Top 365 Photos

Let’s play a game. The first photo is from Argentina. 🇦🇷Recognize any of the other spots?

Motivated to share something this morning that helps me appreciate life- some of my favorite photos I’ve taken as part of my photo-a-day project that started ten years ago.

Life moves fast. Do what you love and double down on what really matters. And don’t forget to occasionally take a look at where that adventure takes you and be amazed.

I published a post ranking my top 20 photos after taking one every day for almost 4,000 days.

Human Subjects

You know what kinds of photos give me the most joy to capture?

I only found this out after ten years of taking pictures, starting as a hobbyist and discovering how photography fits within my broader career as a storyteller. I experimented with different styles. Went through different stylistic phases. Totally abandoned some aesthetics.

I get the most enjoyment out of working with human subjects who live lives that seem ordinary, but really contain volumes. I especially love capturing these moments across borders and cultures. I love how the same image can remind us of how we can be born into such different circumstances, while still sharing the same threads that make us human.

I see a similar thing being done (albeit at a much higher level) by A Great Big Story. I remember reading somewhere that while they tell a wide variety of stories, they’re all supposed to leave the viewer with a sense of feeling awestruck.

I want all of the stories I capture to lead people to remember how life is sacred, and to believe we are all connected.

In recent years, I’ve been able to tell stories from Colombia, Haiti, and Thailand. Transitioning to becoming a dad has meant I’ve been on hiatus from this part of my work for a little while- and I’ll probably continue to lie low for at least a few more months. But I still have a deep excitement for it. And I can’t wait to get back out there.

I've Taken a Photo a Day for Ten Years

I’ve taken a photo a day for ten years

I decided to take a photo every day. 📸 That was ten years ago, and I never stopped! This turned out to be the most rewarding creative project I’ve done, and it became less about photography and more about loving life. 🌅🌁🏞 I made this video to celebrate ten years of Project 365, and it’s one of my favorite videos I’ve made yet.

Parents in Reverence

Children need to see their parents in reverence.

I heard Pete Holmes on his podcast attribute this quote to Richard Rohr. So I started looking it up to see its original source. I couldn’t find anything. Instead all my searches led me to articles with titles like- How To Teach Your Child Reverence For Parents.

Close, but different. But kind of close.

In fact, it seems like people who try to engineer a sense of reverence for themselves in others end up getting resentment instead. The people I grew to admire and respect the most all seemed to each have their own profound sense of wonder for different things.

🌌The mystery of faith.
🏞The beauty of the earth.
🗾The diversity of the planet.
🎑The bedrock of family.

I think wonder is the purest form of wisdom.

The people who I admire most are driven by something bigger than themselves. And it’s something I want Rhys to see in the life I live.

MLK's Approval

“I don’t know, I think I prefer the Civil Rights Leaders from before,” I heard a friend say while comparing the movements of Black Lives Matter to the 1960s Civil Rights Era.

Are you sure?

It’s Martin Luther King Day and while I have no shortage of favorite quotes and anecdotes I typically enjoy sharing, what has my attention is a statistic.

His disapproval rating just before he died.

75%

That’s disapproval. People who were actively opposed to what MLK stood for and his way of communicating them. It’s higher than any disapproval ratings at any point for Barack Obama. Ilhan Omar. Colin Kaepernick. President Johnson totally cut off contact with him- too much of a reputational risk. Many of the people we think of as progressive or open-minded would likely not have supported King.

The idea that today’s voices for equality are “too much” compared to those from the past is only possible because we’re distant enough from MLK’s era that we can convince ourselves that his was a more moderate approach that always merited the same reverence that his name gets now.

No.

Would I have supported King? Would I not have talked about him much to keep the peace? My heart wants to believe I would’ve been an ally, but the pure stats make me question that assumption. Maybe I wouldn’t have been a hater. But one of the quiet ones?

After all, three in four of us would’ve been among the 75% back in 1968. Is our attitude towards today’s less controversial voices, ideas, or movements any indicator?

In Love With Video

It’s awkward to see yourself recorded, isn’t it? 📺

There’s a whole psychological phenomenon of why people hate the sound of their own voice. Apparently Adam Driver won’t watch footage of his own performances. Nine out of ten video people I meet say they like their work because it allows them to stay behind the camera instead of in front of it.

I think being in front of a camera is a valuable skill. 🎥 As it becomes more prominent thanks to tech, I think it’ll be public speaking’s cousin as an important ability. And it’s worth getting over that awkwardness to develop it.

Also- video is just great. When I look at old clips, they take me back to places I used to live, to how small my nephews used to be, to things I get excited about in a way that photos alone don’t. Sure, I don’t want to mindlessly ONLY see the world through a viewfinder, but I can also recognize when I’m in a moment I’ll regret not recording.

