JULY 2019

#182 NOVEMBER PROJECT: FASHION VALLEY

01 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Made it out for a November Project workout for the first time in months. So glad I made it back. Hoping to make it out there more often.

#183 BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE

02 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Such a bizarre, beautiful, brutal story and I loved the way this was told.

Plus the setting in inner city Australia was a world I had a fun time exploring for 400 plus pages.

#184 TERALTA PARK

03 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Sweet, simple dog walks in the afternoon- I’m all about that.

#185 FOURTH WITH KIRSTEN & JOSH

04 July 2019 // San Diego, California

I never really know what to do for the Fourth of July, but joining Kirsten and Josh for some great BBQ was the right choice.

#186 CAFEINA

05 July 2019 // San Diego, California

I had a day off and all to myself. Time for a solo adventure!

Testing out the mazapan lattes at a new coffee shop in the neighborhood, climbing down Sunset Cliffs, and catching Spider-Man Far From Home were on the agenda.

#187 CAN EAT BBQ

06 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Went out with some friends for Korean Fried Chicken.

This wasn’t the spot, but I couldn’t resist taking a pic with this eclectic window display.

#188 IT’S A BOY

07 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Who was thinking boy???

According to my Instagram survey, only 22% of you were. And I think Beignet was hoping for another girl. Or another puppy.

But we’re thrilled! See you in 3.5 months little man. We’ll keep in touch via morse code on mama’s belly til then.

#189 TEMPORARY OFFICE

08 July 2019 // San Diego, California

We’re moving to the suite next door, and that’s gonna be a pretty different vibe.

#190 WEEKNIGHT AT DOG BEACH

09 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Took Beignet on an impromptu visit to dog beach tonight and that was a wise decision.

#191 HEAVY

10 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Finally got around to reading this book and the hype was right. Kiese Laymon can really write.

#192 THE NOCILLA EXPERIENCE

11 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Read through this book so fast, but that’s not a compliment. I was on a plane and it was more like a fast-forward. Simply put, cool concept, but when it came to the execution of the story, I didn’t get it.

#193 GRASSROOTS LAUNCH

12 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Threw a launch party at You Belong Here to celebrate the release of the Grassroots podcast. Loved the space and it was fun connecting with a bunch of podcast listeners.

#194 Leopard Shark Dip

13 July 2019 // La Jolla, California

Even though I’ve been doing a lot less travel this summer while getting ready for baby, we’ve been on some pretty sweet adventures not far at all from home.

This week I went to an expecting parents gathering. It was in the ocean and everybody else there was actually a pregnant leopard shark. 🦈🦈🦈 They like to come to our coves in the summer and spawn. As long as you’re friendly, they’re friendly and they don’t mind swimming around your feet in while standing chest deep in between waves.

The feeling of warmer salt water on skin lately has been pretty much amazing. If I’m gonna be much more home based for the foreseeable future, I’ll be glad it’s a home fifteen minutes from the coast.

#195 Osprey

14 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Check out this osprey I found perched in the hood. #birdsofprey #nerdsofprey

#196 Mango Topo

15 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Coffee and Tea Collective has dedicated their summer entirely to mango and I am so here for it.

#197 Desertscape

16 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Appreciation for the dry desert climate I live in doesn’t come naturally, but it’s growing.

#198 Lego Winona

17 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Spent a night with LEGO Winona and the massive expensive LEGO set I have yet to complete.

#199 Haley in Kensington

18 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Got a visit from Haley this week and had a blast. And a pizza.

#200 Cafeina Grand Open

19 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Made the spontaneous call to go to the grand opening of Cafeina and I’m glad I did. The canela latte I ordered led to a bonus concha and two free tacos.

#201 Ocean Recreation

20 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Tried -key word tried- to recreate one of the classic photos from our honeymoon.

#202 Post WDS Meetup

21 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Always happy to hang with the San Diego WDS Crew.

#203 Piggy Buns

22 July 2019 // San Diego, California

This is probably the best “birthday complimentary treat” I’ve gotten from a restaurant. Glad Shelly requested Steamy Piggy for her birthday. I’ve driven past so many times, not knowing how good the food was inside.

#204 Freezer Drama

23 July 2019 // San Diego, California

We’ve been having some freezer-over-freezing issues this summer. Someone send help.

#205 Simon’s Visit

24 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Per usual, I’ve loved having the nephews around this week.

#206 Mango Sticky Rice

25 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Easily one of my favorite desserts. All it takes are four ingredients.

#207 Bali Hai

26 July 2019 // San Diego, California

Trips to Bali Hai are always tasty. Tonight: Pele’s Revenge, a Rum Runner, incredible poke, and some scallop on butter grits.

#208 SD Night Market

27 July 2019 // San Diego, California

I really wish this event was as fun as I thought it was going to be. Unfortunately, I think the organizers really underestimated the amount of people who would be there, resulting in hour long waits for everything- getting in, each food truck, etc. A few of the vendors ran out of stuff way early for an event that was going to run until midnight. Hopefully future events get better.

#209 Dog Park Greens

28 July 2019 // San Diego, California

The dog park on summer evenings is where it’s at.

#210 Squid Ink Corn Dog

29 July 2019 // San Diego, California

I can’t say Korean squid ink breaded mozzarella corn dogs are what I usually eat on my lunch breaks, but I had to satiate my curiosity as much as my appetite.

#211 One Month Office

30 July 2019 // San Diego, California

The month we’ve spent in this temporary office space has gone by pretty fast!

#212 Gregory Boyle

31 July 2019 // Atlanta, Georgia

“Tenderness is the highest form of spiritual maturity.”

Father Gregory Boyle said this at Plywood Presents and he lives it out in his work with Homeboy Industries. He’s a speaker I’ve wanted to see for a long time. I missed out on a few opportunities to do so, but I’m glad I finally got to tonight.

Kids Deserve Better, Emanuel, & Our Fourth Anniversary

TRUTHS & LIES

Big belief: So many of the world’s biggest problems would be solved if there were an easy way to get people to choose accept the truth over a lie.

At a macro-level: if people could accept the truth that all people are created equal over the lie that one race is superior to another, so many things would be different.

But, this is true at a micro-level too.

If you want to fill the world with something, you need to make sure you’re full of that thing yourself. Some of the most spiteful people start by being unkind to themselves. The most merciful people start by forgiving themselves. If you want a world that believes what’s true, you’ve got to start with speaking truth to yourself and rejecting the lies you’re tempted to believe.

Don’t believe the lie that you have no purpose. The truth is that you were made for a life that impacts people in a way only you could.

Don’t believe the lie that the world is all scary stuff and bad news. The truth is that the bad is far outnumbered by the beautiful, and that makes fighting for progress that much more important.

Don’t believe the lie that your story’s over. The truth is that you never know what’s around the corner.

Find a truth you need to hear and say it to yourself over and over.

EMANUEL

Okay wow. I went to see the film Emanuel last week and- wow.

If you aren’t familiar, it’s the documentary about the shooting at Emanuel AME church in Charleston, produced by Viola Davis and Steph Curry. And it was really. Well. Done.

The film’s strength comes from its honesty. It goes deep exploring the history of racism and white supremacy in Charleston, along with the role the black church has played throughout history going back to Denmark Vassey. It also goes deep boldly talking about the faith of the church members and survivors. The film featured interviews from the survivors to Black Lives Matter leaders to former governor Nikki Haley.

The film made no efforts to please anybody, but instead sought to tell the truth. It was boldly faith-filled. It was boldly anti-racist. And it was absolutely worth watching.

I want to tell everybody to go out and see it- except the film only got a limited two day screening in theatres last week. I still think you should go see it, I’m just not sure how. Yet.

Hopefully it ends up on Netflix or Prime because Emanuel says important things that need to reach as wide of an audience as it can.

And whenever you do find yourself with the opportunity to see it- do it. Absolutely, do it.

A LONG TRAVEL HIATUS

I had a planned trip to the Dominican Republic in about a month get cancelled. Unless something comes up (and ya never know), I have no planned trips at all until baby gets here. And not a whole lot planned for a while after that anyways.

That’s unfamiliar territory for me.

I know travel is a privilege and there are so many people who stay in their place for years and years with no option. But staying put has never really been my forte.

I have a friend who says that after his son was born he just wanted to be at home all the time. I anticipate something like that. At the same time, travel is a big part of what I was made to do. And I want to pass on a sense of appreciation and wonder for the wider world, nature, and culture to my future kiddos.

I’m so deeply curious how those two desires will blend. Curious and not worried. In the past I wondered if getting married or taking a location dependent job would mark the end of being able to go places. Instead, the bulk of my travel is for work and Deanna and I have seen 8 countries and 23 states in our four years of marriage.

In the meantime, I’m conscious of the fact that there’s still a lot to be done when it comes to building a community in San Diego and having it feel more like home. Here’s hoping that some of this more stationery season leads to that. (Though heads up, if any of you throw an everything paid weeklong trip to Bolivia next month at me, I’m for sure saying yes.)

summer of anticipation

If our baby’s nursery is entirely Domo themed, blame it on the claw machine. If it isn’t, well that’s cause we aren’t that good at the claw machine.

Taking a moment, maybe the whole summer to appreciate the fact that we’re in a season of miracles right now. We prayed and hoped for this baby for quite a while and the anticipation has been a beautiful thing.

Its been a good time in a number of other ways too. Enjoying the new house. Recent adventures away. Working on exciting and life giving projects at work. Even just playing around in the kitchen last night and making a pound of poke felt enriching.

Every now and then you have times in life where things click and it seems like everything that’s supposed to happen starts happening. These aren’t common. It’s been about two years since life last felt even a bit like that. It’s much easier to notice what’s missing and to long for that sometimes.

Let’s go and savor the good things that are in front of us in this exact moment. Life isn’t always a stream of green lights, but when it is, you gotta cruise.

our fourth anniversary

The past four years have given us more highs and lows than we would’ve predicted when it all began.

From health scares and grinding out grad school and hoping deeply for a kid, to living out our career dreams and adopting the weirdest but sweetest dog to stepping into the on deck circle of parenthood.

We said it would be an adventure, didn’t we. I think this is what a real adventure looks like.

Happy four year anniversary, Deanna. Let’s go eat s’mores.

kids deserve better

Why does anger exist in the first place? It’s neither good or bad itself, it’s job is to signal when something has been violated. When justice is missing.

Things that make me angry look like this:

“Almost every child I spoke with had not showered or bathed since they crossed the border — some of them more than three weeks ago,” she said. “There is a stench that emanates from some of the children because they haven’t had an opportunity to put on clean clothes and to take a shower.”

–Elora Mukherjee, a lawyer who has been monitoring the Clint, TX border detention facility.

Anger is an adverse emotion. And there are ways to deal with it like avoiding it or shifting the blame. But those ways often don’t accomplish what you think they might.

Pretending a border crisis doesn’t exist changes nothing. Ignoring the economic insecurity and violence changes nothing. Cutting off aid won’t stop desperation. Making detention centers as miserable as possible won’t change anything.

I used to hate feeling angry about injustice because I always felt like it just meant feeling upset over things beyond my control.

Instead, I’m learning how to let anger itself be a gateway for love.

If you’re feeling angry about this too, go ahead and let it turn into something. A hard but necessary conversation. An effort to learn more. A financial contribution.

Love shows up. Love doesn’t look away and takes it all in. Love has difficult conversations. Love problem solves. Love stands with people who suffer and lifts up the people who help.

A few good places to support and to learn more:
RAICES Texas – extremely effective org
Together Rising – successful at child rescues
World Relief – their immigration facts sheet is a great resource
Preemptive Love – swipe right to read their words
Border Perspective – great faith perspective
Border Angels Official – very active at a grassroots level
Global Immerse – so many great resources

Dropping off a bunch of their resources in my stories today.

my colombia journal

I still have so much to share about my Colombia trip the other month— both photos and stories and thoughts. That’s the challenge with those whirlwind experiences; the time it takes to process them is long but life goes on as you do.

🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴

“Eight years ago, you wouldn’t be able to come this way at night,” Milmer tells me. “Guerilla would have stopped you and forced you to pay.”

I’m surprised when he tells me the amount they would’ve demanded. Far more than I expected- or than I would be able to come up with. I’m also surprised, because eight years doesn’t seem that long ago, and thus far the evening’s drive has been really nice.

I pointed out that some plant in the surrounding brush smelled a lot like curry. Milmer laughs, being familiar with the smell but having never connected it to curry. We continue onwards towards the municipality of Viotá. The area, 80 kilometers outside of Bogotá was very recently a hotbed for FARC- the antigovernment insurgency that kept Colombia in a state of internal conflict for decades. In the early 2000’s the violence was at its worst, and horror stories were far too common.

Now we’re on our way to meet some people who were at the center of it. Former combatants.

⛰🌿⛰

I wrote a longer recap of the journey in the link in my profile. Go have a look!

Chi & Greg Show, 49th State, & World Refugee Day

FATHER’S DAY 2019

These days, when baby gets a little bit squirmy, I’ll try and put my hand on Deanna’s belly, and it stops. Baby just holds still. Apparently daddy’s already the strict one in this good cop/bad cop shindig.

