward thinking, and when it’s not, I get to practice having an off-switch.

Annnndddd whenever I need a little extra help staying in the moment, milk tea never hurts.

#20 Women’s March San Diego

20 January 2018 // San Diego, California

Walking through the streets of San Diego today reminded me of the Women’s March last year in Eugene. Encouraging. A reminder that the deep desire for a better, more equitable world, is one shared by so many people. So many believe it can get better.

We don’t really get to choose which moments in history that we’ll be born into. My grandparents lived through World War II and all of the destruction that brought… but not by choice. My aunts and uncles experienced the tensions and changes of the Civil Rights Era… also not by choice. Our lives hold the pages of future history books as well.

What matters is how we show up for these moments. I want to walk with enough humility to know I won’t change everything singlehandedly, and with enough determination to do everything I can anyways.

#21 Coffee First

21 January 2018 // San Diego, California

The widely accepted idea is that time flies when you’re having fun, but I often find the opposite to be true. Time seems to go by the fastest when I get a little too wrapped up doing things for the sake of getting them done. It expands when I start exploring. Think of the first day of a trip abroad. Often, that one day expands and feels longer than a week.

This is a huge reason why I value midweek adventures, getting out of the house more often, and not getting overly stuck on a routine.

#22 Running the Rift

22 January 2018 // San Diego, California

“How much this book of life changes, he thought. And we are not the ones to write the pages.”

–Naomi Benaron

Book No. 01 of 2018

In this novel, an Olympic runner has to pursue his career, his family life, and his relationships against one of the most brutal backdrops of recent history… the Rwandan genocide.

This book’s characters felt true and alive. While the story got off to a bit of a slow start, it eventually picks up steam as both Jean Patrick’s running career and his country’s internal conflicts start to take off. This was a coming-of-age story that reminded me of some of those hidden gem movies I find on airplanes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#23 Mission Bay

23 January 2018 // San Diego, California

“To hope does not mean to know the future, but rather to be open, in an attitude of spiritual childhood, to accepting it as a gift. But this gift is accepted in the negation of injustice, in the protest against trampled human rights, and in the struggle for peace and fellowship. Thus hope fulfills a mobilizing and liberating function in history.”

–Gustavo Gutierrez

#24 Wild Drowzee

24 January 2018 // San Diego, California

On my lunch break, and a wild drowzee appeared.

#25 Ocean Glance

25 January 2018 // San Diego, California

My year just isn’t complete until I’ve made and published my video yearbook. I spent a considerable amount of time today working on it so I could have it done by February… and now 2017’s is finally complete!

I’ve been doing this since 2010– a compilation of my photo-a-day project and my favorite video clips. I share it for fun, but it’s really just an exercise of gratitude for me. I can replay the video from any given year and feel so thankful for the life I get.

#26 Downtown Glance

26 January 2018 // San Diego, California

I like the fact that being positive comes natural to me, but I’ve noticed the times where you become the closest to other people are during shared times of hardship and challenge, or when opening up about anxieties and other low points. Vulnerability can be a gift, not always a comfortable one.

#27 Booking It

27 January 2018 // San Diego, California

A great Saturday consists of:

• A 5.5 mile run

• Stocking up on running supplies at REI

• Going to my favorite Italy-vibes café for some Italian espressos

• Leaving the place with plane tickets to Italy 🇮🇹

#28 Mount Volcan

28 January 2018 // Julian, California

This weekend was a rad one. I’ve gotta admit to enjoying life quite a bit lately. We just made plans for a trip I’ve been dreaming of for years, so that’s pretty easy to get excited about even months in advance, but I’m also finding myself  pretty excited about the day-to-day stuff that’s been happening lately.

We finally found a book we both enjoy enough to read to each other at night. We’re race training and all that running must be doing it’s endorphin-pump thing, because I physically feel better than I have in a good while. Today we went on a hike around Santa Ysabel and got to spend most of the afternoon visually feasting on these panoramas.

I’m good and ready for this week now and wanting to take it all in slowly cause it’s been such a good stretch.

#29 Sam & Richard

29 January 2018 // San Diego, California

New Friend Report: Sam & Richard

Richard talked to us about being a dad, which is great, and Sam talked to us about his hobby– collecting and restoring watches. I thought that sounded awesome and in my head I kept picturing him sitting in an old study filled with wood furniture, like in Tin Tin, holding up gears and tiny pieces up to a magnifying glass.

#30 Spicy Ramen Challenge

30 January 2018 // San Diego, California

At 8700 Scofield units, the Samyang nuclear instant ramen is apparently the hottest instant ramen on the market. But life is all about growth and challenging yourself, right?

Get the full version of the video tomorrow when you sign up for my Increase Your Impact newsletter.

#31 Moonlit

31 January 2018 // San Diego, California

I did the blood/blue/super moon wrong and went out to do some moonviewing when the moon was a little too high up and no longer supersized or bleeding.

Thankfully, there actually isn’t a wrong way to look at the moon and I still got some lovely views.

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THE BLOG

2017

DECEMBER 2017

#335 Plant It Forward Holiday Market

01 December 2017 // San Diego, California

After a gazillion events like this over the weekend, it's safe to say that Christmas mode is totally on and welcome.

#336 Tree Hunting

02 December 2017 // El Cajon, California

Hunting for just the right tree with my baby and our baby. We found it.

#337 Our Good Normal

03 December 2017 // San Diego, California

How do you get back to normal life after a big adventure? That sudden shift back to ordinary used to be a threat to me. Not so much anymore.

After weeks of adventures, travel, hustle, and work, it's pretty nice to jump back into my home base. I arrived on the morning of Giving Tuesday and got to hit the ground running with work and with life at home right away.

But isn't that the dream? To work on something you love until it's time to go home to someone you love. To go on adventures and to return to a home base that's one big adventure itself.

It definitely helps that our "normal" is anything but- it's the sweetest normal I know. We're back to it and I'm loving these days as they come.

#338 Chicken Cordon Bleu

04 December 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission: I had some real good cordon bleu while I was in Korea. Like, I forgot that the dish existed for a little while and then I had a bit of the one that was served to me and it all came rushing back. I knew I had to give it a go once back at home.

The Results: Pretty good. Here’s the thing you’ve gotta do- spend three minutes toasting your panko crumbs right up front. That way when you end up cooking the real deal, it stays nice and crispy. Also, this is a pretty good use of muenster slices.

#339 Trivia at Newtopia

05 December 2017 // San Diego, California

Taking on Trivia Tuesday with our knowledge of Stieg Larson’s books, Kobe’s draft year, and Weezer’s discography.

#340 Passport Retirement

06 December 2017 // San Diego, California

A happy retirement to this dear friend. Thailand/Malaysia marks the last trip I'll be able to take on my current passport. It's technically got two years left before expiring, but its beat up binding and lack of blank pages put me at risk of not being let in some countries.

It's kind of sad. I've had this passport since 2009, and that's the perfect window for it to tell the story of my most important journeys.

They're all here:

🇮🇹🇦🇷 - My student visas to Argentina and Italy that left me with a lifelong desire to be a global citizen

🇿🇦 - My entry to South Africa that forever changed my perspective on helping others.

🇪🇺🇫🇷🇬🇧🇧🇪 - The first trip I took with Deanna internationally around Europe.

🇩🇴 - Our honeymoon

🇵🇭🇵🇭 - A pair of stamps from the Philippines- from the time I took her to meet my grandma in '14 and my grandma's memorial service last year.

🇹🇿🇹🇭 - My first visits to Plant With Purpose's field programs this year.

Sometimes it seems like the world is in pretty poor shape, but each of these journeys remind me of all the good that's out there in people around the world. It's a good worth fighting for.

There's a miserable stat of more than half of Congress not owning a passport. But that's also a clear area for improvement. If you're gonna change the world, you've gotta make an effort to go and meet the world.

Of course, travel is a privilege. But it's one opportunity I don't think should be squandered by those who have it.

Hopefully my next passport arrives quickly. There are more stories to be lived and big shoes to fill.

#341 Psych the Movie

07 December 2017 // San Diego, California

I’m pretty sure the world became a much darker place the moment after Psych went off the air.

So glad to jump back into this world, even if just for a night.

#342 Karaoke & Kimonos

08 December 2017 // San Diego, California

Thank you Min Son Chon, for being everything that you are.