I made it a goal to do much more with video this year. I started a little vlog for Plant With Purpose. 🎞 I also made it a goal of mine to upload my own stuff to YouTube once a week.

Soon enough, I have hopes to dedicate my channel to travel, sustainability and nonprofit marketing, with a garnish of dad life. For the time being, though, my main goal is to learn how to have fun behind a camera, fun in the editing booth, and fun hitting publish.

So far, so fun.

Resolution

You know what the most important thing is to me that I’m doing right now?

It’s that I’m here talking to you. 🗿

This line- or one kind of like it- was the one that stood out to me the most when watching Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Fred Rogers makes it clear that the reporter he was talking to had his full attention. It’s one of those things that made Mr. Rogers who he was.

It’s also a pretty big clue pointing towards how to become more like the person I want to be. 🌱

I have a friend who does a phenomenal job with making other people feel like they’re really being seen. He asks deeper questions than the usual things people ask when meeting someone new. He remembers names and details. He checks in asking for updates on things you would’ve told him you were excited about. He’s a people person with plenty of people in his life but it always feels like there’s room for another. That quality is super rare these days. It feels like his superpower.

This is something I’d like to get much better at. This year, my one resolution was to make the people I’m sharing a moment with the thing that really matters.

The real life Fred Rogers once said appreciation is a holy thing. When we look for what’s best in a person at the moment, we’re doing what God does all the time. 🌍

So here’s a reminder to myself and whoever else might need it- the people you run into today are sacred. Take the time to see and appreciate.

Twenty Nineteen

If the 2010’s were a series based on my twenties, last year would’ve been a really fitting finale.

🗺 Places Visited: Lake Tahoe, California; Charleston, South Carolina; Charleston, West Virginia; Viotá, Colombia; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Atlanta, Georgia

🍖 Favorite Meal: Rodney Scott’s BBQ (Charleston, South Carolina)

📀 Favorite Album: Maggie Rogers, Heard it in a Past Life

🕺🏾Favorite Concert: Vampire Weekend in San Diego

🥊New Skills Learned: Boxing, Adobe Premiere, Infant Care

📙Best Read: American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

🎞Favorite Movie: Parasite

This is the last post of my #philippesdecade series- a bit late, but who makes these rules?

All the adventures of the past ten years seemed to lead up to the birth of Rhys

All the other wins kind of seem to pale in comparison- but they were still worth celebrating. I got to be blown away by the stories of reconciliation between former combatants and communities torn by conflict in Colombia. I got to check of my 48th and 49th states in West Virginia and Wyoming. I got to launch a podcast built around telling the stories from the front lines of a climate crisis.

Of course, it’s not a finale. It’s a springboard to a whole new era. With Rhys in the world, things are different. I’m excited to move forward and to be where I am now. I’m happy about the work I get to do, I’m happy about whatever lies ahead and equally happy to just sit and bask in the moment.

I take pictures, write recaps, and celebrate milestones like this for one big reason: gratitude. Life is full.

For Australia

It’s hard not to feel down about Australia, isn’t it?

🇦🇺

4.7 million hectares. Over two dozen human casualties. About a million animals. And some of the most charismatic and sensitive species among them.

Australia holds a special place in my heart. I still remember scenes from a trip I took there as a seventeen year old vividly. The cable car ride through a rainforest. The towering coastal crags. The bandicoots prone to crossing the road at inopportune times.

At the time I had yet to really start my career or interest in global sustainability. I just knew I was in a place full of natural wonder. I have learned a couple of things since that totally apply today. 🐨🐨🐨

First, indigenous communities and First Nations are so important in stewarding land. This rung true in the Amazon, in places I’m more familiar with throughout Southeast Asia, and in Australia. They lose the most during natural disaster and often have the most knowledge regarding how to prevent them.

Second, when a crisis isn’t happening, the things we do still profoundly impact the severity of the crises that do emerge. Climate change and forest loss were ongoing long before these current fires, but they make the challenge much worse. 🌎🌍🌏

I’m trying to practice #highlightingthehelpers- shouting out a worthwhile cause/org once a month and I can’t help but feel that those responding in Australia are worthy of this first feature. I’ve been asked a lot lately for places and opportunities to help. Here are a few:

🐾 WIRES Wildlife Rescue - for wildlife relief and rehab
🌱 Seed Mob - for climate justice
🐨 Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

📸 NRMA

Any others? Also, here’s a 17 year old me with a koala.

More and Less

What do you want more of? Less of?

You can’t just keep adding to your life. At a certain point, if you’re going to add certain things, you need to let go of other things.

〰️

This has been one of my great, ongoing challenges. Optimism is my default, so I have this huge tendency to always think… yeah, sure, we can say yes to that too. No big deal! I only start to feel it when I realize I’m not quite doing any of the things I signed up for as well as I’d like. But here’s what I’m working on:

➕More unstructured time. Just open evenings hanging out with Deanna, Rhys, and Beignet and seeing where they take us.