Also, this kiddo is the happiest little fetus I’ve seen. I actually never knew fetuses could smile until I saw our own hamming it up.

Today was a good one. I think a half dozen people at church greeted me with Happy Fathers Day and I guess I’ll start getting used to hearing that from here on out. I’ve wanted to be a dad for as long as I can remember. That made the past year of waiting and hoping all the more challenging. Now that baby’s in the on deck circle, it feels kind of surreal.

📸: Jesse - who knew I’d find use for these random solo shots during our maternity shoot!

CHI & GREG SHOW

Y’ALL. Guess who I got to see play live yesterday? That’s right. Chi & Greg people!

If you know them, they need no intro. If you don’t, do check their music out right away and know that they’re also wonderful humans.

Good music makes you feel thankful to be alive. So do old friends. So does seeing people put their hearts into what they do. Last night was full of all of the above.

WORK WITH HEART

To me, there's nothing quite seeing somebody put their whole heart into their work. And it's cool how that looks so different for different people. I heard one of my boxing instructors talk about how much he loves teaching other people the sport because of the confidence it gave him as a kid wanting to protect his sister. I met an artist whose body of work almost entirely draws from notes on her grandmother's life. She expected that to last for a couple pieces, but then found that the well ran deep.

When your work matters to you like that, you do better work. People notice and want to join. Your drive becomes contagious and helps other people connect.

Khalil Gibran says that "work is love made visible." And I try to go back to that reminder a lot. Because it can get so easy to let the thing you do every day to send you into autopilot. You can sit down, get your hands busy, and let the muscle memory take over. But I keep seeing that my best work isn't in my hands, but my heart. And it begs to get out there.

49TH STATE

One of my top highlights from last week: sailing down the Snake River in a raft. Scored with some fantastic moose, beaver, and bald eagle sightings.

Wyoming officially marks my 49th State. One more trip to Alaska and I’ll be able to check off one really cool bucket list item I’ve had for a while.

The United States are massive. And they contain multitudes. So many diverse landscapes, so many different people groups. So many subcultures and ideas and lifestyles and worlds within worlds.

Diversity makes a place better, whether you’re talking about terrain or plants or people. It’s a good thing. To ignore diversity is to miss out on a real gift.

Feeling so thankful today for all the random meals and meetings and moments I’ve been able to spend with friends I’ve made in different states. Next stop? Hopefully Alaska!

WORLD REFUGEE DAY

Today is #worldrefugeeday

Thinking about some of my friends who’ve had to flee across borders because of the threat of violence. Folks like Ah Jee are resilient! When you hear about what some refugees have gone through to get where they are today, it’s not pity you feel, but admiration. And so often we respond with either fear or indifference, and that’s just embarrassing.

I wish everybody had a chance to meet some of the people I’ve met who have this journey as a part of their story. I know that’s not exactly feasible, so here are a pair of my favorite ways to support refugees locally:

+ Support refugee owned businesses. I know some places that actually put together a full blown guide to where they are. I think there’s one in Atlanta. But wherever you live, you can probably at least search online for some great restaurants and retailers owned by refugees.

+ Look for local opportunities to participate with refugee supporting organizations. Some local orgs throw welcome parties at airports. Others offer tutoring opportunities. You’ll find your flavor somewhere!

+ Learn the facts and fight the stigma. Use human stories to encourage others to respond more empathically.

THE PURSUIT

Good day! I’m loving this type mural I found hanging out in ATL a while back.

Andrew Solomon describes “that vital sense of purpose that is the opposite of depression.”

I don’t take that to mean that people who struggle with depression don’t have a sense of purpose, or that living with purpose makes you immune to that, but I do think having a guiding purpose is truly life-giving.

Purpose is an easy word to use without really thinking of its meaning. What’s that thing that you can’t NOT do? What are you just absolutely drawn to? What do you pursue and why does it matter? Start answering these questions and keep answering them!

For some reason, this is a pretty big deal to me. Life is too short to not have something you’re committed to doing during your time on Earth. I get excited when I see other people discover their pursuits, when they go after it with everything, and meet allies and score little victories along the way. It’s a beautiful path.

BACK FROM WYOMING

I travel often, but not many of my trips are actually vacations– going somewhere with the main goal of getting some rest. Wyoming, though? That was for sure a vacation. How do I know? This first week back went by exxxxxtra slow!

Huge amounts of gratitude to my in laws for the whole week. It was such a generous treat to be able to spend some time with nature and nephews.

Now that I’m home, here are some of my favorite discoveries/lessons from the week:

🗺 The times when it’s hardest to take a break from work are often the times where your work will benefit the most from some time away.

🗺 The @nps has a really cool Junior Ranger program. I didn’t go to many as a kid, and I don’t go to many National Parks with kids until I joined my nephews, so this is a pretty recent discovery. But it’s a good one! We got a backpack full of scat guides, discovery checklists, and binoculars.

🗺 Medium sized tourist towns seem to have the best indie bookstores.

Also, enjoy this photo dump, but this is by no means the last of my Wyoming pics. The Tetons are a camera’s dream.

Wyoming, Sudan, & The Almost Impossible

WYOMING

Wyoming. It didn’t take that long to get the hang of things here. Basically there’s mountains and rivers everywhere and it’s beautiful 360° around you.

I’m here to play with my nephews, to stare at some moose, and to let the week go by slowly.

It’s gonna be a good week!

THE WYOMING REPORT

Okay, a few things I gotta report on:

⚽️ First off, the US Women’s Team is absolutely ridiculous! But you already knew that.

🎙 I just previewed a trailer and some final edits for my Plant With Purpose podcast, GrassRoots and I am so dang excited about this thing. I’ll let you know when we’re live. It’ll be soon!

🏔 Wyoming is still crazy beautiful.

🍗 Also, the grocery store here has something called bruschetta wings and they are wonderful. Imagine something kinda like dried chimichurri coating the outside. Mmmmm.

THE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE

The longer I stay in the business of trying to get people to care and participate in things that matter, the more I believe that your vision should be just one notch below impossible.

There’s totally a time and place for attainable goal setting, especially with schedules and budgets and tasks. But it can be easy to get stuck in that mode. If you actually want to get people to care and buy in to your vision, it’s got to be a big one.

Think about how Pixar plays these cards to get us invested in their stories: A rat wants to be a Michelin chef. A trash compactor on a desolate planet wants to fall in love. An elderly guy wants to fly to Venezuela in the comfort of his own home using balloons.

If the characters’ ambitions were far more attainable, we wouldn’t be invested in the story at all. Think about it: how interesting is a story about a guy who wants to reply to 15 emails before lunch? ⠀⠀
When people see somebody passionately pursuing a nearly impossible ambition, they get curious. They start paying attention. Then it happens. You get the first follower. Then a second. You find a few people who agree with you- your dream isn’t that impossible and there’s a way to get there. Then the crowd starts to form.

More thoughts on that in my latest post. But always remember to have a version of your mission that seems almost impossible.

SUDAN

I don’t exactly have the biggest social media presence in the world, but I want to be a good steward of my digital voice, and I think that often looks like trying to send some attention towards things that are in need of it.

Sudan.

The news reports 148 deaths in the past week but other estimates have that number as high as 500. “There is a massacre happening in Sudan right now and the world is silent. The world is silent and it breaks my heart,” reads one viral image among Sudanese Americans.

This country was the one that first got me invested in pursuing global justice, and it’s always disappointed me how little attention it gets in spite of some of the the things that it has gone through. That it is still going through.

Here is:
• What is happening in Sudan and how it started
• A few pieces of hope amidst the turmoil
• Some things to do to help

And of course, I’m no expert. But I can point towards some local voices that should be heard. Learn more from: 

@hadyouatsalaam
@sudanuprising.updates
@ehabthebeast 
@marwanonthemoon
@yousraelbagir

THERE THERE & OTHER READS

Okay, believe ALL the hype surrounding There There by Tommy Orange. It’s such a well written book! It’s been my first read surrounding contemporary Native life and really appreciated it. 🦅 Multiple characters’ storylines converge at a powwow and the story is so brutal and empathetic.

Here are a few other reads I’ve taken with me on my recent trips:

📙 American Spy by Laura Wilkinson

The story reads like a classic spy novel, but the perspective of a black female CIA agent working to monitor a real world president of Burkina Faso throws so many layers into the mix.

📘 If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura

A dying man gets to add days to his life by ridding the world of one thing at a time. A quirky, quick read translated from Japanese.

📕Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

I love Oyeyemi’s style of writing but I found this story a little harder to track.

📔 The Opposite of Hate by Sally Kohn

Such a good and important read, especially when it comes to having conversations about difficult topics. I love how well this book explores group biases and our tendencies while arguing.

START WITH WONDER

One perk of my job is getting to talk to so many people who work on environmental issues a number of different ways.

It’s helped me appreciate how many different ways there are to contribute to the planet, and it’s also helped me see what all these people have in common.

A sense of wonder.

So many of my podcast guests have ended up revealing that their environmental action came later. First was a sense of appreciation for the natural world.

A kid who grew up by a South African National Park now seeks to end poaching. A doctor who loved trees is now an expert on their Biblical significance.

Even though I grew up in a more urban setting, time spent outdoors and living in the Pacific Northwest started some of my early interest in wanting to be more conscious of my environmental footprint.

Most of what I try to do while not at work involve things that wake up the wonder.

I think wonder is the right fuel for any sort of work that makes the world better.

YELLOWSTONE & THE TETONS

It’s been a beautiful week, mostly because every single day took me to either Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Park— which I’ve decided are two of my faves!

🦌🐿🦌

When it comes to the National Parks, there’s a lot I have yet to see.

Here’s an odd-the-cuff checklist of what I’ve been able to get to the past 10 or so years:

🏞 Yosemite 

🏞 Zion 

🏞 Yellowstone 

🏞 Glacier 

🏞 Grand Teton 

🏞 Sequoia 

🏞 Crater Lake 

🏞 Hot Springs

 8/56! 

But man, there’s still a lot to get to!

I think I went to the Grand Canyon as a kid, but that’s overdue for a visit. And same with Joshua Tree.

And I hope to do Denali next year. And then all the rad Washington Parks and the rest in Utah and...

🏔🌲🏔🌲🏔🌲

When traveling internationally, it’s inevitable to start comparing the merits of living in each country.

One big thing I enjoy about living in the US are the diverse natural spaces out and around.

Not taking that for granted means saying yes to chances to visit and seeking to protect them for future generations.

Colombia Now, Our 7th Anniversary, & the Phillies Bullpen

COLOMBIA THEN

“Some of the people you’re about to talk to have done some really brutal things.” I was given the heads up.

To be honest, I’m still torn and unsure about how to talk about some of the firsthand accounts of Colombia’s conflict era. Relaying the horror is an important part of the story, one that can easily teeter into sensationalism.

I guess the easiest thing for me to describe are my own reactions while listening. I was both intimidated by the past actions described by former combatants and impressed with the openness with which they were sharing everything.

“Our goal is to become part of the community again,” we heard. “But that will be a long process and we are only at the beginning. We are still trying to be able to be seen out and around.”

They may be at an early part of a journey that will take years and years, but they’re taking those first steps.

COLOMBIA NOW

Truth and reconciliation amazes me. It’s because I’m drawn to visions that seem almost impossible. Almost.

How do you repair a community that was broken by conflict and violence? How does a widow sit down with her spouse’s killer? How does everyone involved move past the trauma?

The thing is- it happens. The most famous example might be the Desmond Tutu-led Truth and Reconciliation commission in South Africa right after apartheid. In Rwanda lately, there have been mind blowing stories of people who were on opposite sides of genocide now meeting face to face to move forward. Similar processes exist in Nepal, Argentina, Sri Lanka, and dozens of other countries.

In Colombia, former fighters meet with facilitators to discuss their past and future. It starts with truth. Perpetrators open up about the terrible things they’ve done. Remembering matters too. They dream up a center for historical memory. The process of reconciliation is still daunting, but it isn’t impossible.

This process means everything to me, and it’s a reminder of the fact that the daunting things in this world aren’t that impossible. It’s a reminder that the world’s worst horrors right now have a chance at a different tomorrow.

COLOMBIA FUTURE

What does the future look like for Viotá, and for Colombia at large? It’s a work in progress. This moment of peace is still young and fragile, but there are some incredible everyday heroes working to make sure it looks worlds different from the recent past.

This is Rosita. She owns the hacienda where we stayed. An old coffee plantations and the site of exploitative labor is now locally owned and a place for reconciliation. She and her son host visitors and spread awareness of coffee’s darker history.

She’s not alone. I met people focused on using ecotourism to draw visitors. Some promote nature walks and waterfall swims and others use mindfulness retreats. Others will promote the petroglyphs and archeological finds. Some are baristas and others work with locals and young people to create new income sources, from artisan doll making to beekeeping and honey. More are focused on psychotherapy and rehabilitating former combatants and others want to make a historical memory center.

The way forward isn’t singular. There are many. There are as many as there are people who have no desire to return to the ways of the past. They are ambitious and creative and dedicated. They are part of Colombia’s fuller story.

DANIEL’S REACTION

Seeing the reactions on people’s faces when Deanna and I started telling them about our pregnancy has been precious. Especially when it involves Daniel scaring an entire restaurant in the Dogpatch.