#349 Culture Care

09 December 2017 // San Diego, California

“An industrial map in the mid-twentieth century colored New York’s Hudson River black. The mapmakers considered a black river a good thing—full of industry! The more factory outputs, the more progress. When that map was made, “nature” was widely seen as a resource to be exploited. Few people considered the consequences of careless disposal of industrial waste. The culture has shifted dramatically over the last fifty years.”

“When I share this story today, most people shudder and ask how anyone could think of a polluted river as good.   But today we are doing the same thing with the river of culture. Think of the arts and other cultural enterprises as rivers that water the soil of culture. We are painting this cultural river black—full of industry, dominated by commercial interests, careless of toxic byproducts—and there are still cultural mapmakers who claim that this is a good thing.”

–Makoto Fujimura

Book No. 47 from 2017

This was a book full of important and valuable ideas for artists and makers.

It wasn’t always the clearest or most straightforward book to understand. I realize it’s a book about art and culture that’s destined to be on the esoteric side, but a little clarity would’ve probably helped me appreciate it even more.

Still, I enjoyed hearing Fujimura’s perspectives on art, culture, creation, environment, and faith and this book gave me the impression that he’d be fascinating to sit down and talk to. He puts caring for culture at a similar level of importance as caring for the environment and physical needs.

⭐⭐⭐

#344 Kirstie’s Party

10 December 2017 // San Diego, California

HBD to a real rad coworker, friend, and party-starter.

#345 Borek

11 December 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission: Make some Borek, the Turkish/Mediterranean wonder made up of minced goodies inside of yufka pastry.

The Results: I was pretty happy with this having never made borek before, but there's a few things I would definitely do differently. Working with yufka or phyllo dough is really difficult, which meant some parts were thick and dry while others had burst through. The spiral shape was a tricky one too. All in all, though, I'm pretty glad with how this all came together.

#346 Little Fires Everywhere

12 December 2017 // San Diego, California

"Sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground, and start over. After the burning the soil is richer, and new things can grow. People are like that, too. They start over. They find a way."

–Celeste Ng

Book No. 48 of 2017

Celeste Ng is steadily rising up the list of my favorite authors. This book hits a lot of the same strong points that Everything I Never Told You did, taking a single episode of suburban drama and going down every forking path leading up to and resulting from the incident.

Also like her debut, her characters are so richly drawn, flawed and relatable. Her ability to weave in themes of identity, race, gender, etc. clearly but not heavy handedly is also a rare gift. This was one of my faves from this year.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#347 Salisbury Steak

13 December 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission: Sometimes my meals are inspired by some exotic locale, other times they're inspired by the 50's Americana advent of the microwave dinner. Salisbury steak was one of the latter.

Results: I had lots of ground beef left over from borek and I still had duck fat to work with for gravy. This dish turned out to be a better fridge cleaner than I thought, and not too bad except for coming out a bit on the salty side.

#348 Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese

14 December 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission: It’s slow cooker season, and that means mac and cheese becomes a big deal. Since I didn’t want to get anybody sick, though, I couldn’t really use my hands. This was the first item where I had to use Deanna as a sous chef to do all the things I couldn’t.

Results: The pasta was a bit on the al dente side, but that’s what I like. The trick to get the cheese all creamy could be either Velveeta or cream cheese, but I had neither. Still turned out to be a treat.

#349 I Shall Not Hate

15 December 2017 // San Diego, California

“People should understand that Palestinians don’t live for themselves alone. They live for and support each other. What I do for myself and my children, I also do for my brothers and sisters and their children. My salary is for all of my family. We are a community.”

Book No. 49 of 2017

Izzeldin Abuelaish has an important and incredible voice. The Gaza-based doctor faced one of the biggest episodes of personal tragedies. After losing his wife to illness, a few weeks later he lost three of his children when an Israeli rocket struck their apartment where they had been locked down.

Abuelaish has so much to say about people learning to live in peace. His refusal to hate “the other side” in spite of having every reason to is one that leaves all of us who have lost less without an excuse to not choose better things than hate.

#350 Beignet Does Fiesta Island

16 December 2017 // San Diego, California

This weekend turned into a recovery weekend. I’ve been fighting off some stuff, so instead of all the outing-filled weekend before Christmas I was hoping for, I got the weekend of rewatching Superbad while cleaning every room in the house that I needed.

It still wouldn’t have been right if I didn’t get out of the house for a little bit, so Beignet got the treat of Fiesta Island living up to its name as always.

I love December and all of its irregularities. Most people find it a rush, but I love the way it breaks up routines and unexpectedly opens up pockets of time to humor curiosity.

#351 Christmas Prep

17 December 2017 // San Diego, California

Let's be real, I'll probably still be listening to Chance's Christmas album well into April.

#352 Amigo Secreto

18 December 2017 // San Diego, California

Did I luck out with my Secret Santa or what? Dave not only made this sweet frame out of a repurposed gate, but it's decked out with scraps of an article I wrote and my favorite quotes... you know, like the favorite quotes you put on Facebook in like 2009 and haven't seen in a while? Yeah, he did his homework! (Also, I'm glad the '09 me had a taste in quotes I can still be happy about in 2017.)

He said the frame was a pretty clear choice since I chronicle so much of life through photos. So here's to doing the most meta thing by chronicling the frame in a photo.

#353 Christmas Evenings in OB

19 December 2017 // San Diego, California

“Giving should be joyous, an infectious pleasure at the capacity to bring about change."

–Nick Kristof

From my hood to yours.

#354 Red Curry Martini

20 December 2017 // San Diego, California

The Mission: Make a martini with a nice red curry twist. Making a flavored cocktail that doesn’t seem like a cheap gimmick, that’s true to the flavor it emulates, and that actually tastes good isn’t always an easy task. With an out-there flavor like red curry, it gets even harder.

The Results: Just a dash of curry paste and the infusion of a thai chili were what I really needed to get the right suggestion. I went with a vodka martini over gin because I actually prefer it that way, and orange bitters helped bridge the gap between the regular ingredients and the wild cards.

#355 Your First 1,000 Copies

21 December 2017 // San Diego, California

“The fundamental difference between someone you trust and someone you don’t is your belief in whether or not they are looking out for your best interest above their own.”

–Tim Grahl

Book No. 50 of 2017

If I could do anything differently about my book back when I wrote it, I would have definitely been a lot more strategic about marketing the thing! I’ve learned a lot about marketing since that serves me well for book sales and beyond, but this book would’ve been real helpful two years ago.

Grahl’s book is about selling your own book, but really his marketing tips could apply to marketing just about anything. The central idea is that good marketing is all about being relentlessly helpful, and that’s not just limited to books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#356 Beige by Beige

22 December 2017 // Bakersfield, California

"We're going to win this war not by fighting what we hate, but saving what we love."

–Rose Tico

A few days to really, really unwind in Bakersfield with family are actually what I'm loving right now.

#357 The Christmas Adobo

23 December 2017 // Bakersfield, California

The Christmas Adobo.

You can’t really force a tradition to be born, but if this is the birth of a new one, I’m totally cool with that.

#358 Snuggles With the 2015 Christmas Gift

24 December 2017 // Bakersfield, California

This fluff right here is the tiniest thing in the world.

#359 Christmas 17

25 December 2017 // Bakersfield, California

There's a no-man's land where your childhood Christmas traditions have faded and you haven't yet started building the ones your kids will remember. Such are my Christmases these days, but they can still be so good.

On Christmas 2017...

• We finally got to spend the day with spoilt Beignet, who is acutally a Christmas present herself, from 2015
• Deanna won MVP by repurposing some of her late grandma's charms into Christmas ornaments- only tearjerker gift this year
• Star Wars stuff
• Some great convos on the car ride back to SD
• We wound up at a house party in Cerritos with a side of my family that knows how to get down

Who taught ya how to step?

#360 Walking to Listen

26 December 2017 // San Diego, California

“If I could understand my craving, then maybe I wouldn't end up spending my entire life saying good-bye, moving on. I wouldn't have to walk across America, or prove anything, or keep quietly wondering if there was something else I should be doing, somewhere else I should explore, someone else I should be. If I could understand the slippery schemes of the unsettled mind, instead of getting swept up in them, then maybe I could just sit, and that would be enough. After all, to seek something is to assume it's not already here.”