➖Fewer repetitive projects. I’ve already started scaling back things like the frequency of my newsletter, social media content for Plant With Purpose, and my writing schedule, just so I can make higher-quality things with more love and attention.

➕More time outside, more nights spent under the stars, more fresh air, more mud caked shoes, and more nature.

➖Fewer books, fewer movies. But with the goal of choosing the right sources of inspiration and ideas, and consuming them with more attention.

➕More getting out there to meet people. More effort to making sure everyone I spend time around feels seen and valued.

➖Less pressure on myself to get everything done so efficiently. It’s my biggest obstacle to being present for others.

➕More doing the simple things I love- going to overlooked places, discovering human stories that move me, creatively sharing them. Less trying to add things to that equation. If other areas of interest are meant to be in my life somehow, they come back around.

There are just a few things in life that there is always more room for. Love. Adventure. Pho. But mostly, picking something up takes putting something down.

Rhys' First National Park

What difference does it make to grow up with lots of exposure to the beauty of nature, wild spaces, and public lands? All kinds!

It’s something I’ve seen as a common thread between so many people I’ve gotten to talk to through the #grassrootspodcast -

I’ve eagerly awaited being able to take Rhys on camping trips and on New Years we got to take him to his first National Park:

☀️Joshua Tree ☀️

Here’s a video recap featuring my worst Airbnb yet, the most beautiful spot we’ve changed a diaper, and why making tequila out of a Joshua Tree is a bad idea.

📽

The Process

I’m trying to focus on goals a little less. Lemme explain.

My life has shown me that goals and dreaming dreams is worth it. They give direction. Last year, I became a dad. Three years ago, I got a dream job- telling stories about global sustainability for @plantwpurpose. I’ve gotten to travel, to create, to contribute to causes I care about. I’m thankful for all of this. And I’m happy I still have plenty more dreams to pursue.

I want to see our family grow. In size. In intimacy. I want Rhys to see his childhood home as a HQ for security, generosity, and love.

I want to keep doing creative work for Plant With Purpose- making videos, online content, podcasts that move people. I want that to lead to unprecedented growth so we can do even better work with even more people.

And I want to take what I learn and help other nonprofits and do-gooders tell better stories. I want people to learn how to promote their cause effectively. Ethically. I’d love a speaking, consulting, teaching platform where I could do that.

BUT- my current challenge is to be less focused on goals and more focused on the process.

Achieving a goal only changes your life for the moment. Setting up good systems, habits, or processes changes the way you do things, which actually leads to consistent and lasting results. And for me, I think that would look like truly showing up and being totally locked in to the moment in front of me. As a dad. As a storyteller. As an advocate.

When I sit down to write, I want to truly enjoy the thought that goes into each word. I want to care less about meeting my quota of articles written that week. When I visit a place, I want my mind fully there. When I spend time with Rhys and Deanna, I want them to know they have all of me. When I’m in front of another person, I want them to feel like they’re all that matters at the moment.

Doing things this way will take some getting used to, but I think that it’s how I get where I want to be.

Two Months of Rhys

In what world do I have a two month old baby boy? THIS ONE. Rhys has so much personality now and it seems like each day he picks up new quirks that make me smile.

I took this photo for his two month milestone. Fun fact: I’ve taken a photo every day since January 2010 and this photo was the one that officially made it a decade-long project. Funny enough, this was perhaps one of the hardest photos of the whole decade for me to take, and I’ve pointed a camera at former guerilla soldiers, North Korea, and some terrifying baboons. But I didn’t have much time to take one of him in a better mood, so his two month portrait will be in monster-mode.

Contrary to the image, I often feel like we actually lucked out and got a pretty adaptable kid. He has moments like these, of course, but compared to what I hear from other parents, we could have it way worse.

This past month, we discovered that he’s a pretty good traveler. He was a champ on the road to Bakersfield for Christmas. He let us sit through services at church, movies at the drive-in, and office Christmas parties. He let us go on a date night for the first time since having him. When our house took some water damage and needed repairs, he was a gracious host while we slept on the floor of his nursery.

I’m loving the moments of being this kid’s dad. It’s been two months but I still can’t believe we get to have him in our lives.

#worldofrhys

Twenty Eighteen

We’re getting settled into 2020. Over the past week you’ve seen everyone recap their 2019s and stare down their 2020s. So why am I writing about 2018 at perhaps the least relevant time?

Simple. I’ve been recapping #philippesdecade year-by-year and I probably should have started sooner to be on 2019 now. Then again, maybe the timing is perfect. The last time I wrote a recap of 2018 was at the end of that year and I felt devastated. But now, I look back at that year a little differently.