Sorry, Serpentine. Your brunch is amazing. We’re just a bit too pumped!

THE BEST KINDS OF MEALS

Food and travel are the one-two punch of things that make me happy, but it’s gotta be all about human connection.

The most memorable meals I’ve had while visiting other places all have that in common. They’re either around a table with a great group, or in the home of somebody local who opened up their place with generosity.

Maria Isabel invited us over. She was a victim of the war and wanted to share her stories. Even more so, she wanted to share her food and crafts. She brought out a plate full of handmade taro cakes, chips that resembled a slim fried and chopped eggplant, and a cherimoya milkshake that was one of the most refreshing things I’ve drank.

Most of all, knowing that she made these snacks with pride, with produce she planted and grew herself was incredible. The whole plate had the flavor of generosity. It’s hard to appreciate a meal any more than that.

It’s not everyday that you get welcomed in like that. By somebody who hasn’t always had an easy life but who wants to share it with you. You can’t manufacture a moment like that either. All you can do is learn to recognize it and appreciate it while it’s in front of you. Then express gratitude however you can, a hundred times over.

THE PHILLIES BULLPEN

Root rooting for the road team ever since I left Philly a whole lifetime ago.

A little weeknight baseball for the two of us, cause I always gotta catch at least one game of the Phillies series whenever they’re in San Diego. We spent most of it right up by the Phils’ bullpen and I got to get these pics of an endangered species: Phillies relievers.

I don’t post a ton of my baseball takes here. I save that for Twitter. So I’ll keep it at all this: I’m proud of this team’s resilience and being able to bounce back with a neat little win streak after a terrible stretch of losing McCutchen and every reliever to injuries. Second best record in the NL and the three most important players- Harper, Hoskins, and Nola have yet to fully catch fire the way they can. Once they get rolling, things should be real fun.

ANNIVERSARY 7

Seven years ago, I took her out on our first date and I haven’t had a first date since then! So many good things came out of an inkling that one of my best friendships still had room to grow into something bigger.

This year has been absolutely eventful, so it’s pretty fitting that our seventh dating anniversary didn’t involve much sitting still. Boxing, cleaning the house, packing, meeting the dog sitter, then hopping on a plane.

Finally got a little chance to breathe during our layover at LAX.

I love you, Deanna and every step of the adventure. Now let’s go take Wyoming by storm!

Colombia Past, The Struggle, & A Pregnancy Announcement

MINDFUL SILENCE

“Contemplative practices are held by postures of solitude, silence, and stillness.
In solitude we develop the capacity to be present.
In silence we cultivate the ability to listen.
And in stillness we acquire the skill of restraint and self control.”

–Phileena Heurtz

Seven years ago, I was living overseas with limited internet access, no way of transportation, and no easy way to communicate with back home. One thing I did have with me was a book about ignatian spirituality, and the isolation turned into the best environment to discover the beauty of contemplative prayer.

Learning how to pray beyond words, to relate to God beyond head knowledge, and to be very present brought my spiritual life into a new phase.

Phileena’s book is one of the best presentations of contemplative spiritual practices I’ve come across. It shares both practical entry points and the big ideas behind the practices. I also love how it spends a good deal of time focused on how contemplation and activism go hand in hand.

I’m also excited to say that Phileena will be one of my first podcast guests. I had the pleasure of interviewing her about a month ago.

A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

We’ve got some very good news. ❤️

THANKS FOR THE WISHES

Okay, thank you, thank you, thank you so much for all the warmth and well wishes and congratulations. Seriously.

I try not to fawn over social media likes too much, but I’ll admit that it was fun seeing them come in from all of you who I’ve met through so many different things over the years. College and internships and churches and travels and family and everything. My favorite feeling is being surrounded by a crowd of loving people, and I’m happy to know our kid’s get a good head start with that.

Also, a huge thank you to Jesse for these shots and some of the other ones you’ll see here in the near future. Thanks for racing sunset with us out to two different sites while in San Diego. Happy to have you capture the moment.

SAFE PLACE/BIGGEST ADVENTURE

Before we even started dating, we agreed that the type of person we wanted to end up with should feel like “a cozy sweater.” You know, someone you feel totally safe around. Somebody who feels like home.

Then when we got married, we went with the theme of The Biggest Adventure. We decorated the venue with a bunch of our old camping and travel gear. We named the tables after places we’d been and fed everybody s’mores.

Then this week, Deanna shared this quote with me:

“Fall in love with someone who is both your safe place and your biggest adventure.”

–Bianca Sparacino

Oh snap! She just mashed up our two favorite descriptions of a thriving relationship. And in a way that acknowledges the contrast between them but the way they go together.

After all, isn’t that kind of the dream? To go off on adventures to new places, to see wonders and to taste the unfamiliar- then to return back home with stories to share with the ones you can totally be yourself around?

Safe place. Biggest adventure. I’m starting to think all the best things in life are paradoxes.

COLOMBIA WAY BACK

Will be sharing a few more Colombia stories over the weekend because there’s plenty more worth sharing.

We went into our trip with a lens of past, present, future. We wanted a more nuanced look at Colombia’s recent conflict, beyond the sensationalist stuff. We wanted to understand how things were changing and what it actually looks like to live in a post-conflict zone. We also spoke to many, many people with a vision for the future and we wanted to see how they planned to be part of it.

Before really digging in, though, we were greeted by the very distant past.

These boulders were less than a football field away from where we slept at night. And they all featured these very vivid petroglyphs. Out in the open and extremely accessible.

These go back to the Pre-Columbian Era, and if you’ve seen the album art of Vampire Weekend’s latest, this is where most of that visual inspiration comes from. Real distinct spirals and waves. It was amazing being able to walk up to it like that, and a good reminder that Colombia’s history goes back further than the time that it’s been called Colombia.

There would be plenty of moments full of Wonder on this trip, but this was one of the earliest.

THE STRUGGLE

We’ve really been enjoying sharing the news about having a baby the past few days. But I also knew that when we started sharing that publicly, that I also wanted to share some of the harder parts to the story.

We started trying to conceive around the time we went to Italy about a year ago. We both absolutely knew we wanted to be parents and we were in a good spot. So we started trying and kept trying for the next year and month after month, nothing happened.

Since then we’ve definitely heard from a lot of people who tried for 4, 5, even 8 years before they were successful. One year isn’t long compared to that, but because of some other complicated health stuff, we had reason to think it just might not be in the cards for us.

We were (and still are) interested in adoption, but we’d always said we’d wanted to go for kids both ways. And I don’t think I realized how much I wanted a biological kid until it started to look like it wasn’t gonna happen.

The latter part of last year taught me so much about hope. How you don’t have to feel optimistic to have hope. Hope and hopelessness can almost feel the same, the difference is in the choices that you make. The choices to stay in the game, to never totally give up.

I know during that season, other people’s baby announcements were pretty hard to see. (And I hated that it was like that! I would’ve rather just celebrated along with people.) So if you’re in a similar spot- maybe literally, or maybe just some other way you’re feeling stuck, please stay in the game and don’t give up.

COLOMBIA PAST

Whenever you see Colombia’s struggles depicted on screen, it usually sets the story circa 2003, in the heat of the conflict years. That’s starting the story from the middle, however. The seeds of conflict were planted over 100 years prior.

Colombia is one of the world’s top coffee countries and Viotá was actually one of the earliest sites the coffee industry emerged. But the way it happened wreaked havoc on people.

Most coffee was grown on plantations owned by Spanish or French overlords. It was basically sharecropping- an extremely exploitative process for the Colombian farmers. Most lived on haciendas next to the plantations, would work for scraps, and would be mistreated by the owners. Women workers were especially vulnerable:

These systems eventually ended, but their damage still lingers. And by the 1970’s it had left the area in a state of having limited infrastructure, lots of discontentment, and a sense of desperation and low opportunity. The locals checked all the right boxes for being conscripted by armed ideological groups, which is where the recent conflict was birthed out of.

JUNE 2019

#152 Clawing for Domo

01 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Time to get baby some toys. Gotta love Tea & More.

#153 point loma pause

02 June 2019 // San Diego, California

The gap in conversation every five minutes.

#154 american spy

03 June 2019 // San Diego, California

I loved this book- in terms of story, it was a real classic spy story, making you wonder who you can trust and what’ll happen next.

Rooting it in real world intervenionism in West Africa and using well written characters to raise questions about politics, gender, and raise took it to a new level of creativity.

#155 the phillies bullpen

04 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Root rooting for the road team ever since I left Philly a whole lifetime ago.

A little weeknight baseball for the two of us, cause I always gotta catch at least one game of the Phillies series whenever  they’re in San Diego. We spent most of it right up by the Phils’ bullpen and I got to get these pics of an endangered species: Phillies relievers.

I don’t post a ton of my baseball takes here. I save that for Twitter. So I’ll keep it at all this: I’m proud of this team’s resilience and being able to bounce back with a neat little win streak after a terrible stretch of losing McCutchen and every reliever to injuries. Second best record in the NL and the three most important players- Harper, Hoskins, and Nola have yet to fully catch fire the way they can. Once they get rolling, things should be real fun.

#156 city heights pickup

05 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Another day, another bundle of books to drop at the library, and another to pick up.

#157 jason isbell & father john misty

06 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Spontaneous drop in at the Jason Isbell & Father John Misty show that got literally misty. The latter gave us some songs I don’t think he’s ever played in public before.

#158 big thank yous

07 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Anyone who works at a nonprofit: a large portion of your job is constantly saying thank you. Embrace it!

#159 anniversary 7

08 June 2019 // Los Angeles, California

Seven years ago, I took her out on our first date and I haven’t had a first date since then! So many good things came out of an inkling that one of my best friendships still had room to grow into something bigger.

This year has been absolutely eventful, so it’s pretty fitting that our seventh dating anniversary didn’t involve much sitting still. Boxing, cleaning the house, packing, meeting the dog sitter, then hopping on a plane.

Finally got a little chance to breathe during our layover at LAX.

I love you, Deanna and every step of the adventure. Now let’s go take Wyoming by storm!

#160 Grand Tetons

09 June 2019 // Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Arrived in Jackson Hole late last night and it didn’t take all that long to get the hang of this place.

There’s no bad direction to stare, it’s all beautiful. Though staring towards the Tetons is always a pretty good idea.

#161 Wyoming

10 June 2019 // Jackson, Wyoming

Wyoming. It didn’t take that long to get the hang of things here. Basically, you don’t want to close your eyes!

I’m here to play with my nephews, to stare at some moose, and to let the week go by slowly.

It’s gonna be a good week!

#162 Snake River

11 June 2019 // Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Took a cruise down the Snake River in a little river raft.

So gorgeous. Saw a beaver. Saw an eagle. Loved life.

#163 In Yellowstone

12 June 2019 // Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

This National Park had more to do than I expected. The Geyser paths are well protected- as they should be- but I wondered how much free space there would be to roam and explore more openly. Turns out there was plenty!

#164 The Book Trader

13 June 2019 // Jackson, Wyoming

We decided to go for a more laid back day around Jackson, and even that didn’t disappoint.

I loved this bookstore close to the center of town. Could’ve spent a whole day there.

#165 Jenny Lake

14 June 2019 // Jackson, Wyoming

It’s been a beautiful week. It’s been my kind of week.

#166 Last Day in Wyoming

15 June 2019 // Jackson, Wyoming

One last day in Wyoming. It’s been such a good time here.

#167 Chi & Greg Show

16 June 2019 // Long Beach, California

Y’ALL. Guess who I got to see play live yesterday? That’s right. Chi & Greg people!

If you know them, they need no intro. If you don’t, do check their music out right away and know that they’re also wonderful humans.

Good music makes you feel thankful to be alive. So do old friends. So does seeing people put their hearts into what they do. Last night was full of all of the above.

#168 Beignet Wreaks Havoc

17 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Came home from work to this scene. No clue how it happened. No one in the house other than the puppy. But seriously, how’d she flip a cabinet that weighs more than her?

#169 Rainbow Flowers

18 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Took the scenic route home today.

#170 Weeknight Movie

19 June 2019 // National City, California

Okay wow. I went to see the film Emanuel tonight and- wow.

If you aren’t familiar, it’s the documentary about the shooting at Emanuel AME church in Charleston, produced by Viola Davis and Steph Curry. And it was really. Well. Done.

The film’s strength comes from its honesty. It goes deep exploring the history of racism and white supremacy in Charleston, along with the role the black church has played throughout history going back to Denmark Vassey. It also goes deep boldly talking about the faith of the church members and survivors. The film featured interviews from the survivors to Black Lives Matter leaders to former governor Nikki Haley.

The film made no efforts to please anybody, but instead sought to tell the truth. It was boldly faith-filled. It was boldly anti-racist. And it was absolutely worth watching.

I want to tell everybody to go out and see it- except the film only got a limited two day screening in theatres last week. I still think you should go see it, I’m just not sure how. Yet.

Hopefully it ends up on Netflix or Prime because Emanuel says important things that need to reach as wide of an audience as it can.

And whenever you do find yourself with the opportunity to see it- do it. Absolutely, do it.

#171 Small Orange Sprout

20 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Afternoon walks with Beignet are an afternoon treat for me too.