–Andrew Forsthoefel

Book No. 51 of 2017

This book had a lot of potential. After all, I take pretty easily to books that feature the author on some sort of geographic quest and the theme of listening is one that seems to be badly needed in 2017. I wondered if this might have the potential to be the second coming of Peter Jenkins’ Walk Across America.

The sort answer is no, not this book. Forsthoefel has a lot of good ideas but the presentation is often a blur of inconclusive internal dialogues, enough quotes from Rainer Maria Rilke and Walt Whitman that I should get credit for reading their books, and a sense of distance from the experience. I would’ve loved a deeper plunge into the experience rather than a cycle of “I-met-these-people, they-said-this.”

⭐️⭐️

#361 Triumph of the Heart

27 December 2017 // San Diego, California

“In my explorations of the nature of forgiveness, I realized that in many ways, forgiveness is the willingness to place more attention on the good than on the bad. It means taking on a view of life and a practice of living it, that enables you to experience more joy and love while also giving more joy and love to others.”

–Megan Feldman Bettencourt

Book No. 52 of 2017

I did it! Last book of the year, and what a great choice to end on. I had never heard of this book and found it at an amazing sale in Malaysia. Gold.

Megan Bettencourt explores forgiveness through a variety of lenses– within marriages, from children to parents, in war zones and inner city schools, through science, and in spiritual practices. She meets with a Rwandan priest who adopted the children of his mother’s killer, a recovering alcoholic who turned into a leader in advice-giving around Phoenix, Israeli and Palestinian girls who learn how to befriend “the other side” at a San Francisco camp, and the father of a shooting victim in San Diego who works with his the family of his son’s killer to prevent gun violence. I remember attending that program as a kid.

This book had such a good blend of rich information, truthful insight, and powerful stories- all presented clearly and sharply. I loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#362 Olive Oil Cake

28 December 2017 // San Diego, California

The Mission: Make an olive oil cake.

The Results: I did it!

This marks the 52nd item I’ve made for my 2017 cooking project and the final one! I’ve tried to challenge myself to cook stuff off a list of things designed to sharpen up some of the culinary skills I thought could use some improvement.

I’ve done this project for the past two years. I’m not planning to continue it in 2018. It’s been a blast, and I’ve definitely gotten a lot better in the kitchen, but it’s also fairly time consuming and one of my goals next year is to cut back on the amount of projects I have and to pour more heart into the ones I keep. Plus, I started this task when I was a grad student tired of mental work all day. It was great having something to do with my hands at the end of the day.

Anyways, I’ll keep cooking. Just not for a challenge. For other people? I’d love to!

#363 52 Books of 2017

29 December 2017 // San Diego, California

I thought I should set a pretty ambitious reading goal in 2017, being done with grad school and finally having time to read for fun. 52 seemed like the right amount, averaging a book a week. I read the final one this week.

I know exactly what I’d be doing if I were you. I’d be pinching and zooming to see everything I read. You could do that, or you could check the #philippereads17 hashtag for the titles and reviews.

I didn’t really want to focus my reading on one particular thing. I wanted to read pretty broadly and diversely. And that meant I read from different genres, cultures, genders, and time periods.

The funny thing is that even though I tried to read broadly, just about all the books seemed to point to a common theme: reconciliation. A memoir of a doctor in Gaza who lost half his family in a bombing, an in-depth look at case studies in forgiveness, and a global chef’s autobiography directly exemplified reconciliation in action.

Books like Hillbilly Elegy, The Righteous Mind, and Braving the Wilderness put it in light of modern times. Silence, The Mothers, and Boxers & Saints showed the horrors of failing to offer forgiveness, even to yourself. The Next Worship, The New Jim Crow, and Collapse demonstrated the need for reconciliation in today’s world, and even the Pope’s apostolic exhortation spoke to daily reconciliation within a family.

All that was unplanned, but when you read 52 books from different times, authors, and styles and they all seem to say the same thing, it’s worth paying attention.

#364 Jihyun in Cali

30 December 2017 // San Diego, California

For 👏🏽 real. 👏🏽 Not 👏🏽 a 👏🏽 drill.

Jihyun is in California.

Also, Taqueria Revolucion is really, really, really good.

#365 Year End Yawn

31 December 2017 // San Diego, California

The end of a year and the beginning of another always makes Beignet so emotional.

MY BIG 2017 LIST

One of my favorite things about the end of the year is seeing the lists people put out of ranking things. Like, go ahead, rank anything! I'll probably be pretty entertained by it. Rank albums from the year, or meals you ate, or the things you currently have in your purse or backpack. I'll probably be entertained by it.

I make my own rankings too, at the end of this year. I'm finding that it was a bad year for new music, a good year for bands I already love continuing to impress me, a good year for creativity and inclusion in the movies, and another bummer of a year for pretty much all the sports teams I support.

Anyways, I tend to throw all my rankings together into one big pot. Here they are!

25. Typology

PODCAST

The enneagram continues to be one of my best tools for self-awareness, embracing the upsides of being a joyful, adventure-loving seven while looking out for my unhealthy tendencies. There aren’t any shortage of enneagram materials out there lately, but if you’ve got to pick one, I might recommend Typology. Ian Cron is a fantastic guide, and the mix of guests tends to be pretty great.

24. How To Be Everything by Emilie Wapnick

BOOK

Okay, you know how I just said I was a seven? In Wapnick’s terms, I’m also a multipotentialite. Someone with an innate curiosity that leads to multiple pursuits: a renaissance man (positive connotation) or a jack-of-all-trades (negative connotation). Many books tend to speak negatively towards this trait in the process of talking about developing an expertise. Wapnick instead affirms the strengths of being a multipotentialite and offers practical tools on how to make it work for you. If I was still “searching for a career” this might’ve ranked even higher.

23. Okja

FILM

This was a rare straight-to-Netflix movie that was actually pretty good. It was also ultra-bizzare, but it was a good year for those types of productions with a few other films making this list. Despite how bizarre the dystopian setting of the film is at first, it’s very honest about the current state of corporate food production. Also, I loved the collaboration with some of Korea’s best.

22. It

FILM

So… I enjoyed this adaptation and remake WAY more than I was expecting too. I went in simply for nostalgia’s sake and left impressed with the way this film develops and creates its world.

21. John Mark McMillan, Mercury & Lightning

ALBUM

When I think of John Mark, I think back to college groups, emotionally saturated worship sets, and a time where trendiness and faith were difficult to unlink. He stood out from the crowd as a legitimately authentic artist, and Ioved his sound. (Christian National, anyone?) This album was creatively rich and Enemy, Love might’ve been my favorite song from all of 2017

20. Maggie Rogers, Now That The Light is Fading

ALBUM

I have a hard time putting EP’s on this list, but I had a substantially harder time excluding Maggie Rogers from it. Young, raw, and still getting better, but tracks like Alaska indicate that we’ve got a lot to look forward to.

19. Justin Baldoni, Why I’m Done Trying to Be Man Enough

CONVERSATION/LECTURE

Rafael from Jane The Virgin turns out to also be an outspoken feminist and an amazingly speaker. His TED Talk on redefining masculinity was honest, important, and timely all at the same time, and I hope his words become an increasingly common mindset among men of my generation.

18. Stranger Things 2

SERIES

Why mess with a good thing? Stranger Things managed to build off of everything that worked in their first season, and it worked just as well for their second. I love the fact that it was built like a (good) sequel, that they mixed up character dynamics, and that they played homage to a different sort of 80’s mode in their least popular episode.

17. Handsome Ghost

ALBUM**

I was surprised to see that Handsome Ghost didn’t actually release an album this year. It seemed like every month or two they released a new single that I absolutely loved. Maybe they’ll all be on an album next year that should make that list, or maybe they’ve embraced the modern era of music and abandoned the limitations of the album format. Either way, their music will always feel like walking into an air conditioned lobby on an extremely hot summer day.

16. Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, & James McAllister, Planetarium

ALBUM

What is a planetarium? An artificial, indoor replication of natural wonders far beyond the world. In this album that overlays synthetic vocals and beats over orchestral scoring, you get the juxtaposition of the human and the divine, a unmatched blend of ecology and theology. Who else could deliver this package but Sufjan?