2018 was a very important year for me and my family, though when it ended, I was more than happy to be done with it. Between trying unsuccessfully to have a kid most of that year, Deanna getting pretty sick late in the year, and feeling isolated and lonely, it was hard to stay hopeful.

But now, I think of that year as the Infinity War to 2019’s Endgame. It was packed. Anticipated. Bleak at the end. And while that was its final note, it was also pretty exciting. The highlight reel would’ve looked great.

I fulfilled a years-long dream of going to Iceland. I also got to fulfill the dream of taking Deanna to my old Italian stomping grounds. In between I went to my friend Tim’s wedding in England and it was on of the most fun weddings I’d been to.

I set a new PR for a half marathon time at the San Diego Half. I got to learn much more about using a creative career to advance important causes at events like Plywood Presents in Atlanta and STORY in Nashville. Deanna and I celebrated our fourth anniversary in Vancouver.

I took a Plant With Purpose trip to Haiti that showed me how to keep choosing hope.

That year reminded me that the highlight reel can look great while the inner battle is tough. But either way, the story continues.

Hello 2020

Hello 2020.

Brand new year. Brand new adventure. 🌄

This is exactly the way I would want to start the new year and new decade. Quality time with Deanna, Rhys, and Beignet. Roaming around a National Park. Camera in hand. Snow on the ground.

It’s a simple image of the best things that have happened to me over the past ten years, and what I want to spend the next ten years invested in.

I’m the kind of person who always wants to believe that the best is yet to come. It feels so appropriate to start the new decade with a two-month old. With a new opportunity to pass along those good things.

This year will introduce each of us to new people, new places, new versions of ourselves. We’ll be invited into relationships, adventures, tasks. I guess the ultimate quest is to do what the National Parks have been instructing us all along– leave it all better than you found it.

January 2020

#1 Joshua Tree

01 January 2020 // Joshua Tree National Park, California

Hello 2020.

Brand new year. Brand new adventure.

This is exactly the way I would want to start the new year and new decade. Quality time with Deanna, Rhys, and Beignet. Roaming around a National Park. Camera in hand. Snow on the ground.

It’s a simple image of the best things that have happened to me over the past ten years, and what I want to spend the next ten years invested in.

I’m the kind of person who always wants to believe that the best is yet to come. It feels so appropriate to start the new decade with a two-month old. With a new opportunity to pass along those good things.

This year will introduce each of us to new people, new places, new versions of ourselves. We’ll be invited into relationships, adventures, tasks. I guess the ultimate quest is to do what the National Parks have been instructing us all along– leave it all better than you found it.

#2 Back on the Trail

02 January 2020 // San Diego, California

The fireworks went off about a minute and a half into a YouTube video titled- What to do when your RV’s generator goes out? I could hear them reverberating all throughout Desert Hot Springs as the clock struck midnight. Meanwhile, I was playing electrician on a camper we had rented for the evening.

It was a humorously anticlimactic way to end what had been an extremely eventful decade. Like an epic TV show ending with the most mundane finale. We were spending New Years Day in Joshua Tree a half hour away. The camper we rented seemed like a good deal, but the faulty electricity would end up making it the worst Airbnb I’ve ever rented.

While fireworks continued to go off, I flipped the switch to the breaker again, hoping I could get the camper to stay powered longer than twenty minutes. It would be pretty cold in that camper if we couldn’t use the heater.

In the end, my efforts were never successful for very long. The power would go out again and we wound up using every blanket we could find for warmth and my laptop screen’s brightness for light.

At two months old, Rhys took this all like a champ. His parents, on the other hand, had a rough time with this arrangement.

We weren’t the most rested the next day as we drove into Joshua Tree National Park. But I did feel my energy reignite once we made it through the entryway.

Snow blanketed the large open desertscapes. It managed to make the usually dusty, dry area feel cleansed. The stretches of sky, the towering rocks, and the piles of pristine snow made the park feel just like the year- an open, clean slate.

#3 Rhys Rolls

03 January 2020 // San Diego, California

The blank white page is an artist’s biggest invitation, but it can also be an intimidating sight. The pressure to put something beautiful on it. The pressure not to mess up. A new year feels like that too, except the work of art is your life.

At the start of the last decade, I approached that blank slate with a sense of urgency. I knew a few things I wanted: a good relationship, a creative outlet, a career in helping others, and a chance to see the world. Like, a lot of the world. I gave myself goals like writing a book, going to grad school, and visiting new countries every year. And then I did those things.