#172 Orange Ave. Water Tower

21 June 2019 // San Diego, California

More discoveries from the scenic route home.

#173 Olé SD

22 June 2019 // Del Mar, California

Went to a meetup for UCSB Alum living in San Diego and had a fun time meeting fellow Gauchos of years past. Had so much fun the only shot I got was of Beignet also having fun.

Can’t wait for even more outings with this crew.

#174 CHCH

23 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Looking ahead to a quiet summer.

#175 26 Marathons

24 June 2019 // San Diego, California

What is it about running that makes me so drawn to reading books about it? Probably disproportionately compared to how much I’m into running itself.

That said, I really liked Meb’s book and hearing his mental approach to each of his famous marathon quests.

#176 Grocery Imports

25 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Things that are uniquely exciting to me: Grocery shopping at an Asian market midweek.

#177 Normal People

26 June 2019 // San Diego, California

You may have heard a lot of of hype around Sally Rooney’s book, and in my take, it’s well deserved. The characters were extremely sympathetic and I loved the little look into college life in Ireland.

#178 Fourth Anniversary

27 June 2019 // Carlsbad, California

The past four years have given us more highs and lows than we would’ve predicted when it all began.

From health scares and grinding out grad school and hoping deeply for a kid, to living out our career dreams and adopting the weirdest but sweetest dog to stepping into the on deck circle of parenthood.

We said it would be an adventure, didn’t we. I think this is what a real adventure looks like.

Happy four year anniversary, Deanna. Let’s go eat s’mores.

#179 Toy Story at the Drive In

28 June 2019 // Imperial Beach, California

Thoughts on Toy Story 4? Probably not my favorite in the series, but it’s a series with crazy high standards. They didn’t go for the emotional pull that TS3 had, instead leaning more into comedy. I’m glad they took risks with all their new characters.

This one was kind of a victory lap. The world of Toy Story is too good to have permanently shut it nine years ago. That said, it did have an Avengers’ feel to it where it felt like a real end of an era and certain plot lines were ready to wrap themselves up.

#180 Colored Skies

29 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Shoutout to the sky today. Thank you for being the way you are!

#181 Baby Bump Bike Ride

30 June 2019 // San Diego, California

Happy to be getting to put my bike to better use this summer!

Run River North at Soda Bar, Waterfall Slides, and the GrassRoots Podcast

RUN RIVER NORTH AT SODA BAR

A few weekends ago I took Deanna on a surprise date to see Run River North at Soda Bar. It was a very different venue than the last time we saw them, and their sound has evolved quite a bit too.

There’s still always going to be something about Growing Up that gets me goosebumpy and nostalgic. It’s one of those songs that turns into a 2.5 minute highlight reel of the past decade but in audio form.

I love the kind of music that sticks with you for years.

PWP ANNOUNCEMENT

I don’t get to see our East African Plant With Purpose partners nearly enough. Perhaps because they’re usually in East Africa. I hope I get to see them in Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia and revisit Tanzania someday. Until then, spending the other week with them, plus our other country directors was a blast.

Over two years ago, I started this job that felt like it couldn’t have been a better fit. But it actually kept getting better. I can honestly say that the past couple months of work have been some of the most fun, the most creative, and the most zoned-in.

Tomorrow, I’ll be announcing what I’ve been working on the past couple of months and it’s a project I’m really excited about. I’ll need your help in making some noise, though. I’d love it if you could spread the word!

GRASSROOTS PODCAST

And here’s the big announcement: I’m launching a podcast with Plant With Purpose!

One thing I’ve noticed about most conversations about the environment is that they happen at a high level- among policy makers and researchers and corporations. The people who get left out of the conversation are actually the ones most affected by climate issues- those living everyday lives dependent on the Earth.

This project has taken over the bulk of my working hours and I’ve been thrilled about that. And the people I’ve gotten to interview... what a diverse bunch! A Mozambican biologist, inner city medical practitioners, modern abolitionists, authors who changed my life in college, Thai farmers, Congolese community leaders, mindfulness practicioners, and so many others.

I am so excited to start sharing bits and pieces of the process with you, leading up to its release in June. Our six episode pilot season will send out a new episode each week. I’ll definitely let you know when it’s out, and when it is, please share away!

WATERFALL SLIDE

One of my life’s rules is to try and never turn down a chance to jump into a great swim hole while exploring nature.

We’d been trekking through the Colombian jungle for about an hour when we ran into this: a point in the river where the water dropped off a small slanted wall of rocks.

Next thing I knew, I’m in my underwear sitting in the cool water, ready to put this thing to the test. Oh mannnnn- nature carved out the perfect water slide. Ages of water eating away at the rock made for a perfectly smooth slide that ended with a splash into the mouth of the mini-waterfall.

MONTH OF MAY

I’m starting to realize that I might actually be in the middle of one of the most fun months of my life.

Between the Birthday fun, the adventure in Colombia, a handful of life changes, and new doors open at work, there’s been an abundance of good to take in.

Here are some of the smaller moments along the way, because they matter too. I love recognizing a good moment while it’s happening.

INTERVIEW SKILLS

I’ve had to learn the art of interviewing this year while working on the #GrassRootsPodcast. It’s something I never did a very much before, and being able to get somebody to open up for an audience with their true self can sometimes take a bit of skill.

I’ve had to speak with such a wide spectrum of people, from nonprofit leaders and authors to ex-combatants and farmers. I’m still nowhere near an expert, but here are some of the more helpful things I’ve learned while trying to figure it out:

🛋 As an interviewer, you’re basically your audience’s surrogate. If the interview subject has said casually mentioned something that left you wanting more info, then your listeners probably need more info. But it’s on you to ask it.

🎙Curiosity is your best friend while interviewing. Even if you know a lot about your topic, your guest will have interacted with it in ways you haven’t for years and years. Think of those things you’ve always wondered.

⏱ Sometimes a good answer takes a moment or two to come out. Be okay with a little bit of silence if that’s what it takes to get to the heart. See Stephen Colbert’s interview of Ellen Page to watch a pro at this.

🗞 You don’t need to be a bulldog interviewer, but you also don’t need to be your guest’s PR agent. People generally welcome you sending a counter argument along their way, especially if it makes their argument stronger. (Another strength of Colbert’s)

📗 If your guest has written a book, the interview will be much stronger if you’ve read it.

GET SPECIFIC

Every week I send out an email with tools for the Creative Changemaker. I try and share helpful ideas but also concrete action steps for applying them. This past week’s idea was about how mentioning things by name gives life and depth to your message and story, while referring to things generally creates a sense of detatchment.

So much of our brain’s activity is connected to making associations with things we’re familiar with. If you mention Martin Luther King, your audience will be more ready for you to make a point about morality and justice. Mention Nickelodeon, and your audience is primed for something more playful or nostalgic. You can use these associations to help build an emotional arc in your storytelling, writing, and speaking.

Here’s the action step: make proper noun use part of your editing process. When reviewing a piece of copy, ask if any of the nouns could be replaced by something more concrete. That might just add a lot more strength to your story.

And to see the full idea and to sign up for the mailing list, go ahead and pay a visit to the link in the bio.

http://www.philippelazaro.com/journal/propernouns

Colombia, Reconciliation, & Jesse & Raquel Visit

MOTHER’S DAY 2019

Mom, thanks for passing on to me your good taste!

Firing off a quick Mother’s Day greeting from a layover. We had to celebrate yesterday since I’m spending actual Mother’s Day by jetting out of the country. Somehow that feels like an oddly appropriate way to commemorate the crazy life I put my mom through by being such an adventure bird.

Grateful for such an amazing mom and for a number of other powerful women who have played a mega role in my life.

STUCK IN MIAMI

I’m supposed to be in Bogota right now (actually 48 hours ago) but as you can see, this isn’t it.

It’s been an extremely messed up travel day and I’m not really inclined to believe anything American Airlines announces at this point. We’ve been given a dozen different reasons for not being able to get a plane over the Gulf and at least half were easily avoidable.

It’s a good thing I enjoy being abroad as much as I do. Transit is the price to pay for travel.

Frustrated to have my time in Colombia cut in half, especially after getting so much good stuff arranged there prior, but sometimes you gotta compartmentalize so what’s left of an ordeal can still be a worthwhile experience.

COLOMBIA

To put it simply, Colombia is beautiful.

I had a feeling it would be a pretty country, but I underestimated just how breathtaking these mountainscapes would be in every direction. You don’t hear often enough about it’s beauty.

The Colombia of movies is a caricature of drug lords and crime, and while those play a part in some of its recent history, it’s such a one dimensional representation.

We miss out when we treat places that way. The sensationalism robs us of the better stories. The ones that make places far away feel closer to our hearts and relevant to our everyday lives.

That’s what brings me here. This week, I have the rare and special opportunity to get to know the deeper, richer story of Colombia. I can’t wait to share bits of what I find.

RECONCILIATION

“It’s going to take them a long time to forgive us for everything we have done.”

Reconciliation is an extremely difficult, beautifully redemptive, and tragically complex process. How do you sit and listen to the stories of somebody whose family you killed? How do you learn to understand what drove a sixteen year old down a dark path?

I’ve always been drawn to stories of reconciliation and healing in areas that experienced extreme conflict. Rwanda. Cambodia. South Africa. Most of it feels above my understanding, but it reminds me of an extremely important truth- that it’s possible.

When Milmer invited me to Colombia, the main draw was the chance to meet with from former FARC combatants, to hear their gut wrenching stories, and to learn about their process of healing and restoration, and the role that environmental renewal had to play.

Nothing about this is easy. Hearing their stories was difficult. Figuring out how to relay them in a sensitive, empathetic, dignified way will also be a challenge. But it’s important.

It isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Today’s horrors don’t need to be tomorrow’s realities.

GRATEFUL FOR COLOMBIA

After such an impactful week spent in Colombia, the clearest way to describe how I’m feeling is grateful. What an opportunity.

I’m grateful to Milmer, for persistently inviting me to Colombia and organizing literally everything in between my arrival and departure. Kind of an impossible opportunity to say no to.

I’m grateful to Carlos and Diana and Rafa and Rosita and Juanito and Angelita and everybody who helped facilitate such an eye opening visit.

I’m thankful to the people of Viotá- the ex combatants, the former victims, the healers: I am all too aware that the stories they shared with me weren’t easy moments to revisit.

There are still so many things to process, so many stories to share. And I look forward to sharing them. The stories about coffee and the haciendas, history and the future, birds and waterfalls, guerillas and farmers, schools and memorials. Look out for these intermingled with stories from the rest of life.

I’m just thankful. Sometimes I can’t believe I get to live this life in my body.

MILESTONES AT 28

Last week I turned 29 and this week my body is holding me accountable for all the travel and running around with an angry stomach.

Know what though? It’s all been worth it. And I have an excuse now to self medicate with pho.

If you talked to me back in December, I probably would’ve said that 28 was the hardest year of my life and that I felt stuck. The past few months though have been a totally different story. And a whirlwind.

We’ve bought a house. We’ve both taken big steps forward at work and with creative projects. I got to make meaningful connections in Haiti and Atlanta and Nashville and Vancouver, while learning how to be more present at home.

I’ve learned that the words of John Steinbeck ring true: Nothing good gets away. Things don’t always happen on my time, but showing up is what counts.

I’m thankful for every milestone for sure, but I’m also thankful for every moment in between milestones that taught me something. That’s where the growing actually happens.

JESSE & RAQUEL VISIT

I love playing host when out of town friends visit SD. It was pretty great having Jesse and Raquel over this weekend. Beignet’s face captures how she felt about it too.

Twentynine, The Creative Changemaker, & International Directors

TWENTYNINE

All I really wanted was to be around people I loved. And I got my wish. For like a whole week straight.

Really feeling the love that’s made it a beautiful 29 years. Hope to keep dishing it back out with however many I might have left.

A HUGE thanks to everyone who carved out some time to hang this weekend, out of towners especially. And to Deanna for knowing how to make a guy feel loved.

I hope each trip around the sun does for you what it does for me: reminds you that the days you get here are valuable, that every moment has its place, and that people always matter.

THIRTY SEASON

I have a very, very, very good feeling about the year ahead of me.

With my twenties winding down, I’m amazed at everything this decade has been, all the places its taken me, and the people its put in my life.

The passage of time does a pretty good job of showing us what actually matters. It separates the shiny, attention-grabbing things from the timeless things that stick with us for years.

It’s also made me want to approach the present moment prioritizing those things. To say yes to the things that I’ll still treasure five years later. Ten. Twenty.

Here’s to getting better at that year after year.

THE CREATIVE CHANGEMAKER

Nicholas Kristoff writes that toothpaste is sold with more sophistication than the life saving efforts of aid groups. And for the most part, he isn’t wrong.

If you want to make a lasting impact on the world, you can’t do it by yourself. You need to move people. You need to show them that the cause you’re all about is a matter of importance for them.

You need media assets that bring your cause to life. You need a style that tells the right people that your cause is their cause. You need to master the art of storytelling, so that the story somebody tells about themself overlaps with the change you wish to see in the world.

At first, I thought my hopes to fuse my love for making things with my passion for international development was an unusual one. But the past few weeks have introduced me to so many people who want to do the same thing.