15. John Lewis: Love In Action (On Being)

CONVERSATION/LECTURE

John Lewis continues to be one of my favorite voices from the Civil Rights Era while doing valuable work today in Congress. On Being remains one of my favorite Podcasts and there are a number of episodes that could very easily make a list of favorites. Put those two things together and it’s os, so good.

14. Kendrick Lamar, DAMN

ALBUM

I appreciate Kendrick, but I never felt the attachment to good kid or Pimp a Butterfly the way the world at large seemed to. When DAMN showed up though, it delivered on the acclaim. Songs can both be pump-up jams while containing lyrical sophistication in a way that doesn’t compromise either.

13. Conversations With People Who Hate Me

PODCAST

This was far from the most listened to podcast of the year, but it could be the most important. During a year where everything seemed to be fodder for your next argument, Dylan Marron disrupted all expectations simply by engaging his literal haters with empathetic and productive conversations. So, so refreshing.

12. Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown

BOOK

Another important and timely piece. Brene Brown’s already one of the most insightful communicators on the broad but relatable topic of simply being a vulnerable human, and this book gives people a good way forward to navigate times characterized by anger and anxiety.

11. Sleight

FILM

File this one in the category of weird, genre-bending films from this year. If you liked Get Out, Sleight will also be right up your alley as a black superhero film that focuses on what it really means to escape. Also, Dulé Hill is amazing as the gang-leading antagonist who is definitely NOT Gus from Psych.

10. Fleet Foxes, The Crack-Up

ALBUM

Fleet Foxes release their albums so sparingly, and I appreciate that. It makes it a special event once every 4-5 years when a new album of theirs hits shelves. It also allows them to remain very true to their style that hooked me back in 2008 and instantly makes me feel more thoughtful.

9. Daniel Caesar, Freudian

ALBUM

This album occupied a similar spot on my palate that Gallant did last year. Caesar’s subtly rich but haunting vocals were so well used on this album that it still feels fresh every time I listen to it, no matter how many times that’s actually been.

8. Amoris Laetitia by Pope Francis

BOOK

Okay, it feels kind of weird to have papal writings on a mostly pop-culture list, right after Daniel Caesar and Fleet Foxes, but this was my highest rated non-fiction book this year for deserving reasons. The wisdom found within is some of the most helpful perspective on marriage that I’ve ever received.

7. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

BOOK

My goodness, Ng continues to assert herself as one of my favorite writers. Everything that was great about her debut, Everything I Never Told You is present and perhaps even sharper in this piece on suburban unraveling. Her ability to handle themes of race and identity without being heavy-handed is such a gift.

6. The National, Sleep Well Beast

ALBUM

I suppose it doesn't surprise me one bit that The National put out my most loved album of the year. It’s totally true to everything I expect from The National, and absolutely gorgeous. 

5. Rough Translation

PODCAST

This show came on in August and wrapped up its first season by September. That made it easy to overlook how much I loved its topics of global storytelling with a human heart. The podcast looked at racial perspectives in Brazil, the complexity of storytelling from rape survivors in the Congo, and American surrogate parents for Chinese babies. This was right up my alley.

4. Pachinko, by Min-Jin Lee

BOOK

This book made me really proud to be a descendant from a long line of strong Korean women. If you’re like, wait, you’re not actually a descendant from a long line of strong Korean women, you’d be correct, but that’s exactly how vivid this book is and how powerfully it crafts each of its characters.

3. Get Out

FILM

I don’t know what else needs to be said about Get Out that hasn’t been said already. It’s everything that people say it is, and more. It’s a horror movie where the monster is a little too real and too familiar.

2. Lady Bird

FILM

Teenagers are hard to relate to. Even if you’re 20, you often look at a group of high schoolers and you’re like, how was I like that? Which is why when Greta Gerwig puts out a film that makes you go, yes! High school in 2003 was just like that! it’s not small feat.

1. Coco

FILM

Look, if you make a movie that makes me cry, then you must have made Coco because no other movie has ever accomplished that. At a time when cultural appreciation seems to face a lot of opposition, a film that celebrates the heart of Mexican families, this film was subversive in its beauty.

2016

ON THINGS CHANGING FAST

Twelve months ago, I was in New York with only the vaguest sense of where I’d wind up or what I'd be doing over the next year. 2017 looked like making plans based on little certainty, where faith and big dreams meet patience, putting in the work, and keeping joyful.

I spent a lot of the early months in contemplation, and those practices were so good for me.

Two months later I joined the Plant With Purpose team and made the move from Oregon to San Diego. So many things I hoped for were suddenly coming together all at once.

Quiet started to turn into hustle. It became too easy to focus on things that were yet to be accomplished.

My trip to Asia reminded me that taking things one day at a time was not only important, but it made everything more beautiful. More enjoyable.

Some things can change in an instant. For better. For worse. 2017 made that clear in both directions. But that only makes it more important to be patient with the things that take a lot more time and effort, to treat every day like its own journey, and not just a link in a long chain.

That was my year, at least, and I think I’m better for it.

ON THE PEOPLE AND THE FOREST

They could’ve spent this day working on their gardens and forest protection. After all, their gardens and forests are the source of their livelihood and every day that they’re able to work is critical. Instead, they spent the day all gathered together, waiting and taking turns to tell me their stories until we all got lunch together. I can’t overlook how generous they were with their day, and I want to make sure their stories are heard.

I always thought of environmental issues as noble, but they never struck me with the same oomph as human rights issues… but spending time in villages like Huay Lu helps me to realize that they are one and the same.

Most of the people I spoke to that day were originally from Myanmar. As a persecuted minority, many of them had to make dangerous and risky escapes into Thailand. That transition was just as challenging at times, especially when timber businesses had begun to extract the forest that they relied on for resources and survival.

Learning how to manage the forest as a community was the key to their survival, and person after person brought out their grandchildren and told me how they felt hopeful that this next generation would never know the terrible things they’d experienced in their lifetime.

That moment redefined sustainability for me. It’s not just “going green” cause that’s a good thing to do. It’s about living beyond yourself, for generations to come.

ON LOVE & ATTENTION

Today we saw Lady Bird and loved it. "Don’t you think they are the same thing? Love and attention?" Giving sincere attention to the world and the people around us gives us the space where we can love.
.
Usually, this is the time of year when my ideas start racing for new projects and challenges to take on in the next year. Now I find myself thinking, "I just don't want to miss it." I'll probably seek to scale a lot of things back just to give more room to dive deep into the things right in front of me.

ON PASSPORT STAMPS

A happy retirement to this dear friend. Thailand/Malaysia marks the last trip I'll be able to take on my current passport. It's technically got two years left before expiring, but its beat up binding and lack of blank pages put me at risk of not being let in some countries.

It's kind of sad. I've had this passport since 2009, and that's the perfect window for it to tell the story of my most important journeys.

They're all here:

🇮🇹 🇦🇷 - My student visas to Argentina and Italy that left me with a lifelong desire to be a global citizen

🇿🇦 - My entry to South Africa that forever changed my perspective on helping others.

🇪🇺 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 🇧🇪 - The first trip I took with Deanna internationally around Europe.

🇵🇭 🇵🇭 - A pair of stamps from the Philippines- from the time I took her to meet my grandma in '14 and my grandma's memorial service last year.

🇹🇿 🇹🇭 - My first visits to Plant With Purpose's field programs this year.

Sometimes it seems like the world is in pretty poor shape, but each of these journeys remind me of all the good that's out there in people around the world. It's a good worth fighting for.

There's a miserable stat of more than half of Congress not owning a passport. But that's also a clear area for improvement. If you're gonna change the world, you've gotta make an effort to go and meet the world.

Of course, travel is a privilege. But it's one opportunity I don't think should be squandered by those who have it.

Hopefully my next passport arrives quickly. There are more stories to be lived and big shoes to fill.

NOVEMBER 2017

#305 This Series

01 November 2017 // San Diego, California

This series, man. I love this time of year when a bunch of people find out that, hey, baseball is actually pretty full of drama.

My favorite win was when the Astros beat the Yankees in the ALCS, because it assured I’d be happy with a bunch of the storylines tied to either team winning. It’s a great one for the City of Houston, Verlander, (not you, Yuli), Altuve, and last place teams with hopes for three years down the line.

Phillies 2020. Can’t wait.