Now, the 2010s will be a tough act for me to follow. I know at some point late in life, I’ll look back on that decade so fondly. I mean, I already look back on it fondly. In the 2010s, I lived a variety of places, from Oregon to South Africa, Santa Barbara to Italy, Argentina to San Diego, Bakersfield to a van that took me everywhere. I ran two half marathons. I visited three dozen countries and every state except Alaska. I wrote a book and launched a podcast. I took a photo every single day. I finished two bachelor’s and two master’s degrees. I fought for human rights in North Korea, environmental justice in rural villages, and better education in South African slums and Thailand’s refugee camps. I got married, adopted a dog, and had a kid. I landed my dream job of doing creative work for a nonprofit focused on international sustainability.

Please forgive me if that sounds boastful. I just needed to highlight what a big and eventful decade it’s been. Also- this is why the idea of trying to make the next decade even better seems like a tall order. Does it even need to be better? That act of comparison does seem like a recipe for disappointment, doesn’t it.

Well, I really don’t like the thought that my best days might be behind me. I want to know that there are more adventures ahead. When I hear the words the best is yet to come I really want them to be true. 

So many of my dreams have come true, by the decade. I turn 30 this year and except for small bits like getting a tattoo or visiting Alaska, I do have just about everything I hoped for at this point in life. Family. Career. Experiences. At the same time, new dreams come into focus. And those dreams remind me that there is still room to level up. I can surprise myself all over again.

#4 Winter Running

04 January 2020 // San Diego, California

Last year, I became a dad. Three years ago, I got my dream job- telling stories about global sustainability for Plant With Purpos. I’ve gotten to travel, to create, to contribute to causes I care about. I’m thankful for all of this. One of the things I’ve learned in life is that setting goals and dreaming dreams is worth it. They give direction. And I’m happy I still have plenty more dreams to pursue.

I want to see our family grow. Both in size and in intimacy. I want Rhys to be secure and to see our family as a breeding grounds for generosity and hope. 

I want to keep doing creative work for Plant With Purpose that captures people’s imagination. I want to make videos and online content and podcasts that leave people unable to sit still. 

I want to help other nonprofits and do-gooders tell better stories. I want people to learn how to promote their cause effectively. Ethically. To be invited to speak and coach and consult and share what I’ve learned.

Sometimes these dreams feel far away. Other times it feels like I’ve already made it a long way. My current challenge, however, is to focus on goals and more on the process.

Something James Clear says struck a chord with me: achieving a goal only changes your life for the moment. Setting up good systems, habits, or processes changes the way you do things, which actually leads to consistent and lasting results. And for me, I think that would look like truly showing up and being totally locked in to the moment in front of me. As a dad. As a storyteller. As a voice for sustainability. I can’t help but think that would lead to some of my best work yet.

When I sit down to write, I want to truly enjoy the thought that goes into each word. I want to care less about meeting my quota of articles written that week. When I spend time with Rhys and Deanna, I want them to know they have all of me. When I’m in front of another person, I want them to feel like they’re all that matters at the moment. Building this habit as a default way of doing things will take some getting used to, but I think building habits like these is ultimately how you get to where you want to go.

#5 Free Coffee for Life

05 January 2020 // San Diego, California

We went out today to take advantage of our “free coffee for life” at Burly and the Bean. Two guys were at the table next to us, and Justin was running the shop. We slowly started talking about nearby campsites and adventure spots and man, our list is now full.

Aguas Calientes outside Borrego Hot Springs.

Fonts Point.

Ladder Canyon Trail.

Glamis.

These are all within just a couple hours of us, and that distance (or lack thereof) gets more and more appealing with Rhys on board.

We’ll probably spend a little longer getting adjusted to the slower pace now that the holidays are over and we’re getting back into the groove of both of us working.

But I’m eager to get back out there. Especially as Rhys gets easier to walk with.

#6 A Visitor at Work

06 January 2020 // San Diego, California

A theory I’ve been fascinated by lately is the idea that we all have a different relationship with time. I’m definitely not the first person to think about this. I’ve seen this idea hinted at in other personality tests or leadership development materials, but here’s the way I’ve started understanding it:

People tend to be biased with where they focus their attention and thoughts. Some of us naturally think mostly about the past. Others are all about the current moment. Then there are those of us who are mostly interested in the future and things ahead.

Like the Enneagram and other helpful personality profiles demonstrate, I think any one of these time orientations can have helpful and harmful aspects.

Like, if in conversation you can easily turn into an encyclopedia of memories and anecdotes, or if you strongly relate to the phrase “there’s nothing new under the sun,” you’re probably past-oriented. Your strengths are that you’re great at learning from your past decisions and that of others. The drawback to seeing life this way is that it can be harder for you to factor in the way things evolve, to take advantage of new opportunities, or to plan ahead too ambitiously.

If I could choose any time orientation, I’d probably choose to be present-oriented. I’d love the whole Ram Dass idea of being fully present wherever I find myself. I also admire people who can make others feel like they have their full attention and interest. Any drawbacks are probably related to being a bit too shortsighted or being too subject to the trends and loud things of the season.