I figure, the world would be a better place if its creatives became changemakers and it’s changemakers got creative. So I’m gonna share everything I’ve learned.

The blog is finally back. So is the newsletter. Check out my link in profile. And do let me know what topics you might want me to cover.

SHOUTOUT TO THE PRESENT

An appreciation post for the present moment.

Leaving for work a little early. Taking unpacked moving boxes to the recycle bin. Squeezing in trips to Goodwill, Lowe’s, and the storage unit on my lunch break. Making plans four weekends out, cause that’s how soon I’m free.

Life has been very, very full. And I love it. The busyness. The eventfulness. The creative grind, the new adventures, the people.

It wasn’t long ago that things felt empty. And life does have seasons like that. So here’s to trying and failing but still trying to really be here. It’s a good spot to be.

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS PANEL

This evening was a lot of fun.

All week, our international partners at Plant With Purpose have been in town for a strategy summit. I don’t only get to be coworkers with the people I share an office with, but also these partners representing seven countries.

I’ve gotten to visit about half of them in their countries, seeing them at work. I never fail to learn a ton from them.

The Village Church hosted a panel event to give people a chance to ask questions and to hear from the directors themselves.

I also got the treat of moderating/emceeing the event, which was interesting given the varying degrees of translation taking place. But it was fun and this week continues to be wonderfully full.

WE CAST A SHADOW

It’s been a hectic month, so I haven’t made my way through as many books lately, but here are some I’ve finished recently.

We Cast A Shadow – Real clever, sort of sci-fi, commentary on race. Had the feel of a Jordan Peele movie, including the dark humor.

To Shake the Sleeping Self – Fun, but mostly made me really miss being in Argentina.

The Power of Proximity – Awareness isn’t enough, you’ve got to move closer to suffering and share it. So thankful for Michelle Warren’s reminders.

Hope Never Dies – Quite the tonal shift but sometimes you just want a Hardy Boys style mystery novel starring Barack and Joe.

Beating Guns – A solid case for rethinking guns. I didn’t really need to be persuaded, though. Loved the gorgeous design of the pages.

BOGOTA

Airline: 
Do you have your record locator?

Me:
I as in Ice Cream
C as in Cream
L as in Leprosy
I as in I shouldn’t be the one doing this...

I should be in Bogota right now but since this is tropic travel we’re talking about, I’ll be getting in tomorrow and everything about this trip is bumped a day later.

To be completely honest, taking the day off to unwind from such a packed week wasn’t the worst thing that could’ve happened. And I made this drawing.

Even more excited for Colombia now. Will I see a toucan? I don’t really think so, but anything can happen and it’ll be quite the adventure.

Check-In Before 30, Brilliant Birthday Weekend, & A Map of Salt & Stars

Plant With Purpose Updates

Usually when things at Plant With Purpose get really, really busy, they also get really, really fun.

Right now is one of those times!

First of all, Earth Week was a hit. Our campaign raised over $65,000 which is all going to go towards environmental restoration efforts in the places where that is badly needed.

Second, our international directors are coming to San Diego. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know our partners from Haiti, Thailand, Tanzania, and other spots, and I always learn so much from my international colleagues. I’ll be hosting a Q&A panel with them at Village Church in Rancho Santa Fe a week from Thursday.

And there’s one other big announcement that I’ll be making next month. It’s something I’ve been working on especially hard the past few weeks and I can’t wait to share. I’ll probably need help getting the word out once it’s out there. Safe to say, it’s been one of my favorite work projects, and I’ve had a lot of fun ones.

SNAPSHOT OF APRIL

This past month has been brought to you by:

🐕 Dog friendly parks in the new neighborhood
👯‍♀️ Watching an ABBA tribute band only knowing three of their songs. (Also, discovering that emoji is totally ABBA)
🍚 Obsessing over the aesthetics of a rice sack and a very busy street corner, just because you’re so visually inclined 🇪🇹 Ethiopian food
🌮 More tacos
💛 The color yellow

It’s been a really wild month but here are some of the moments in between that stitch them together.

GOING TO COLOMBIA

Announcement: there is way too much sugar in this drink! That’s not what I’m actually going to announce, but it’s true. I very rarely drink soda but I bought this one for the rad can design and to help me make my real announcement.

Real Announcement: In a couple weeks, I get to embark on my next international adventure. To Colombia!

Colombia’s been on my list for a long time! And those Insta-worthy shots of Cartagena make it look even more enticing, though that’s not where I’ll be. I’ll mostly be on the outskirts of Bogota.

I won’t be there very long, either. But I will be learning about how today’s coffee and cacao growers are using restorative farming to heal the wounds caused by yesterday’s wars. I’ll be meeting soldiers-turned-farmers and I can’t wait to hear their stories.

I’m already excited and I’m planning on capturing as many stories as possible during the short time I’m there.

PANELS & THINGS

Tonight I got to talk on a panel at UCSD, sharing about life at a nonprofit with International Studies students and answering questions.

I’ve gotten quite a few opportunities like this lately and most of the time I’m like, how did I end up here?

It seriously feels like I was so recently a student still trying to figure out how I could combine all my scattered interests to help people by working at a nonprofit. I remember going to a bunch of panels and meet and greets and lectures.

It also often feels like Iron Man 2 just came out and like all my favorite athletes aren’t actually now old retired dudes.

I have a lot of fun doing what I do day-to-day, and I do feel like I’ve picked up a few things over the years that could be helpful to share, but the main thing that feels worth sharing right now is to enjoy the ride at whatever part of it you happen to be at today.

Arriving isn’t really a thing. Enjoy where you’re at. Don’t overlook how much fun the present moment can be.

ALL THE WAY TO THE BAY

Last year, I made a list of everything I wanted to do before entering my thirties. And since I turn 2️⃣9️⃣ this weekend, it felt like a fitting time to revisit that checklist!

⚪️ I still haven’t been to all 50 states, but I did get to check off West Virginia last month. Only Wyoming and Alaska remain!

🔘 I did get to go to a music festival, hooray High Water!

⚪️ I still haven’t gotten a tattoo. I somehow managed to buy a house, which wasn’t on that list. But still no tat.

🔘 I did start boxing classes. I still don’t really know what I’m doing.

🔘 Student loans are so last year. Those are paid off!

⚪️ I listed 16 books I wanted to read. I read four of them.

⚪️ I bought plants. Most died during our move, so this item kinda got unchecked.

⚪️ I haven’t been to 45 countries, but Colombia this month will be my 44th!

⚪️ Still working on building a community around San Diego, but I think I did a much better job being present.

🔘 The last and most important item on the list was to simply be thankful. That’s a resounding CHECK!

A MAP OF SALT & STARS

The most important places on a map are the places we haven't been yet.

Can we just talk about how much I loved this novel? I think I can easily mark it as my favorite read so far this year. It was one of the most creative ways I’ve seen someone tell the story of Syria’s heartbreak in a way that still captures its beauty, traditions, and strength.

The book switches tracks between two stories. A young girl who moved back to Syria from New York after her dad died, and the hero of a story he used to tell her. In that story, a girl disguised herself to accompany a mapmaker on a journey from the Middle East across Northern Africa.

Of all the nuggets of beauty in these pages, here’s one I’m especially fond of: “Safety is not about never having bad things happen to you. It's about knowing that the bad things can't separate us from each other.”

BRILLIANT BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

Bandit is such a personality in those shades.

So my birthday just started but I’ve kind of been celebrating for a week straight thanks to a steady stream of visitors. Here’s an odd confession: I love my birthday and hate planning it.

Deep down I’m a people person and I love having the excuse to round up people and to do something fun.

But also, it feels weird to ask people to celebrate myself. And I tend to do a lot of activity planning in my daily life. And I’m at a point in life where it takes moving heaven and earth to get three people’s schedules to line up.

So the best treat for me is getting to celebrate but being totally hands off and in the dark about what’s going to happen.

Deanna has been doing a phenomenal job of pulling together a bunch of great people and planning fun stuff. And I don’t even know what she has thought up for today! She’s amazing at helping me feel appreciated.

MAY 2019

#121 A Map of Salt & Stars

01 May 2019 // San Diego, California

The most important places on a map are the places we haven't been yet.

Can we just talk about how much I loved this novel? I think I can easily mark it as my favorite read so far this year. It was one of the most creative ways I’ve seen someone tell the story of Syria’s heartbreak in a way that still captures its beauty, traditions, and strength.

The book switches tracks between two stories. A young girl who moved back to Syria from New York after her dad died, and the hero of a story he used to tell her. In that story, a girl disguised herself to accompany a mapmaker on a journey from the Middle East across Northern Africa.

Of all the nuggets of beauty in these pages, here’s one I’m especially fond of: “Safety is not about never having bad things happen to you. It's about knowing that the bad things can't separate us from each other.”

#122 Colombiana

02 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Announcement: there is way too much sugar in this drink! That’s not what I’m actually going to announce, but it’s true. I very rarely drink soda but I bought this one for the rad can design and to help me make my real announcement.

Real Announcement: In a couple weeks, I get to embark on my next international adventure. To Colombia!

Colombia’s been on my list for a long time! And those Insta-worthy shots of Cartagena make it look even more enticing, though that’s not where I’ll be. I’ll mostly be on the outskirts of Bogota.

I won’t be there very long, either. But I will be learning about how today’s coffee and cacao growers are using restorative farming to heal the wounds caused by yesterday’s wars. I’ll be meeting soldiers-turned-farmers and I can’t wait to hear their stories.

I’m already excited and I’m planning on capturing as many stories as possible during the short time I’m there.

#123 Mölkky

03 May 2019 // San Diego, California

I think this game was invented in Finland originally using discarded ale bottles as a way to cope with long winters. It translates nicely at a park on a sunny day.

#124 Cross Street Bandit

04 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Bandit is such a personality in those shades.

So my birthday just started but I’ve kind of been celebrating for a week straight thanks to a steady stream of visitors. Here’s an odd confession: I love my birthday and hate planning it.

Deep down I’m a people person and I love having the excuse to round up people and to do something fun.

But also, it feels weird to ask people to celebrate myself. And I tend to do a lot of activity planning in my daily life. And I’m at a point in life where it takes moving heaven and earth to get three people’s schedules to line up.

So the best treat for me is getting to celebrate but being totally hands off and in the dark about what’s going to happen.

Deanna has been doing a phenomenal job of pulling together a bunch of great people and planning fun stuff. And I don’t even know what she has thought up for today! She’s amazing at helping me feel appreciated.

#125 Twentynine

05 May 2019 // Escondido, California

All I really wanted was to be around people I loved. And I got my wish. For like a whole week straight.

Really feeling the love that’s made it a beautiful 29 years. Hope to keep dishing it back out with however many I might have left.

A HUGE thanks to everyone who carved out some time to hang this weekend, out of towners especially. And to Deanna for knowing how to make a guy feel loved.

I hope each trip around the sun does for you what it does for me: reminds you that the days you get here are valuable, that every moment has its place, and that people always matter.

#126 Beating Guns

06 May 2019 // San Diego, California

A solid case for rethinking guns. I didn’t really need to be persuaded, though. Loved the gorgeous design of the pages.

#127 International Directors Panel

07 May 2019 // Rancho Santa Fe, California

This evening was a lot of fun.

All week, our international partners at Plant With Purpose have been in town for a strategy summit. I don’t only get to be coworkers with the people I share an office with, but also these partners representing seven countries.

I’ve gotten to visit about half of them in their countries, seeing them at work. I never fail to learn a ton from them.

The Village Church hosted a panel event to give people a chance to ask questions and to hear from the directors themselves.

I also got the treat of moderating/emceeing the event, which was interesting given the varying degrees of translation taking place. But it was fun and this week continues to be wonderfully full.

#128 Codenames With Durbel

08 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Fun game: Codenames

Even more fun game: Trying to explain and then play Codenames in three languages

#129 The Power of Proximity

09 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Awareness isn’t enough, you’ve got to move closer to suffering and share it. So thankful for Michelle Warren’s reminders.

#130 Strategic Summit

10 May 2019 // Ramona, California

Had the rare opportunity to get all of Plant With Purpose’s international directors, USA staff, and board members together all in one spot. I love the Plant With Purpose family.

#131 To Shake The Sleeping Self

11 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Fun read, but mostly made me really miss being in Argentina.

#132 Stuck in Miami

12 May 2019 // Miami, Florida

I’m supposed to be in Bogota right now (actually 48 hours ago) but as you can see, this isn’t it.

It’s been an extremely messed up travel day and I’m not really inclined to believe anything  American Airlines announces at this point. We’ve been given a dozen different reasons for not being able to get a plane over the Gulf and at least half were easily avoidable.

It’s a good thing I enjoy being abroad as much as I do. Transit is the price to pay for travel.

Frustrated to have my time in Colombia cut in half, especially after getting so much good stuff arranged there prior, but sometimes you gotta compartmentalize so what’s left of an ordeal can still be a worthwhile experience.

#133 Salto de Tequendama

13 May 2019 // San Antonio de Tequendama, Colombia

To put it simply, Colombia is beautiful.

I had a feeling it would be a pretty country, but I underestimated just how breathtaking these mountainscapes would be in every direction. You don’t hear often enough about it’s beauty.