#306 The James & James Show

02 November 2017 // San Diego, California

Is there a recipe for meaningful experiences? Sometimes I think it just looks like being honest and wholehearted and to invite other people to be in that same moment. 

James Bishop and James Spaite put together a fantastic evening of creativity, honesty, and togetherness– I seriously love having these two as Plant With Purpose ambassadors and just knowing them. 

Something about the low, warm lighting in the old Episcopalian church combined with musical textures and storytelling was just the right setting to bring me back to another time in life… probably one where doing things like this at 9 on a weeknight used to be a little more common.  

#307 Red Letter Revolution

03 November 2017 // San Diego, California

“I always tell our community that we should attract the people Jesus attracted and frustrate the people Jesus frustrated. It’s certainly never our goal to frustrate, but it is worth noting that the people who were constantly agitated were the self-righteous, religious elite, the rich, and the powerful. But the people who were fascinated by him, by his love and grace, were folks who were already wounded and ostracized — folks who didn’t have much to lose, who already knew full well that they were broken and needed a Savior.” 

–Shane Claiborne

Book No. 44 from 2017

This book did a terrific job of articulating how Christ’s teachings interact with some of the most touchy subjects today– immigration, civil disobedience, racism, feminism, etc.

The rallying cry for people to “not get political” has never been less effective. What counts as “political” only expands. From government budgets to healthcare, eventually down to the reasons you aren’t watching football anymore. Avoiding all “political” conversations only means that the arenas your faith can inform have to shrink to accommodate that expansion.

Instead, there’s a way to engage politics that doesn’t go around them, but beyond them, and I think this book points in that direction. It isn’t partisanship. It’s being able to listen to the most important voice.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#308 85º

04 November 2017 // San Diego, California

If these baked goods could talk, they’d say "you’re where you’re supposed to be right now. Stop and smell us, the pastries." 

In my case, it’d be totally true. It’s so easy to take note of everything that feels like its missing, everything that hasn’t been done yet, everything that’s gone away. It can be a lot harder to notice the fact that all of my needs have always been taken care of, and that’s more of a miracle than I often acknowledge. 

These baked goods can’t talk, but it’s still true.

#309 Easy Sunday

05 November 2017 // San Diego, California

An easy Sunday afternoon in North Park, just days before a big trip.

Just like a balanced life is full of healthy cycles of work, play, and rest, mine seems to thrive in a healthy rhythm of home, away, then home again. There was a time when I could’ve gone fully nomadic. It wouldn’t have been right for me, and I’m glad I chose against impulse.

That said, I’m thankful for a life at home that is so much richer because of the time I’ve spent away from it. Knowing how to lean into curiosity, how to follow love all over the globe, and how to come back to it in the end.

#310 Chicken Rice Pilaf

06 November 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission 44: The original plan was to make chicken biriyani, but that’s a pretty time consuming dish. Instead I made a slight adjustment to the plan and went with rice pilaf. One of the “fun courses” I got to take back in college was a Middle Eastern Cooking Class, and the pilaf is one of the things I remember best.

The Results: This was pretty good! The rice was a little bit risotto like, and there were some key ingredients that should’ve been there that I didn’t have handy like almond slivers. The flavor came through though, and this didn’t take as terribly long to make as it easily could have.

#311 Roy Halladay

07 November 2017 // San Diego, California

It’s rare that a famous person’s death will feel personal, but my favorite baseball player died today and Roy Halladay was a gem.

Growing up as a Phillies fan, you’d have to wait long stretches in between windows where the team was actually good. When Halladay joined the team, I wasn’t used to my favorite team attracting such talent. He instantly made the entire team better when everyone else tried to adopt his work ethic.

I scrambled home as fast as I could to catch the end of his playoff no-hitter. I associate Roy Halladay on the Phillies with such a happy era in my life. When he retired, I hoped for his sake that it wouldn’t be the case of an athlete running into an identity crisis post-career, being so driven and all. Instead, his retirement press conference was more like a motivational speech.

He gave away the core of his extreme motivation– “I realized just how quickly everything can be taken away.” Knowing how easily you can lose things like health, your job, or life itself shouldn’t be a reason to live with unhealthy caution. Just a catalyst to engage and give everything 100 percent. #RIPdoc

#312 Work Festivities

08 November 2017 // San Diego, California

Shoutout to Melissa for having been so awesome to work with in my first six months at Plant With Purpose. This was our last day in office together, which was also when I learned you were moving- but had to keep it under wraps..

Good luck in the OC! We'll miss working with you but excited for your next chapter.

#313 Galaxy Tacos

09 November 2017 // La Jolla, California

So this octopus tostada is one of the most wonderful things I've tasted in a long time and Colby is a wonderful friend for introducing me to the world of Galaxy Tacos

#314 Katy Perry

10 November 2017 // Los Angeles, California

Yeah, sure, I have a flight to Beijing that leaves in about thirteen hours, but whatevs. I'm down to take a space journey with Katy Perry.

#315 LAX to Beijing to Seoul

11 November 2017 // Los Angeles, California

Thrilled, cause on the other side of this 18 hour journey are a few days to hang with my guy Jihyun

And this is how this adventure starts. First leg to Beijing is the first of eleven planes I'll be hopping on over the next sixteen days.

I have a few objectives for this trip, including shooting a film and celebrating a wedding, but in spite of that, I've kept planning pretty loose. I've been in need of that burst of aliveness that comes with not being entirely sure what each day will bring and I think this adventure comes at exactly the right time.

#316 Beijing Layover

12 November 2017 // Beijing, China

The flight into Beijing felt long. Not the longest flight I've been on by any means, but couldn't fall asleep and time travel through this flight like I usually do. Instead it was a marathon of five movies, drafting work emails, and reading halfway through a book I packed.

I was wondering if I might've been losing the travel stamina that's served me well for such a long time. Then I arrived and it all came back. The excitement of a total change of scenery.

I never know when that feeling of immersion will suddenly strike but that ended up happening while walking around the Beijing airport. I managed to find some awesome soup that was way overpriced by local standards and a pretty good deal compared to what I'm used to. Noticing everything, feeling at home so far away from home.

#317 You So Pretty

13 November 2017 // Seoul, South Korea

So happy that my passage through Seoul led to spending some real quality time with this brother. Thanks for the amazing hospitality, Jihyun, and for all the places we did go.

Jihyun took me through the back alleys of Itaewon and showed me only the most hardcore pieces of graffiti. After that, we turned into Anthony Bourdain for the rest of the afternoon and I think I had six consecutive meals or something.

#318 Seoul to Bangkok to Chiang Rai

14 November 2017 // Bangkok, Thailand

Lots of airport/airplane pics lately, huh? Well that's pretty much been my world for the month of November.

The cost of physical energy is well worth it for the spiritual reward of every meaningful thing done while away.

#319 Ja Cho

15 November 2017 // Chiang Rai, Thailand

This is Ja Cho– He had one of the most infectious smiles in the whole village, and though we needed two translators and three languages to communicate, nothing could really hide his joyful spirit. It didn’t come easy and his story is like that of so many people in his village.

“I left my home village when I was still very young, so I don’t have a good recollection of what that is like.  I’m originally from China and lived there until I was 15. It was a famine that caused us to move. We were very poor, and my parents decided to move us to Myanmar. We lived there in a place called Namisuh. I got married there."

“Even though we moved, we faced challenges there like conflict, famine, and health issues with my parents. My parents passed away. Now I have one son living with me in the village. My other children and grandchildren live in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, other cities."

"I am Christian. I cannot read or write, but I listen to teaching at church and follow the teachings. I teach my children to do good things, and I’m involved in a leadership role at the community level and community forest level. When we talk about sustainability, we need to talk about the past. If we don’t understand the past, we can’t look at the future. Sustainability means I will pass on land, farmland and cattle, but also knowledge to my children.”

#320 Na Kuh

16 November 2017 // Chiang Rai, Thailand

Meet Na Kuh

"I am from Myanmar and I moved with my parents after the conflict. If I got caught, I would have been forced to be a porter for the army. Between the government army and the rebel troops, this created a very difficult situation for us. We walked from our village into a border area, then into Thailand. There were 2-3  families together, with our children. It took us about a week to enter into that border area. While we were walking on the Burmese side, we had to watch carefully. We were at risk of being caught by the government army.”