As it turns out, I’m future-oriented and it’s pretty easy for me to see that. I get so much excitement from making lists of adventures I want to go on, I’m pretty good at coming up with plans and strategies, and I usually long for something to look forward to. I think I can be pretty good at getting to a destination but I need to challenge myself more to enjoy the journey.

I don’t know if you have much control over which tendency you’re biased towards, but you can be more aware of your unconscious spots and how to compensate for them. And you can harness your strengths for good.

#7 The Alleyway

07 January 2020 // San Diego, California

Have you ever felt like you’ve had to hold back having fun?

“How would you describe what you bring to the table in one word,” I was asked once in a job interview. The word “fun” came right out of my mouth like a reflex.

I immediately wish I said something else. Fun??? How is this place going to take me seriously? It’s hard enough that I look pretty young.

The interviewer smiled, “there’s a different answer!” I never heard back.

I have a huge playful streak. Having fun is actually a pretty big motivator for me, and there’s so much research behind how having fun boosts creativity and learning and all those good things. But for such a long time, I’ve worried that it would keep people from taking me seriously. That it might discredit me, or just be not appropriate.

After all, my work has taken me to a lot of places where things are pretty serious. Refugee camps and orphan centers and the front lines of a climate crisis.

But then, I remember the role of characters like Tom Bombadil in the Fellowship of the Ring. He brings lightheartedness and levity and brightness into dark situations. He can laugh at the ring. He encourages other characters with songs and jokes. He was written to confound others. How can this guy be so void of stress about the ring and other grave matters? What’s behind this guy’s bizarre and beautiful joy?

And I remember moments. Like the time I got to help a friend from North Korea put together his first LEGO set. Or when I got to sing with a full classroom in a refugee camp. Or when I accidentally started a conversation about time travel with ex-combatants.

This year, some scary things will happen. Controversy will happen. People will be anxious and angry and sad. And their reasons will be totally valid. But what if one of the best ways to fight against those ills is with a sense of joy and light that confounds people?

What if we made it a goal to have more fun in unlikely scenarios? What would it look like to turn more of our work into play? Not for the sake of ignorance or incompetence, but because we have an inner joy that brings light to dark places.

#8 Lou-Z-Ana Kitchen

08 January 2020 // San Diego, California

You know what the most important thing is to me that I’m doing right now? It’s that I’m talking to you.

This line- or one kind of like it- was the one that stood out to me the most when watching Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Fred Rogers makes it clear that the reporter he was talking to had his full attention. It’s one of those things that made Mr. Rogers who he was.

It’s also a pretty big clue pointing towards how to become more like the person I want to be.

I have a friend who does a phenomenal job with making other people feel like they’re really being seen. He asks deeper questions than the usual things people ask when meeting someone new. He remembers names and details. He checks in asking for updates on things you would’ve told him you were excited about. He’s a people person with plenty of people in his life but it always feels like there’s room for another. That quality is super rare these days. It feels like his superpower.

It’s not as much of an instinct for me to be like that. But I’d love to try and get better at it. In fact, it’s the closest thing I have to an overarching goal this year.

The real life Fred Rogers once said appreciation is a holy thing. When we look for what’s best in a person at the moment, we’re doing what God does all the time.

So here’s a reminder to myself and whoever else might need it- the people you run into today are sacred. Take the time to see and appreciate.

#9 End of Maternity Leave

09 January 2020 // San Diego, California

When was the last time you had pure unbridled fun? What if you actually made it a point to have fun more often?

I like to think of myself as a pretty fun person, but I’ve noticed that I can sometimes get so focused on trying to get a whole list of things DONE each day that I forget to make that process FUN.

I’m challenging myself to take aim at having fun more often. I’m trying to catch myself in the middle of work tasks, checking in with the question- are you having any fun?

At first that might seem like a frivolous question. It did to me, initially. But I think that by trying to make the process of creating things, solving problems, or interacting with people a bit more like play, you end up bringing your better self to the table. Spontaneous. Creative. Engaged.

It’s one of those simple, subtle shifts in thinking that results in big changes.

If I aim to have more fun when writing or making videos, it’ll result in bolder, more lively and creative content. The art of putting stuff together will feel more like a jam session.

If I aim to have more fun while studying nature, discovering new sustainability practices, and diving deeper into different cultures- I’ll be able to do so with more open-mindedness, curiosity, and appreciation.

If I aim to have more fun when interacting with people, it’ll help me be more present in those moments, and it’ll make bonds and connections grow stronger. This is probably especially true when I’m with Rhys. All his learning happens via playtime.

It’s good to get stuff done. But I think a lot of times you get things done even better if you can make them fun.

#10 Law Street

10 January 2020 // San Diego, California

To protect and celebrate life in all its forms.