The Colombia of movies is a caricature of drug lords and crime, and while those play a part in some of its recent history, it’s such a one dimensional representation.

We miss out when we treat places that way. The sensationalism robs us of the better stories. The ones that make places far away feel closer to our hearts and relevant to our everyday lives.

That’s what brings me here. This week, I have the rare and special opportunity to get to know the deeper, richer story of Colombia. I can’t wait to share bits of what I find.

#134 Entrevistas

14 May 2019 // Viotá, Colombia

“It’s going to take them a long time to forgive us for everything we have done.”

Reconciliation is an extremely difficult, beautifully redemptive, and tragically complex process. How do you sit and listen to the stories of somebody whose family you killed? How do you learn to understand what drove a sixteen year old down a dark path?

I’ve always been drawn to stories of reconciliation and healing in areas that experienced extreme conflict. Rwanda. Cambodia. South Africa. Most of it feels above my understanding, but it reminds me of an extremely important truth- that it’s possible.

When Milmer invited me to Colombia, the main draw was the chance to meet with from former FARC combatants, to hear their gut wrenching stories, and to learn about their process of healing and restoration, and the role that environmental renewal had to play.

Nothing about this is easy. Hearing their stories was difficult. Figuring out how to relay them in a sensitive, empathetic, dignified way will also be a challenge. But it’s important.

It isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Today’s horrors don’t need to be tomorrow’s realities.

#135 Jesús

15 May 2019 // Viotá, Colombia

Jesús was caught by a guerilla group and forced to fight with them when he was just sixteen.

He spent two years trying to earn their trust, following orders, and paying close attention to everything so he could make his escape.

He finally got his chance.

He has now returned to his home community, where he runs a coffee plantation. A healthy environment will be key to their ability to rebuild their lives.

#136 Homecoming Kisses

16 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Here’s the moment when you know you’re back home.

#137 Jesse & Raquel in San Diego

17 May 2019 // San Diego, California

I love playing host when out of town friends visit SD. It was pretty great having Jesse and Raquel over this weekend.

#138 We’re Having a Baby

18 May 2019 // San Diego, California

We’re so happy.

#139 there there

19 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Believe ALL the hype surrounding this book. The ending was brutal but man, what a good reae.

#140 dragonfruit smoothie

20 May 2019 // San Diego, California

This was a really specific craving, but hey. I’m thankful I was able to track it down.

#141 office back room

21 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Spent so much time sequestered in this back room working on projects. Can’t wait for the results soon.

#142 birthday loot from daniel

22 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Thanks for all the birthday loot, Daniel. Can’t wait for our trip to Vegas/Denny’s.

#143 library shadows

23 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Today all the books I’ve requested became available. Like, all of them. Even the stuff I was like, 200th in life for. Took me a few trips to the car.

Hello, long weekend!

#144 afternoon walkway

24 May 2019 // San Diego, California

The timing of the long weekend this weekend probably couldn’t be better.

#145 Mom’s Birthday Brunch

25 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Happy birthday to mom, and happy discovery of Great Maple’s new location to all of us.

#146 Babú

26 May 2019 // San Diego, California

#147 Marlborough Corner

27 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Things never get too quiet on this corner.

#148 If Cats Disappeared from the World

28 May 2019 // San Diego, California

This was a clever book. A lonely dying man gets to bargain for bonus days to be added to his life for making things disappear from the world. That’s about all you need to know.

#149 Cali Burrito Sticker

29 May 2019 // San Diego, California

This water bottle is the unsung hero of my work week.

#150 Gingerbread

30 May 2019 // San Diego, California

I love Helen Oyeyemi’s writing style. Unfortunately I kept finding myself getting lost in this book, losing track of characters, and having to go back and get things straight. The concept and the plot of the novel are really intriguing, and maybe I just read it a little too brain fried after work or before bed, but I wish I could track it better.

#151 Library Roof

31 May 2019 // San Diego, California

Today’s CreativeMornings meeting was an especially fun one. Great people to run into. Super relatable speaker. Oh, and burritos. Strong start to a Friday.

Easter, Earth Day, & Saint Francis

EASTER 2019

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Think of a moment when your fear was suddenly proved unfounded and you were surprised by joy.

A moment when something you thought you lost forever was found again and you could hardly believe your eyes.

Such was Easter, and it was a beautiful one indeed. Even if our pastor told Deanna and I that our late entry and sneaking in the side looked a bit like the walk of shame.

EARTH DAY 2019

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Happy Earth Day everybody.

Climate change stopped being an issue of debate and speculation for me a while ago. These are a few incredible women in Haiti I met last summer and they’re among the people most badly affected by unpredictable weather patterns, soil degradation, drought, deforestation, hurricanes, and all those other related issues.

They’re also some of our planet’s capable defenders. By doing things like promoting the use of organic fertilizers like they’re making here to planting dozens and dozens of trees each year, they can reduce about half the amount of carbon that an American individual puts out each year.

If you want to go beyond just Earth Day sentiments and help get involved, check out Plant With Purpose’s most recent post and website. A matching campaign for Earth Week has the potential to throw the effects of climate change in reverse in a community like Fonds Verrettes!

PLANT MORE TREES

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There’s this couple, The Salgados, who live in Brazil. Twenty years ago, they returned home after a few years living in Africa to see that everything was destroyed. The forest where they used to live was completely stripped of its trees and the land was barren.

Then they got busy. They planted saplings by the hundreds, then the thousands. Over time they replenished their land with 2 Million trees.

Now? The air is cooler. Wildlife has returned. The soil is strong and rich.

I only read about the Salgados, but I’ve seen this type of change in person. In Haitian communities and in villages beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro. I’m convinced that planting trees are some of the most valuable things we can do for the future.

They heal soil. The provide shade. They reduce temperature. They grow food. They slurp up carbon. What more could you want?

If you head over to Plant With Purpose this week, you can plant two trees for a buck. That means it doesn’t take much to grow a small forest somewhere. You can plant one whenever you wanna commemorate something. You can plant one when you travel and want to offset your emissions. You can plant one just cause.

And in time you’d be amazed what that little forest could do.

LIVE OR RECORDED

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Do you prefer to go into a live show familiar with an artist’s work or latest album, or would you rather go in cold and let the live experience shape your ultimate impression of the music?

I tend to think that I’d prefer familiarity before going to a live show, cause it is pretty fun to be able to groove along. But I’ve also found myself able to appreciate some songs and albums so much more after a live show provided more life and context.

So I guess I’m split. It could turn out pretty great either way.

BETWEEN HERO MOMENTS

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Have you seen that Dwayne Wade video?

Throughout the course of his final season, the basketball player has been trading his jersey with other star players like Lebron or Steph at the end of each game. Budweiser arranged for him to do a couple of other “jersey swaps.” A pair of sneakers from a Parkland shooting victim. (Wade vocalized his support for the school last year.) A graduation cap from a student he helped get a scholarship. A jacket from his own mom.

If you haven’t seen it yet, go! Check it out.

What I loved about that video is that it’s a reminder that our legacies don’t get built during our hero moments the way we expect. We prepare for those moments like they’re the NBA Finals, thinking that if we could hit some sort of milestone of success, we’d cement our legacies.

In truth, the stuff people end up remembering about us are the little things. The way we show up for our neighbors, our family, people in need. They happen in between daily activities and massive aspirations.

THE SEUSS COLLECTION

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Quit that beefing and go do something!

The last time I was at UCSD, I got to explore their Dr. Seuss collection and see some of his rough drafts, sketches, and B-sides. I thought more than a couple of these were pretty relevant and timely.

Speaking of people who want to stop complaining about the world and actually do something to make it better, I’m going to be back on campus this week to speak at the International Studies Association’s Career Night. I did the same gig last year and had so much fun talking to students who want to work internationally, who are interested in nonprofit or NGO work, etc.

In other words, most people in the audience will be like me eight years ago! Thursday night is gonna be a fun time.

SAINT FRANCIS

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Sainthood is quite a feat, but to be the kind of Saint artists always depict with animals is truly aspirational.

Not only do I admire St. Francis’ benevolence to all loving creatures, but he also always seems to have words that are timely, needed, and challenging.

Today’s quote that resonates?

“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”

It’s easier than ever to share opinions and everyone’s got something to say. Being able to articulate truth is a good thing. Being able to do so with more than your words is essential.

Leon Bridges, West Virginia, & Notre Dame

LEON BRIDGES

Do you think I’m being foolish if I don’t rush in?

I think that maybe, this Leon Bridges performance might be among my top ten live shows all time. And that that would be a fun list to try and come up with some time.

NOTRE DAME

People’s #notredamestories are incredible. The cathedral continues to be experienced in such a collective way. Even online, even when burning.

For what it’s worth, I was 20. I was learning how to embrace the parts of my faith that I knew were deeply true while trying to sort out and distance myself from certain things about religion that seemed off. Unnecessary pizzazz was a big one. I hated the feeling of walking into a church and finding that its substance couldn’t keep up with its aesthetic.

The Notre Dame challenged that in the best way. It’s impossible to walk around its gardens, through its corridors, and into its masses- translated into at least five languages for visitors, without experiencing wonder and reverence for being part of a larger, ancient tapestry of belief.

I still think there are necessary conversations about faith and humility and opulence and grandeur in a world of poverty. But spaces like these force you to be a little more nuanced. As I’ve grown to take the guard rails off things like faith and worship, I’ve learned that anything that provokes wonder ultimately pulls us closer towards God. And why shouldn’t that include some architecture, glasswork, sculpting, and historical preservation? After all, I believe even things like web design, coaching lacrosse, or repairing tires can be worship. If we believe that every act we do can be one of worship, then there just might be even more buildings in this world that make us wonder.

May the process of deconstruction, saving the sacred, and rebuilding be a part of our faith just like it’s been for centuries.

CHARLESTON, W. VA

Morning in Charleston, W. Va. It’s chilly but bright, and the city center is just starting to open up shop.

My first time in West Virginia makes for my 48th State, and possibly the one I’m least connected to. I think I know maybe five people with any ties to the state and I’ve never spent much time in places like Pittsburgh or Charlottesville that are somewhat close.

That’s always shrouded the state with a little more mystery, as I’ve been trying to visit all 50.

A lot of what I hear about West Virginia paints a picture of hard times and that’s worth exploring. But it’s also ruggedly beautiful around here and I hear very little about that. I wish I had just a little more time to do a bit of hiking, because if the views from the turnpike are any indication, there are some gorgeous ones to be found around here.

WEST VIRGINIA

My love. 💐

I take you on a bunch of adventures and some of them turn out better than others. Either way, I’m happy I get to share them with you, just like we share dreams, laughs, moments, and slices of Thai curry shrimp pizza in the middle of West Virginia. 🍕🍤🍕🍤🍕

FOUR STATES IN FOUR DAYS

Maps are consistently some of my favorite visual projects. I love how many different ways there are to show what a place looks like.

Celebrating this week’s rally of four states in four days by doing a little digital mapmaking.

Thank you, Appalachia!

STUBBORN OPTIMISM

I’m really thankful for the life I get to wake up to. There have been a lot of beautiful and exciting things present lately.

I’ll have to remind myself that it wasn’t so long ago that life felt pretty different. And I guess that’s how it goes, winters and summers trade spots over and over again. But you get to learn things while that happens.

One of the things I’ve learned is simply not to give up hope, no matter what.

I’ve always had a bias towards optimism- it’s just the way I’m built. But hope is completely different than optimism. You can be the type of person whose always ready for the worst, but as long as you refuse to believe that despair gets the last word, you know how to hope.

As a bunch of custom license plates around South Carolina reminded me this week, “While I breathe, I hope.”
Let’s do this.

FAVORITE ALBUMS 2018-19

A few favorite albums of mine that have come out in recent months:

The War and Treaty - Healing Tide
Maggie Rogers - Heard It In a Past Life
Johnnyswim - Moonlight
Leon Bridges - Good Thing
S. Carey - Hundred Acres
James Blake - Assume Form
Durand Jones & the Indication
Anderson.Paak - Oxnard
Mumford & Sons - Delta
The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships

Are you more of the type to seek out new artists or do you stick mostly to what you know? I used to be better at finding new music, but I’ve aged into a creature of habit. I don’t want to get stuck in my tastes though. What are some of your recent faves?

Bo, Let's Give a Damn, & the High Water Festival

WE BOUGHT A PLACE

Six weeks ago it felt like nothing was working out. We two weeks to be out of our apartment and no real options. Our earlier attempts to buy a place didn’t work out and instead we were just trying to find a place to be. Also, Deanna had a broken leg at this point so moving wasn’t looking fun.

Then we found this spot. And we liked it. And over the couple weeks everything started to click.

We moved in last week. These pictures hide all the piles of cardboard I tucked around the corner for the mini photoshoot, but here’s a little look inside.

It’s small, but it’s a space and it’ll always remind me that even when things seem at a low, you never know what surprises are around the corner.

Also, we need some plants!

TAHOE: THE PLAYLIST

This past winter was kind of a struggle, but when it came to an end, things got so bright.

I love the way music attaches itself to moments and seasons in a way that almost makes them possible to revisit.

I made a playlist of the songs that’ll remind me of the people you can enjoy a night in with when everything else feels difficult, the dreams that refuse to die, and the unbridled joy of watching my dog in the snow.