When she arrived in Thailand, she found challenges in her new home village as well. Na Kuh is a member of the Yellow Lahu tribe, an ethnic group that relies on the forest.

"There can be a lot of problems with the Forestry People when we go out and gather firewood from the forest. In areas protected by forestry people, we aren’t allowed to gather firewood, or graze animals. There are regulations protecting the forest by law so we cannot gather it. We cannot collect food from the forest."

"We plant trees into our forest so we have a community forest committee that walks around to check the forest. When you have good management from local people, the government people won’t come and disrput you. My dream is for nobody from this village to have to go out and work outside. We want to work together within the village and help each other. We don’t want to see people have to find outside labor and work like slaves."

#321 The Golden Triangle

17 November 2017 // Chiang Saen, Thailand

I had the opportunity to take a visit to The Golden Triangle. This is where Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos all meet up at the same river confluence. (Myanmar's the little strip in the middle)

Two more borders I’d love to cross over if I had a little bit more time and an easier passport to travel with. But what’s a good trip without a “next time” list anyways?

#322 Chiang Rai to Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur

18 November 2017 // Chiang Rai, Thailand

Another day, another plane, but the lumps and houses of Chiang Rai look good from up here.

Also, I'm running into the problem of running out of passport pages! Not fond of the State Department ending that extra pages option. It's a total Cadillac problem, but I had a harder time than normal getting on this flight. It'll probably be up for retirement once I'm back.

#323 Petaling Street

19 November 2017 // Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I decided to save enough time today for simply walking around the streets of Kuala Lumpur, to take in as much as I could. This city brings so many different cultures together and merges them to confront all five senses. Walking around the mildly sticky humidity, passing the cluster of people of many different heritages right around the city’s old town, in between signs in Urdu for Halaal food and signs in Chinese for mee noodles, it was overwhelming in the best way possible.

Right by my guesthouse, I found Petaling Street, an old Chinese influenced market street and a great place for pedestrian stall-browsing. I managed to find the flip flops I forgot to pack and the Chinese fried chicken I’d been craving all week.

#324 Uppercase Bangsar

20 November 2017 // Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Welcome to my workspace for this week… Uppercase Bangsar. This place is a rad co-working hub for remote workers and KL locals, and is it just me or does the unfinished wood, consistent yellow-colored branding, and industrial warehouse vibe actually make me an estimated billion times more productive?

I used to fantasize about being a digital nomad and that whole deal, but ultimately it wasn’t for me. Still it’s a pretty fun treat to get just a little taste of it this week- not to mention, glorious air-conditioning that lets me escape both the outside heat, and the thunderstorm going down at the same time.

#325 Petronas Towers

21 November 2017 // Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

What do you think it’s like to be the former tallest building in the world? Is it sad to be reminded of your glory days at the top, knowing that you’re no longer the superlative you once were? Does the Burj Khalifa stir up thoughts of anger and envy? Freaking Dubai, right?

Or maybe it’s a relief. After all, it’s hard to live up to a title like tallest-building-in-the-world. Would people love you just for your shape and size? Would people even care what’s on the inside of you, or would they treat you like some token for selfies and postcards. Maybe, just maybe, being the second tallest building in the world has its perks if it means people are more interested in the real you.

#326 Phuket

22 November 2017 // Phuket, Thailand

Capping off this wild couple of weeks with Phuket. So much fun. So gorgeous.

#327 Island Hopping

23 November 2017 // Phuket, Thailand

I spent my Thanksgiving out here, so I think it’s safe to say that I’m feeling pretty grateful.

Really, though, I don’t think I could have it any better. I have a job that lets me do work I love, and when it’s done it lets me come home to a life I love. I get to go on these adventures, and when those are all done, I get the adventure of coming home to a crew I love.

#328 Dream Phuket

24 November 2017 // Phuket, Thailand

One of the more amusing parts of this trip was how radically different all the places I got to stay were. I spent some time in the rural villages of Chiang Rai, and in Malaysia my guest house was clean and had everything it promised– but it also looked undeniably like a prison cell with how thin it was.

This hotel in Phuket was sort of on the other end of the spectrum, as was its poolside bar.

#329 Ivy & JB

25 November 2017 // Phuket, Thailand

What. A. Wedding.

A blur of colors and joy and crying people and unplanned singers and floating lanterns and love. This whole night was so much fun and it made me happy to see these two so happy.

#330 Trisara

26 November 2017 // Phuket, Thailand

A parting shot at this gorgeous villa. Been getting spoiled over here the past few days.

#331 Back to Seoul

27 November 2017 // Seoul, South Korea

Ready for the return trip, and that takes me through one last night in Seoul and hanging out with Jihyun.

Going from the warm humidity of Phuket to suddenly walking the streets of Seoul at wintertime was a contrast made even more vivid by walking into a Thanksgiving potluck blaring Mariah’s Christmas album.

Christmas wasn’t even on the radar when I left for Asia and now it’s in full swing. Quite the homecoming.

#332 Giving Tuesday

28 November 2017 // San Diego, California

It's #GivingTuesday and Plant With Purpose is at it giving away entire forests. I love being a part of this team, but you probably already knew that.

This year, CyberMonday made Jeff Bezos the new richest person. What if on GivingTuesday we gave a boost to the poorest communities?

The longer I've been involved with so many different causes, the more I appreciate the importance of dealing with root causes. I love Plant With Purpose because of how well it takes on the challenge of poverty with environmental restoration and spiritual growth.

If you want to give effectively, know that when you give a forest away to a community that lives off the land, you're putting the power to transform their lives back into their own hands and keeping it there for generations.

There's still a few hours left to give as part of Giving Tuesday- visit the link in my profile!

#333 Braving the Wilderness

29 November 2017 // San Diego, California

"I won't sugarcoat this: standing on the precipice of the wilderness is bone chilling. Because belonging is so primal, so necessary, the threat of losing your tribe or going alone feels so terrifying as to keep most of us distanced from the wilderness our whole lives. Human approval is one of our most treasured idols, and the offering we must lay at its hungry feet is keeping others comfortable. I'm convinced that discomfort is the great deterrent of our generation. Protecting the status quo against our internal convictions is obviously a luxury of the privileged, because the underdogs and marginalized have no choice but to brave the daily wilderness."

–Brene Brown

Book No. 45 from 2017

Picked this one up for the Unconventional Book Club. I've been partial to Brene Brown since the TED Talk but had yet to read anything in full. The idea behind this book seemed so timely I looked forward to it.

It took me a little while to figure out the book's direction, but it became clearer midway through: recognizing shared humanity clarifies those moments when speaking up bravely is important, and how to do so in a way that's more effective.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
 

#334 The Light is Winning

30 November 2017 // San Diego, California

“We might see an opportunity to reflect on what is being revealed, embrace the change that is needed, and move forward in newness of life. After all, isn’t that how the story goes? Life to death, death to resurrection.”

–Zach Hoag

Book No. 46 from 2017

This book was a pretty quick read. The ideas are sound and valuable, but the arrangement kept everything a bit hazy.

If he simply told his story of his upbringing in a Texas cult boldly and vividly, I think the story would have made his points for him. If he went the route of trying to make his case more globally with fewer personal examples, that could’ve worked too. Instead, this kind of falls in a vague gap in between personal memoir and social commentary. I wasn’t quite sure who the book was for- it seemed like he wanted to speak to those with a negative view of religion, but takes a lot of insider knowledge for granted.

⭐️⭐️

ON DREAMS COMING REAL

I've long had this fantasy of visiting Vietnam just for the street food. Like, it comes with a mental image of sitting outside with a couple bowls of pho or something just eating streetside at night- not too unlike those pics of Anthony Bourdain and Obama a while back.

Flash ahead to the other week. Tui, our Thai director took me out for dinner in a quiet part of town with food carts and light traffic. He ordered me everything he thought I needed to taste and we sat outside at night enjoying it all. There it was. Street food. Thai traffic. Carts. Steel table. Just sitting, tasting, being. It wasn't Vietnam but the image almost matched.

It's crazy having not just dreams, but full on visual imagery come true. There's no doubt that my life is an absolute gift.

I love moments like this, and yet the parts that make me the happiest are some of the simplest- a good God, a loving wife, a fluffy Beignet. It's all good.

Happy Thanksgiving from Southeast Asia.