Have you ever tried to draft a personal mission statement? A mission statement is something I help organizations with often. It gives your team direction. It lets people on the outside know what you’re all about.

The funny thing is, I’ve never had a harder time coming up with one than when I’ve tried to come up with one for myself.

I’ve been sitting with the one above for some time, and I keep liking it more and more.

I started to realize that all I do stems from a love for life. My practice of taking a photo a day evolved from a desire to practice appreciation and good stewardship of my own life. My love of travel fills me with even more appreciation for the diversity of life that’s out there- whether those be human tribes or the biodiversity of wild forests.

I find that the best creative storytelling celebrates the fullness of life- even the sad or difficult parts. That’s something I try to do, whether it’s through my podcast or YouTube channel. 

I find that being someone who protects life can look like so many different things: from educating future leaders to protecting forests to stopping poaching to assisting refugees to human rights law to fostering kids to researching cures to helping people hit breakthroughs in mental health to being a good dad.

This diverse mix of things are the things I wake up for. It’s hard to find something I do, or something I really love and celebrate that doesn’t really fit this mission:

To protect and celebrate life in all its forms.

#11 Zara Turns One

11 January 2020 // San Diego, California

This week, Deanna went back to work. My mom started watching Rhys on those days that both of us are in the office.

She got used to his cycle of play, sleep, eat.

She learned more about what actually gets him to doze off.

I figured out how to take advantage of the commute to her place.

When we moved back to San Diego, we said it was largely to be closer to family, for the sake of starting our own family. To be totally transparent, I was lukewarm in excitement towards it. I just couldn’t argue with the practicality. I love my family for sure, but I had gotten used to keeping up with them despite distance for ten years. That never seemed to get in the way. The idea of blazing my own trail and planting my roots down somewhere else seemed made to me.

But we’re back here and we’ve been back for almost three years. And to be honest, my excitement for being here has warmed very, very slowly.

But it has warmed. These are the reasons why:

This week, Zara turned a year old. We went to her party.

My aunt started listing a roll call of all of the family’s new generation of second cousins. Just an hour or so after I told Deanna this is what large Filipino families do for sport.

Rhys fell asleep listening to his grandma gossip with her sisters.

Deanna and I went back later that night to watch the Aladdin remake with Ivy & JB. The movie got all sorts of criticism, but watching it with Rhys helped me see how a kid could still see it with wonder.

Here’s to raising him closer to family. It’ll be the kind of thing we never really regret.

#12 Grocery Outlet Bargain Market

12 January 2020 // San Diego, California

It’s hard not to feel down about Australia, isn’t it? 

4.7 million hectares. Over two dozen human casualties. About a million animals. And some of the most charismatic and sensitive species among them.

Australia holds a special place in my heart. I still remember scenes from a trip I took there as a seventeen year old vividly. The cable car ride through a rainforest. The towering coastal crags. The bandicoots prone to crossing the road at inopportune times.

At the time I had yet to really start my career or interest in global sustainability. I just knew I was in a place full of natural wonder. I have learned a couple of things since that totally apply today.

First, indigenous communities and First Nations are so important in stewarding land. This rung true in the Amazon, in places I’m more familiar with throughout Southeast Asia, and in Australia. They lose the most during natural disaster and often have the most knowledge regarding how to prevent them.

Second, when a crisis isn’t happening, the things we do still profoundly impact the severity of the crises that do emerge. Climate change and forest loss were ongoing long before these current fires, but they make the challenge much worse.

I want better things for Australia. I’m cheering on all the helpers. From the First Nations organizers to the koala healers.

#13 Point Loma Flower Run

13 January 2020 // San Diego, California

You know what kinds of photos give me the most joy to capture?

I only found this out after ten years of taking pictures, starting as a hobbyist and discovering how photography fits within my broader career as a storyteller. I experimented with different styles. Went through different stylistic phases. Totally abandoned some aesthetics.

I get the most enjoyment out of working with human subjects who live lives that seem ordinary, but really contain volumes. I especially love capturing these moments across borders and cultures. I love how the same image can remind us of how we can be born into such different circumstances, while still sharing the same threads that make us human.

I see a similar thing being done (albeit at a much higher level) by A Great Big Story. I remember reading somewhere that while they tell a wide variety of stories, they’re all supposed to leave the viewer with a sense of feeling awestruck.

I want all of the stories I capture to lead people to remember how life is sacred, and to believe we are all connected.

Every so often, I’ll get the opportunity to travel and go on a “story collecting” trip. I’ll be invited to a community, get the chance to meet people and hear their experiences, and try and gather the media assets to best retell their stories across different platforms. It’s possibly my favorite part of my work.