THE NEXT DOMINO

The past several weeks, I’ve been gaining more and more appreciation for simply doing the next right thing.

It’s easy for me to want to take on everything at once, or at least to say yes to anything that seemed like it had the potential to lead me to where I wanted things to go. But I was recently encouraged to think more strategically and focus on a key action that could set everything else into motion.

It’s like figuring out the right domino to flick in order to set off the raddest domino train. Maybe that means figuring out one stable source of funding to get the freedom to get more creative. Maybe it means connecting with three local networks for better collaboration opportunities. Maybe it means building an audience so your work can reach the people it’s supposed to.

So far, my year has really focused in on knocking over one of those big dominoes and as it starts to teeter and fall (dominoes don’t actually teeter unless you’re really weak) I’m getting excited by all the places where it continues to lead.

After all, who couldn’t benefit from another reminder that it’s fine not to have everything figured out but to instead take the next right step.

LET’S GIVE A DAMN

I got to spend a beautiful Monday in a park in LA on an interview with Nick Laparra. If you haven’t checked out his Let’s Give a Damn podcast, he regularly features fascinating guests, and now that includes me and Christi!

We talk about our personal origin stories and how they led us to Plant With Purpose, how faith serves as a motivating factor towards sustainability, and how we envision making the world a little bit smaller.

Check out http://lgad.co/2Gc8mRC to give our episode a listen. And consider adding his show to your podcast feed. It’s a great one.

BO

Oh, Bo. The streets of Heaven just got a lot more hair on them, but all the saints and angels know it’s worth it. I hope some of my ancestors figured out how to charge you up to sprint back and forth by scratching that one spot on your butt.

Bo, you were a good boy among good boys and I’m sad to see you go. I loved having you in lieu of a flower girl at our wedding and being your college roommate. Thanks for being such a good caretaker of my buddy Matt

I hope you loved your time on this earth. You spent your life as a helper, which is the very best way for any living creature to live. We’ll be there for Matt to make you proud.

APPA IS GOALS

Just a wholesome and sincere Appa appreciation post from me this morning, folks. Okay see you.

HIGH WATER FESTIVAL

These days, modern soul music feels like my current home base while the indie rock vibes that carried me through high school and college will always be the soundtrack to my story.

That means that the lineup for this year’s High Water Fest felt like it was chosen for me and that weekend passes were a perfect early birthday gift.

The show was a great mix of old favorites (The Head and the Heart, Dr. Dog) current playlist mainstays (The War And Treaty, Leon Bridges) and pleasant discoveries I want to listen to a lot more. (Phosphorescent, Durand Jones and the Indications)

Plus having NOLA’s Preservation Hall Jazz Band join for Rivers & Roads at the very end of the festival was the perfect way to close out the weekend.

The Citrus House, The Marlborough House, & Travel Plans Set

BAY WEEKEND REWIND

Another one of these weekends and living on a boat, plz.

LOVE LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW

“Commit to searching yourself and finding a new love from within. Visit a place you’ve never been before. Meet new people on purpose, not by accident. Open yourself up to the idea that we are all one and the same.”

The liner notes alone on The War and Treaty’s last album were gold; don’t even get me started on the music itself. I suppose this is fan art. Can’t wait to see them in Charleston next month.

THE CITRUS HOUSE

Adios to the Citrus House. Our time here didn’t last especially long, but man, it’ll have been pretty memorable. Maybe one day a backyard will be back in play.

Also, I am so ready to not be moving anymore. At the very least, I can’t wait to answer people’s “what did you do this weekend?” questions with something other than moving.

THE MARLBOROUGH HOUSE

Here’s a fun update: we bought a condo!!

I honestly thought owning a home in San Diego wouldn’t be feasible with the cost of living and all. But this year’s theme seems to be surprising myself. This house turned out to be the right decision at the right time.

Pics to come eventually, but if you can imagine a room filled with a bunch of snowmen made out of cardboard boxes, that’s sort of what it looks like right now. Instead, enjoy the courtyard and the handmade logo concept I made. Yeah, I’m enough of a branding nerd to give our house a logo, and it’s based on the banana leaves that peek in our windows.

TRAVEL PLANS SET

It’s no secret I love travel, and I’ve had a habit of saying yes to every good flight deal and trying to fit in as many destinations as possible on to one ticket.

These days, I’m trying to be more selective as intentional. I want to prioritize places where I have friends or at least a chance of making new ones through personal connections. I want experiences that don’t just stimulate or entertain me, but that actually teach me something. I’d still want to see how long I can keep my streak of visiting a new country each year. And any excuse to get together with people I don’t see enough of is a good one.

I figured this would be a slower year, starting the year without much on the calendar. Then, after a quiet past six months, I’ve had several opportunities come up. I feel confident about the journeys I’ve said yes to. Look out, Charleston, West Virginia, Dominican Republic, Wyoming, & Colombia!

HIGH WATER LINEUP

My birthday present came a little bit early this year. I’m thrilled and ridiculously grateful. This lineup is packed!

WHEN NOBODY/EVERYBODY WANTS TO HELP

Here’s a little observation I’ve been making about chasing after a creative goal or a big, meaningful project.

There are these seasons where it’ll feel like you’re doing the work all on your own and it’ll be isolating. It’ll feel like other people haven’t bought into your vision the way you’re invested, and that makes it hard to get the results you want. It’ll feel like you don’t have those magical connections everyone else seems to have and it’ll feel like that makes your work ten times harder.

Then there are these other seasons where it seems like helping hands pop up just about everywhere. You find opportunities to collaborate with people in totally different industries but you discover that you simply mesh. Tweets lead to coffee that lead to surprising amounts of open doors.

I’ve been back and forth between these two spaces enough to believe they’re both true in some way. You need to be invested in your vision to such a high degree because nobody will take your mission as seriously as you do. BUT your own enthusiasm can be surprisingly contagious and people will often surprise you with their willingness to help. Don’t let a few creative frustrations alter your view of people- there are a lot of helpers out there!

APRIL 2019

#91 MARLBOROUGH MOVE IN

01 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Here’s a fun update: we bought a condo!!

I honestly thought owning a home in San Diego wouldn’t be feasible with the cost of living and all. But this year’s theme seems to be surprising myself. This house turned out to be the right decision at the right time.

Pics to come eventually, but if you can imagine a room filled with a bunch of snowmen made out of cardboard boxes, that’s sort of what it looks like right now. Instead, enjoy the courtyard and the handmade logo concept I made. Yeah, I’m enough of a branding nerd to give our house a logo, and it’s based on the banana leaves that peek in our windows.

#92 NEXT STOP, COLOMBIA

02 April 2019 // San Diego, California

I figured this would be a slower year, starting the year without much on the calendar. Then, after a quiet past six months, I’ve had several opportunities come up. I feel confident about the journeys I’ve said yes to. Look out, Charleston, West Virginia, Dominican Republic, Wyoming, & Colombia!

#93 RECESS WITH GARY

03 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Gary came in to the Plant With Purpose office today to lead us all in a mandatory recess. Meant to take some pics, but I was having too much fun. Instead, here’s a snapshot of lessons we learned through play.

#94 DINNER AT RED SEA

04 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Enjoyed a dinner with the parents by introducing them to the rich, delicious world of Ethiopian cuisine.

#95 DOG PARK HUSTLE

05 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Exploring the new neighborhood in the very best way… with a dog park visit!

#96 ABBA

06 April 2019 // El Cajon, California

Because my life refuses to be predictable, this weekend took me to an ABBA tribute show.

#97 FIDEL’S LITTLE MEXICO

07 April 2019 // Solana Beach, California

Forgive me friends, the taco challenge has been suffering from a bit of neglect. Let’s try to get things back on track.

#98 LET’S GIVE A DAMN

08 April 2019 // Los Angeles, California

I got to spend a beautiful Monday in a park in LA on an interview with Nick Laparra. If you haven’t checked out his Let’s Give a Damn podcast, he regularly features fascinating guests, and now that includes me and Christi!

We talk about our personal origin stories and how they led us to Plant With Purpose, how faith serves as a motivating factor towards sustainability, and how we envision making the world a little bit smaller.

Check out http://lgad.co/2Gc8mRC to give our episode a listen. And consider adding his show to your podcast feed. It’s a great one.

#99 inside the marlborough house

09 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Six weeks ago it felt like nothing was working out. We two weeks to be out of our apartment and no real options. Our earlier attempts to buy a place didn’t work out and instead we were just trying to find a place to be. Also, Deanna had a broken leg at this point so moving wasn’t looking fun.

Then we found this spot. And we liked it. And over the couple weeks everything started to click.

We moved in last week. These pictures hide all the piles of cardboard I tucked around the corner for the mini photoshoot, but here’s a little look inside.

It’s small, but it’s a space and it’ll always remind me that even when things seem at a low, you never know what surprises are around the corner.

Also, we need some plants!

#100 more than words

10 April 2019 // San Diego, California

This book was a smooth and sincere read, and another pleasant surprise this year. While the story doesn’t have a whole lot of curveballs, it manages to make you wonder how each character will play their cards based on the decisions they’re facing. The book draws out the strength of attraction in contrast with the allure of familiarity and home, and I thought that tension was portrayed nicely.

#101 breakfast views

11 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Mmmm I like the way breakfasts look in our new place.

#102 charlotte nights

12 April 2019 // Charlotte, North Carolina

Fun night out in Charlotte and I’ve found myself in the middle of a Space Invaders game.

#103 high water festival

13 April 2019 // North Charleston, South Carolina

These days, modern soul music feels like my current home base while the indie rock vibes that carried me through high school and college will always be the soundtrack to my story.

That means that the lineup for this year’s High Water Fest felt like it was chosen for me and that weekend passes were a perfect early birthday gift.

The show was a great mix of old favorites (The Head and the Heart, Dr. Dog) current playlist mainstays (The War And Treaty, Leon Bridges) and pleasant discoveries I want to listen to a lot more. (Phosphorescent, Durand Jones and the Indications)

#104 the head and the heart

14 April 2019 // North Charleston, South Carolina

Having NOLA’s Preservation Hall Jazz Band join for Rivers & Roads at the very end of the festival was the perfect way to close out the weekend.

#105 west virginia

15 April 2019 // Charleston, West Virginia

My love. 💐

I take you on a bunch of adventures and some of them turn out better than others. Either way, I’m happy I get to share them with you, just like we share dreams, laughs, moments, and slices of Thai curry shrimp pizza in the middle of West Virginia. 🍕🍤🍕🍤🍕

#106 charleston, w. va.

16 April 2019 // Charleston, West Virginia

Morning in Charleston, W. Va. It’s chilly but bright, and the city center is just starting to open up shop.

My first time in West Virginia makes for my 48th State, and possibly the one I’m least connected to. I think I know maybe five people with any ties to the state and I’ve never spent much time in places like Pittsburgh or Charlottesville that are somewhat close.

That’s always shrouded the state with a little more mystery, as I’ve been trying to visit all 50.

A lot of what I hear about West Virginia paints a picture of hard times and that’s worth exploring. But it’s also ruggedly beautiful around here and I hear very little about that. I wish I had just a little more time to do a bit of hiking, because if the views from the turnpike are any indication, there are some gorgeous ones to be found around here.

#107 mindful silence

17 April 2019 // San Diego, California

These days, modern soul music feels like my current home base while the indie rock vibes that carried me through high school and college will always be the soundtrack to my story.

That means that the lineup for this year’s High Water Fest felt like it was chosen for me and that weekend passes were a perfect early birthday gift.

The show was a great mix of old favorites (The Head and the Heart, Dr. Dog) current playlist mainstays (The War And Treaty, Leon Bridges) and pleasant discoveries I want to listen to a lot more. (Phosphorescent, Durand Jones and the Indications)

#108 the teralta tree

18 April 2019 // San Diego, California

I’ve been loving this book.

Phileena Heurtz connects ideas from great sources like Thomas Merton and Richard Rohr to her own practices and experience to show that contemplation and activism, as contrasting as they might seem, belong together.

Looking forward to talking to her next week.

#109 frutitorta

19 April 2019 // San Diego, California

The color palates of our new neighborhood help keep things lively.

#110 mayar rice

20 April 2019 // San Diego, California

When you’re enough of a branding nut to geek out over the aesthetic of a sack of rice.

#111 Easter 2019

21 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Think of a moment when your fear was suddenly proved unfounded and you were surprised by joy.

A moment when something you thought you lost forever was found again and you could hardly believe your eyes.

Such was Easter, and it was a beautiful one indeed. Even if our pastor told Deanna and I that our late entry and sneaking in the side looked a bit like the walk of shame.

#112 Hope Never Dies

22 April 2019 // San Diego, California

This is one of the more ridiculous books I’ve read this year, but sometimes a Hardy Boys-style mystery novel starring Barack and Joe.

#113 Busted Axle

23 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Can’t believe I’ve been driving around on this messed up axle for over a month, but I’m glad the damage wasn’t more expensive.

#114 Long Sleeves

24 April 2019 // San Diego, California

A new design for Plant With Purpose! Designing merch is always fun, modeling it is okay.

#115 Loose Leaf

25 April 2019 // Oceanside, California

I love this tea spot in Oceanside.