ON MAKING IT WORK

Obviously, I love travel and other cultures. It’s kind of how I ended up doing what I do. Deanna’s interest in it is a lot less than my own, and when it comes to work, being a social worker is a pretty location-dependent kinda gig. It’s probably one of our bigger differences.

Sometimes it seems like the easier thing would be for one of us to totally give up our path, but in the long run, that’s not what’s best for us as a people or as a unit. This difference is wired into our own purpose.

When you're with someone, learning to appreciate your differences and make them work out while sharing a life is probably one of the more challenging things. But it's a process, and if you're willing to put in the work while being patient, there's a lot of reward. 

It’s still challenging, but, we’ve gotten a lot better at making it work over time. Between clarifying expectations, defining our priorities as a unit, and genuinely wanting what’s best for each other, every episode of travel reveals a little bit more about what works and what doesn’t work. And over 2.5 years, I can confidently say that our ability to communicate and problem-solve has gotten better and better.

ON THE NEXT ADVENTURE

Here's to that next adventure.

Here's to the string of flights to get to where you need to be. The people you'll run into along the way. The swim holes you'll strip down for and the nights out you'll suit up for.

Here's to the bright lights of a foreign metro, or and the dim home lamps of a rural village. Here's to every flavor of every bite of every unfamiliar dish you'll come across.

Here's to the unlikely souvenir. The crumpled ticket stub in a pocket. The scuff mark from a subway platform. The bruise from the thing you did that hits the perfect balance between kinda dumb and still worth it.

Here's to the train cars, hillsides, Irish pubs, and rooftops that will host your next breakthrough epiphany. The subtle sacredness of an unexpected holy site.

Here's to going, looking to consume minimal materials, but to drink in new, diverse perspectives from the tap. To going in with a whole heart and open hands, humbly wondering what you have to offer back to the world.

Here's to experience, belonging, and purpose. And always going where the love is.

OCTOBER 2017

#274 The Kindness Diaries

01 October 2017 // San Diego, California

“The small moments, the small acts, the small changes. We always think that change needs to come in broad strokes. That in order to follow your dreams, you need to get on a yellow motorbike to cross the world on kindness, but maybe the real epiphany is to pay attention to all the dreams unfolding around us. If I could make one promise to myself, I decided it would be this: when I got home, I would leave the bloody phone alone. I would pay attention. I would let my heart break open a little more. I would allow myself to be happy.”

–Leon Logothetis

Book No. 39 of 2017

The Kindness Diaries is also a Netflix series, and while the book has just a little extra detail compared to the show, it mostly covers the same ground: Leon traveling around the world by yellow motorbike without money, relying on the kindness of strangers.

Still, I wanted to double up and read this book– a light, fun, and simple, but still pretty motivating one. I could relate so much to his experiences. I’ve never circled the globe by bike, of course, but I have taken a lot of trips and I’ve gotten myself into lots of uncertain situations. Without fail, I’ve ran into really kind strangers all over the world who are willing to help out, and I think that’s done so much good to my outlook on life.

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

#275 Pray For LV

02 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Las Vegas. Some days the best way to show up is to mourn with those who mourn, but keep showing up and loving brilliantly.

#276 World Curry

03 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Whenever I feel a little under the weather, the first thing I do is pretty much triple my water intake, take a ton of naps, and try to clear the airways with as much spicy food as I can get my hands on. Spiced up pho, ramen, curry, wasabi, all fair game. Oh, and movie marathons.

Yay for alternative medicine.

#277 Sambal

04 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission 40: Make the Indonesian chili paste to be used on shrimp, fish, chicken, beef, or pretty much anything that makes sense.

The Results: I found plenty of recipes for sambal that were fairly complicated and twenty ingredients deep. Then I learned from some people a little more familiar with the item that sambal is often made pretty simply- five or six ingredients. I’d rather pay for that than twenty so I went with: red chilies, garlic, lemongrass, shrimp paste, and a little bit of sugar and oil.

It turned out pretty much the way I would. Getting to work with a mortar and pestle was pretty fun, and this made the perfect paste for flavoring fish.

#278 Meeting Jeremiah

05 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Got to finally hang out analog with Jeremiah

Welcome to San Diego, man. Glad you're a neighbor.

#279 Friday Night Freeway

06 October 2017 // La Mirada, California

I love to travel, but that’s a totally different statement than I love to transit.

#280 Walk to Defeat ALS

07 October 2017 // Bakersfield, California

Had a real memorable time in the Walk To Defeat ALS on Daryl’s squad.

There’s no denying that some parts of the human experience are terrible. Being one of many people coming together, though, that is one of the best parts.

#281 A Weekend With Nephews

08 October 2017 // Bakersfield, California

A weekend with the nephews is three board games running simultaneously, sifting through a gigantic tub of Legos, reading business best-sellers out loud to a four year old, and spending two days becoming a better person.

#282 Deanna’s Birthday Dinner

09 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Hey guys!

Today my favorite person in the world had a birthday. And we had a really, really good time.

Thanks to everyone who came to Bali Hai or did anything today to help Deanna feel special, but most of all, thanks to Deanna for always helping me be a better person, being the best puppy mama a Beignet could ever ask for, and giving the world so much light.

#283 To Sell Is Human

10 October 2017 // San Diego, California

“Where negative emotions help us see trees, positive ones reveal forests.”

–Daniel H. Pink

Book No. 40 of 2017

I was able to benefit from this book before even reading it. I found a PDF explaining Daniel Pink’s ideas about the “new elevator pitches” and used them to strengthen the way I talk about Plant With Purpose.

Since one chapter turned out to be so helpful, I figured, why not give the whole book a shot? That chapter remained the most useful out of the entire book, but the whole was still worth the read. I don’t think I needed much effort to convince that just about everyone is in the business of selling in some way.

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

#284 Natural Beignet

11 October 2017 // San Diego, California

“If you can’t accept me at my stinkiest, you don’t deserve me at my fluffiest.”

–Beignet

#285 Road to Sac

12 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Where this freeway ends is where my journey begins.

Eight hour drive to Sacramento after an eight hour day at work. The plan is to stop and take a nap whenever and wherever I feel a bit of tiredness coming on, but to drive when I’m awake. All worth it to see two great friends tie the knot.

#286 Justin & Caytlin

13 October 2017 // Sacramento, California

I still remember when Caytlin first told us about her first date with Justin three years ago while we were camping at Yosemite. They’re now officially Mr. & Mrs. Weaksas and their wedding couldn’t have been more fun.

We’re so happy for the two of you, and Charlie Waffles the Corgi, of course.

#287 SacBrunch

14 October 2017 // Sacramento, California

One quick bite before getting on the road again.

By road, I mean a really, really long drive down to San Diego, and by quick bite, I mean a really large bite of a Mexican scramble surrounded by fun people.

#288 Moviepass Kind of Night

15 October 2017 // San Diego, California

After such a quick turnaround with Sacramento, long drives, and packed weekends this month, we were ready for the chillest day-off ever.

Thankfully our Moviepass cards showed up just in time. And I enjoyed It even more than I was expecting to.

#289 Hanging With Allison

16 October 2017 // San Diego, California

You know what trend I’m all in favor of? Sea salt foam on top of drinks.

I’m also in favor of friends like Allison coming to town for a visit.

#290 Mission Bay Prayer Cycle

17 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Plant With Purpose works in Northern Thailand, where religious and ethnic minorities face a ton of persecution. Our Thai staff has started the quest of bicycling a circuit from Chaing Rai to Chiang Mai and back, while praying for the peace and unity throughout the region.

In solidarity, I got to start my Tuesday by biking around Mission Bay with my US-based coworkers. I love working in a spot where this is the sort of thing that happens on any given weekday.

#291 Katsu Curry

18 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission 41: For last year’s cooking challenge I made chicken katsu and was really happy with the way it turned out. I knew I wanted to do it again so for this year, I took on the extra challenge of trying to do a katsu curry.

The Results: It turned out pretty good! I had to improvise with quinoa chips (I know) when I found out we didn’t have panko crumbs like I thought. Still I’m happy to have a few leftover pieces waiting in the fridge.

#292 Side Hustle

19 October 2017 // San Diego, California

“It's not just about avoiding or overcoming economic uncertainty, it's about creating something for yourself and having ownership over that, and that's a wonderful thing.”