#116 Run River North x SD

26 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Took Deanna out on a surprise date to see Run River North perform. Haven’t seen them since the night we adopted Beignet, and we saw them in a much different (read: small and packed) venue this time. But it was a fun show.

#117 Oceanside Route

27 April 2019 // Oceanside, California

Every time I come to Oceanside, I start to think that I need to spend more time up there. Maybe I’ll eventually make good on that.

#118 earth day 2019

28 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Another year, another Earth Day full of the eclectic in Balboa Park.

#119 One door north

29 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Found a new restaurant to fall in love with, just 10 minutes from where I live.

One Door North takes my love of camping and the outdoors and turns it into a culinary experience. And they do this with everything from earth inspired plates, to a s’mores set up, to the way they’ve decorated with safari tents. I love it.

#120 we cast a shadow

30 April 2019 // San Diego, California

Such a clever and provocative book. If you’re a fan of everything Jordan Peele touches these days, from the Twilight Zone to Us and Get Out, this book has a very similar aesthetic and theme, but in the form of a novel.

The protagonist has to climb his way up the corporate ladder at a firm in order to access a procedure to render his biracial son completely white. Doing so requires taking a plantation tour, participating in diversity day, and promoting community outreach activities.

It’s a book with a ton of subtext, but I admire the bold choices it takes.

San Francisco Weekend, Phillies Opening Day, & Bun While it Lasted

THIRTY, FLYING, AND CRYING

We made it everybody! Thirty, flirting, and dying.

Good birthday @dannyyumyum, may the worst case scenarios you’re always ready for never come true.

SAN FRANCISCO WEEKEND

Now that was a good weekend:

🌉 We went to San Fransokyo.
☕️ @philzcoffee
🛥 We lived on a boat.
🍣Sushi
🧔🏻We binged on pizza rolls & Kim’s Convenience.
🍦@saltandstraw
🎆We played with AR walls for the gram.

PHILLIES OPENING DAY

What an opening day. I love this lineup already.

GIVING IT ALL

We all get a limited amount of tomorrows. I don’t want to come to my last one only to realize that I could’ve given more, that my time and energy and gifts could’ve been better used, or that I spent way too much time on things that didn’t really matter.

Every so often, it’s worth it to do a check in with yourself. Ask if your current situation- your job, your community, your location, etc. creates an environment where you can fully give what you’ve been given. Sometimes you’re in unplanned situations that you have to endure for some time, but other times, you end up spending way longer in a place that holds you back just through passivity and comfort.

Keep checking in with yourself. You’ve got way too much to give!

READING FRENZY

A perk of not having internet at home over the past month? I’ve been on quite a tear when it comes to reading.

Here are some turbo-reviews:

Idaho, Emily Ruskovich

So much suspense but you never get the answer to your most burning question. ★★★

Severance, Ling Ma

The concept is intriguing but the ending is a little unsatisfying.  ★★★

The Lucky Ones, Julianne Pachico

I loved the setting of Colombia in the early 2000s, but I wish the characters didn’t seem so disposable. ★★

Sea Prayer, Khaled Hosseni

Heartbreaking and tender.  ★★★★

The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen

I really wanted to like this more than I actually did. Reminds me of The Orphan Masters Son in that regard. ★★

The Female Persuasion, Meg Wolitzer

I liked this read much more than I anticipated. The characters were easy to root for.  ★★★★

How Neighborhoods Make Us Sick, Veronica Squires and Breanna Lathrop

Check my post from last week. ★★★★

Raise Your Voice, Kathy Khang

Good, and ironically I don’t have much more to say. ★★★

A MONTH AND SOME CHANGE

Here’s what life has looked like lately:

• Getting buried in books
• Wet dog courtesy of the ocean
• Wet dog courtesy of bathtime
• The OA’s second season being such a trip
• No at-home internet
• Bookmarking all kinds of furniture I want whenever I do get internet

This has been one of the most unanticipated, surprising, and kinda comedic seasons of my life, and I’m loving all that it brings.

BUN WHILE IT LASTED

It was bun while it lasted, but it has definitely been a season for change.

La Mesa Life, Cyclone Idai, & Daoud Nabi

DAOUD NABI

Don’t measure your life by ‘fearlessness’ but by your willingness to walk into the fear and love anyway.

–Jeremy Courtney

Daoud Nabi’s peace-filled, compassionate smile says it all.

IT’S ME

What’s going on, errybpdy? It’s been a little bit so let’s share another intro!

📿 Nonprofit marketing is my main gig. I work as a branding/creative/marketing guy for social impact organizations, chiefly, @plantwpurpose. I was led this way by a love for international travel and a love for stories that get people to care about things that matter.

🔥Lately, my life has looked like putting out a bunch of fires- which has made me put some of my bigger projects on the back burner. Having a wife with a fractured leg and needing to move twice in two months will do that to ya! Weirdly, it’s a challenge I appreciate having the chance to take on.

🗣Giving talks and leading workshops are some of my favorite things to do. In school I loved that most people hated public speaking because in group projects I could easily play the role of spokesperson. I haven’t been doing as much of this as I’d typically like, but that’s something I’m hoping to focus more on in the near future!

ANOTHER REUNION

About time to round up everybody again.

PLAYING SCARED

Bravery is playing scared.

Every now and then you meet some people who absolutely seem to embody bravery. They go into darkness and bring light. They walk into scary places resolved to do what they know they need to.

But if you take a closer look, you’ll notice something else.

They aren’t actually fearless. They’re just choosing to press on despite knowing what could go wrong.

I think we’re living in an extremely fear oriented time, and that it’ll take bravery to set some things right. I also think that on a personal level, it’s hard to live a great story without taking a brave action that goes against the odds and away from comfort. If you want an impactful life, you gotta be bold.

The good news is this: even if you don’t think of yourself as a bold person, even if you feel anxious or nervous about all kinds of things, there’s room for you to be brave too. The bravest people are also worried. They just know what they need to do anyways.

HOW NEIGHBORHOODS MAKE US SICK

The life expectancy for poorer neighborhoods in Philadelphia is twenty years shorter than it is in the city’s more affluent areas. There’s a similar trend in Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, and just about every major American city.

I’ve seen the strong correlation between GDP and life expectancy when looking at a chart of different countries. It shouldn’t be a big surprise when the same trend holds true for urban US neighborhoods.

Good hospitals, doctors, and insurance are important, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Access to good food, safe housing, reliable transportation, employment, and other factors all contribute to a community’s health.

I really appreciated this read. Such an important and really insightful way to connect the dots between poverty and health.

CYCLONE IDAI

People are stuck in trees after Cyclone Idai brought massive floods into Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi. Many think it was the deadliest storm to ever hit the Southern Hemisphere, and the underreporting of it feels unjust.

Luis Bernardo is a 26-year-old fisherman from Mozambique who has been using his fishing boat to make rescues. A single round trip takes him six hours but so far he has saved about 20 people. (Story from @careorg)

After disasters, people like Luis get it done. That’s why I’m quite partial to orgs that are locally led. Here are a couple that work in places affected by #Idai

🇿🇼 MeDRA (medrazim.org.zw) is a locally owned organization that aims for long term sustainability. They take a spiritual approach to development.

🇲🇿 AMODEFA (amodefa.org.mz) works in Mozambique, primarily in response to HIV and sexual health.

Relief work after a disaster is important and urgent, but so is building resilience against another one. Approaches that deal with root causes are my fave.

LA MESA LIFE

La Mesa’s been an interesting spot to live, at least for the short little time we’ve been here. I do have a few favorites in the neighborhood, in case you were wondering:

🥗 Farmer’s Table is one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego, period. It isn’t cheap, but you get what you pay for since they source the best ingredients. I ordered a grilled octopus dish there last week that made me crave octopus for like a week straight afterwards.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Fourpenny House is the coolest little Scottish Alehouse in town. You’re lucky if your city has a single Scottish joint, and that makes La Mesa one of the lucky ones. Their lamb stew and fish & chips are fantastic, and I’m a huge fan of the Scottish ale they brew in house.

📚 Maxwell’s House of Books is always a good spot to go on a treasure hunt for your next read. There’s something so fun about a used bookstore.

🌮 I associate Bo + Beau with Ocean Beach and City Tacos with North Park. But they are two of my favorite San Diego restaurants and they both have locations out in La Mesa. So that’s good news!

Also, all these things are like a five minute walk from each other. So even more bonus points for that.

Die Empty, Friend to Strays, and Two Years at Plant With Purpose

DIE EMPTY

“Die empty. You can’t take your ideas with you.”

– Todd Henry

This book puts into words some things I try to live by. I don’t want to end this life having left important words unsaid, encouraging things unwritten, creative works unmade, relationships unpursued, curiosities unexplored, or adventures unlived.

THE PEOPLE MOST IN NEED OF LOVE

Sometimes the ones most in need of love will ask for it in the most difficult of ways.

I remember seeing that phrase in a special needs classroom back when I used to work for a fairly challenging school district.

Lately I’ve been having thoughts that feel parallel regarding difficult conversations. Sometimes the more difficult a conversation is to have the more important it is to have it- and to have it in a constructive way.

Like, right now it feels harder than ever to have conversations with people who don’t share our worldview on sensitive topics, and yet, this might be the sort of time where those conversations are especially important. And when you need to bring something up in a relationship of any sort, The feeling of resistance sometimes indicates how badly you need to bring it up.

Whenever something feels easy to put off or ignore because of how hard it is to do, consider that this might be the case because of how badly you need to do it.

FRIEND TO STRAYS

About a year ago @deanna.suzanna and I picked up these @frogandtoadpress badges from @powellsbooks, because strays indeed are our friends.

Then a couple weeks ago I passed by a little black lab mix while walking from a coffee shop. I didn’t think much of it at first, then I realized it was weird that the doggy was all on its own.

After temporarily naming her Ube Cake and surprising Deanna with her in the car, I then dropped her off at the humane society. She had a couple weeks to be claimed, otherwise she’d become ours.

She ended up reunited with her owners, but I figured that story had a happy ending either way. And I’m earning that badge!

TWO YEARS AT PLANT WITH PURPOSE

Well, well. This week marks two years since I joined the @plantwpurpose team and started partnering with the coolest people like Dieula.

In some ways it feels like I’ve been around much longer, with how much of a connection I’ve built to our work. In other ways it feels like I’m just getting started. I do think I’m just getting started.

I could list endless things I’ve learned over those two years but here are three quick ones that resonate a lot right now:

🌿 Remember that the world is almost entirely made up of people just wanting the best for their families and neighbors. For every act of horror in the world there are a thousand unreported acts of good.

🌿 Urgency and patience. Patience and urgency. They seem like opposites but the real difference makers know how to act with both.

🌿 Everybody can bring something to the table. Different skill sets and work styles are a strength. Build a diverse team. Don’t hold back your perspective and respect the takes of others. Captain Planet ain’t gonna show up if your powers don’t combine.

DO IT FOR GOOD

Sometimes there’s a bit of an assumption that doing something that helps humanity full-time is limited to certain careers. Being an activist, being in ministry, or working for a nonprofit. Doctors and teachers and social workers. We don’t say this assumption out loud, but it’s there in people’s reactions when I explain my career choice.

You don’t have to do any of those things to do meaningful work. You aren’t limited to those options to make a difference.

It’s not only about what you do. It’s what you do with what you do. Doing something for a profit doesn’t rid it of its purpose, (unless it’s exploitative, of course).

Whatever you do, figure out how you’ll use it for good. Superpowers don’t make people heroes, because villains can have powers too. Certain careers don’t make people helpers either. Its what you do with what’s in front of you.

PLANT WITH PURPOSE ON INSTA

Did you know that if you’re following me here you’re likely only getting half the content I post? Because every day I also add to the @plantwpurpose account and I have been having a lot of fun over there.

Take this week for example. I worked with an intern to come up with a series that looks inside what our village savings groups are like. I’ve been to several of their meetings and it’s really hard to put into words how special they are to the community, but trying to virtually recreate one sorta helps.

If you’re not following yet, go do it! As far as I know, it’s the only Instagram account that plants a tree whenever you hit follow.

WITHOUT INTERNET

Since we moved we haven’t started up internet service. I could probably just use my phone and rely on its hotspot, especially with no data limits, but the spot we’re in is in a weird black hole where connectivity just vanishes.

So I’ve been mostly using the Internet from my office or coffee shops while going analog at home.

It’s not the most convenient thing since I often find myself wanting to do quick tasks on my phone late at night or to fill gaps of time scrolling Insta. Also, all those little tasks like paying bills and booking flights kinda add up if you can’t do them on the go.

But here’s what else I’ve experienced:

🕒 Time moves a lot slower. Without a device to connect every single gap, the simple evenings spent together don’t zoom by as quickly. As someone who wants to soak up every minute of a life that moves too fast, I love that!

📝 I get creative. When my Argentine homestay didn’t have Internet I wound up practically writing a memoir. I haven’t quite done that this time around but I’ve been able to enjoy more creative energy.

📚 I read like I wish I could all the time. Six novels down in the short time since we’ve moved. Mostly good ones.

When we get more permanently settled, I’d love to find some kind of middle ground without losing those three big perks.