–Chris Guillebeau

Book No. 41 of 2017

I typically enjoy what Chris Guillebeau puts out, and this was no exception, though I didn’t think I would be reading it so soon after it’s release. I love his side hustle ideas, especially since this approach to life largely helped me put food on the table while in grad school.

This time around, I took other insights regarding how to help get some of my other passion projects off the ground. I’m still seeing the ways I’m benefitting from having gone to his book signing in La Jolla a month ago!

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

#293 Coffee at James

20 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Live compassionately, live creatively, and you’ll be the sort of person the world really needs right now.

Every time I see somebody who defies living by “the template” in order to make compassion a priority, I’m reminded of how much an impact that sort of person usually has without even realizing it. It makes me want to do everything in my ability to encourage everyone to develop these two traits in whatever way that looks like in their life. It really would change the world for the better.

#294 Almost Brewing

21 October 2017 // San Diego, California

So many almost-awesome things this weekend, but also so many really good things.

Like... showing up to this bar wearing a Phillies cap and finding out that Rhys Hoskins was actually there an hour before. BUT then immediately getting the best nitro cold brew I've ever tasted, for only $2.50.

Or ALMOST going to a Canine Carnival full of costumed dogs BUT putting an old tank top of Deanna's on Beignet instead.

Or ALMOST eating at Snooz but being driven away by a stomach that protested against an hour wait time BUT getting bagels and good quality time with Ben and Rachel.

Or ALMOST getting a picture with Daniel but forgetting my camera BUT getting to hang anyways while the Astros won the pennant.

Almost a good weekend but still a good weekend.

I started the year with the goal of reading through 52 books before it was over. I figured it would be doable, but still ambitious given how long I usually like to linger over pages. I got off to such a hot start, too, and by March or April I think I was about five books ahead of schedule.

Then things started getting busy. And I ran into a few dense books that took 2-3x as long to get through, so I fell back on pace, and then behind.

For the past few months I’ve been either right on pace or behind by one, and I anticipate a busy November. Also- I really needed a slower paced weekend, so I decided to try to get through these three nonfiction titles in just a couple sittings. They aren’t long reads, but they are pretty good ones.

#295 How To Be Cool at a Pumpkin Patch

22 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Here's a quick guide on how to be the coolest crew at the pumpkin patch:

1) Bring your dog.

2) Watch her start madly barking at the animatronic witches.

3) Get props for her Halloween Spirit.

Needless to say, Beignet Baby's first pumpkin patch visit was a success.

#296 Literary Lockdown

23 October 2017 // San Diego, California

I started the year with the goal of reading through 52 books before it was over. I figured it would be doable, but still ambitious given how long I usually like to linger over pages. I got off to such a hot start, too, and by March or April I think I was about five books ahead of schedule.

Then things started getting busy. And I ran into a few dense books that took 2-3x as long to get through, so I fell back on pace, and then behind.

#297 The Magician King

24 October 2017 // San Diego, California

“He took a deep breath and sat up. Away from the warmth of the goddess’s body he shivered in the early morning ocean air. But even the cold felt good to him. This is life, he kept saying to himself. That was being dead, and this is being alive. That was death, this is life. I will never confuse them again.”

–Lev Grossman

Book No. 42 from 2017

I read Book One from The Magician’s Trilogy earlier this year and was kind of disappointed. It wasn’t so much an homage or allusion to Harry Potter and Narnia as it was glorified fan fiction. So why did I go ahead with the second book? I’m still not really sure, but probably at least partially because I got them as a set.

The good news is that I liked Book Two a good deal better. I still found Quentin to be a pretty annoying protagonist, but less so compared to the first. The plot this time around showed more restraint and paced itself much more nicely. I even hit a groove with it in the middle.

Still not a particularly winsome book, but enough of an improvement that I’d consider giving Book Three a shot.

⭐⭐

#298 Eight Flavors

25 October 2017 // San Diego, California

“You can find these eight flavors in kitchens from New York to California, used by families whose ancestors came from everywhere, from Italy to Vietnam. And through these eight flavors, I learned that American food has a complicated, continuously evolving identity– just like Americans themselves.”

–Sarah Lohman

Book No. 42 of 2017

Reading this book felt so much like listening to a Gastropod episode, which may or may not be how I initially found out about this. It’s a very detailed anthropology of Lohman’s canon of American flavors: black pepper, vanilla, chili powder, curry, soy sauce, garlic, MSG, and sriracha- that selection itself could stir up lots of discussion.

I enjoyed the book. It would get pretty dry sometimes, then I would read a little historical episode or a scientific expose about an ingredient that would be utterly fascinating, providing some balance all over again.

⭐⭐⭐

#299 Longanisa Breakfast Sandwich

26 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Food Mission 42: Not long ago I saw a video of Alvin Cailan explaining his favorite breakfast sandwich, which was a little bit surprising. It looked great, but there were so many personal preferences that were different to mine. He marbled his eggs to make them not runny. He mentioned he used Spam in lieu of longanisa. There were other things I loved about it, though, like julienned scallops as the green. I decided to try doing one my way.

The Results: Smashing some of the longanisa into patties helped them work in a sandwich. I kept the egg runny, which was mostly good, but it did make things a bit harder with how spongy Hawaiian rolls can be. The scallions were a hit. I’d love to try this again, maybe with brioche buns instead.

#300 How To Be Everything

27 October 2017 // San Diego, California

“It is tempting to try to whittle down all our interests and backgrounds into a single motivating force. The danger of trying to devise a single Why is the risk of oversimplifying things and just applying a new version of the specialist ideal to our lives. Understand the patterns and forces that move you, but learn to be comfortable with your plurality. You are a complex and nuanced creature. You contain contradictions and surprises. That’s a good thing.”

–Emilie Wapnick

Book No. 43 from 2017

Emilie Wapnick uses the term “multipotentialite” to describe people with a wide variety of interests who prefer not to limit themselves to one endeavor. Jack-of-all-trades has a negative connotation, and renaissance man has a positive one, but they’re two sides of the same coin that this book is all about.

So much of it resonates with my multipotentialite, try-everything, enneagram 7 self. And while most business books are pretty firm with insisting that mastery of one thing is better, the early part of this book was extremely affirming, especially as it describes strengths more common among these types: synthesizing information, adaptability, big picture thought, etc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#301 JB’s Bachelor Party

28 October 2017 // San Diego, California

I ain’t a bachelor, but I bachelor partied to celebrate JB.

Looking forward to welcoming you into the family, but really, it feels like that’d already happened years ago.

Also, there’s a monster at the end of this post.

#302 Continuing the Conversation

29 October 2017 // San Diego, California

I made the news this weekend! And not for anything terrible! Quoted in the UT and got my mug on CBS. They decided to go with a clip where I look really bored and spaced out, which is unfortunate because the actual event was anything but boring.

On the same day as headlines also covered a White Lives Matter rally in Tennessee, my church hosted a Talk Race Forum, with a wide variety of congregations and other community members attending. It was a productive workshop, forcing us to confront the ways in which white supremacy is ingrained within each of us.

I think churches have a pivotal role to play in confronting the sin of racism, and should be the leaders of bridge-building. I see a lot of churches strike out in that arena, but I'm glad to be part of one that participates. I'll gladly lend my food-coma'ed, head-scratching face to that.

#303 Pad See Ew

30 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Food Mission 43: In prep for Thailand, I decided to take a stab at one of my favorites- a good pate of pad see ew.

The Results: It wasn’t quite what I was going for, but it still made for a good dinner (and I made enough to keep feeding myself with for the following week.) Still, I can’t wait to get to Thailand for much better pad see ew than I’ve ever made.

#304 Stranger Things-O-Ween

31 October 2017 // San Diego, California

Our Stranger Things Halloween marathon (half-marathon?) was totally enhanced by the presence of some Eleven-themed cocktails.. 

Behold the Eleven…

+ Blended scotch
+ Dry vermouth
+ Soda water
+ A pinch of sea salt
+ A dash of maple syrup
+ Of course… a garnish of Eggo waffles

So good you just might find yourself upside down! Take it easy or you’ll be feeling like a Demogorgon the next day. One too many, and you just might go full Winona. Consider yourself warned and don’t blame me if you wake up to big tears in your wallpaper.