In recent years, I’ve been able to tell stories from Colombia, Haiti, and Thailand. Transitioning to becoming a dad has meant I’ve been on hiatus from this part of my work for a little while- and I’ll probably continue to lie low for at least a few more months. But I still have a deep excitement for it. And I can’t wait to get back out there.

#14 Traffic After Work

14 January 2020 // San Diego, California

It’s awkward to see yourself recorded, isn’t it?

There’s a whole psychological phenomenon of why people hate the sound of their own voice. Apparently Adam Driver won’t watch footage of his own performances. Nine out of ten video people I meet say they like their work because it allows them to stay behind the camera instead of in front of it.

I think being in front of a camera is a valuable skill. And it’s worth getting over that awkwardness to develop it.

So many more forms of communication and creativity make room for video. Compare how much more footage you’re seeing of people thanks to Instagram Stories and TikTok versus four or five years ago.

Also- video is just great. When I look at old clips, they take me back to places I used to live, to how small my nephews used to be, to things I get excited about in a way that photos alone don’t. Sure, I don’t want to mindlessly ONLY see the world through a viewfinder, but I can also recognize when I’m in a moment I’ll regret not recording.

I made it a goal to do much more with video lately. I started a little vlog for Plant With Purpose. I also made it a goal of mine to upload my own stuff to YouTube once a week. Search for my same username on YouTube. Soon enough, I have hopes to dedicate my channel to travel, sustainability and nonprofit marketing, with a garnish of dad life. For the time being, though, my main goal is to learn how to have fun behind a camera, fun in the editing booth, and fun hitting publish.

So far, so fun.

#15 Tummy Time

15 January 2020 // San Diego, California

Deanna and I got a little mixed up with our schedules. It led to me taking care of Rhys solo for almost the whole day- my first time doing so for so long a stretch.

It was hard.

I loved it.

We ended up going out a few times- to the doctor in the morning then to a Faith and Climate Change panel in the evening. The first of those two outings was considerably easier. At the Climate Change discussion, he wound up getting fussy and providing lots of little grunts and squeals to the audience. (I get it man, I’m mad about climate change too.)

He got angry with me when I tried to put him in the wrap so we could walk the dog. He screamed throughout a diaper change. He took a long time to fall asleep. By the time he did, it would only be for about 20 minutes before it was time to eat again.

Multiple times throughout the day, I caught myself thinking- this isn’t easy, but this is the best part of my life right now. I kept thinking about how after two and a half months he’s already grown a ridiculous amount and how I needed to mentally hit pause on this day so many times because he won’t be this small much longer.

I thought of the year I spent praying for this. The minute-by-minute demands might be a lot to juggle, but it’s a challenge I’m so blessed to have.

We had some super sweet moments too. A playtime every few hours. He let me beatbox and boop his face like it was an 808 machine. He loved it.

And by the end of the day, I also managed to solve a graphic design crisis, keep a dog and baby alive, write an essay about indigenous land use I’m proud of, and talk to a leading climate activist.

Not too bad. They say being a dad shrinks your world and limits your ability to do stuff. Maybe. But it also turns a day like today into a year’s worth of sweetness.

#16 Katharine Hayhoe at Plant With Purpose

16 January 2020 // San Diego, California

Katharine Hayhoe visited San Diego and the Plant With Purpose office this week. It was excellent having her around. She is probably at the highest level as someone who can speak about climate from a faith standpoint, and someone I can learn a lot from.

I appreciate the way she gives language and data backed understanding about how attitudes surrounding climate really work. It makes it much easier to understand how to talk about these issues when you can see how they are linked with people’s identities.

My favorite idea she shared was of the Six America’s of Climate Change. Basically, there’s little use and little reward that comes from talking to the extreme viewpoints. There is a lot of value in talking to the groups labeled as “concerned” and “cautious.” Finding other voices that validate their feelings and experiences, that make talking about climate anxiety less of a rarity, that make it normal to make changes in your life actually can have tremendous influence.

#17 Freddy & Johnna Visit

17 January 2020 // San Diego, California

Freddy and Johnna visited San Diego from Atlanta this weekend. Technically, it’s only the third time I’ve hung out with Freddy, but each time has been so life-giving. At each opportunity we seemed to have the exact conversation I needed at the time.

I’m so thankful for that. It was really just an off-the-cuff intro by Callie at Plywood that led to us knowing each other, but I think we’ve been able to completely make the most of each minute we’ve spent in the same space.

I’m also amused by the mystery of it all. How can such an enriching connection come about so fast in such sparse doses. Is Atlanta just like that? Much more relational than the West Coast? Was it the conference buzz and energy? Is this just Freddy’s superpower?

Largely, I want to know so I can be better at making those connections in my own backyard. I also wanna be the type of person who can offer a life-giving hangout over coffee, even if I only get one shot at that each year.

But also, I appreciate that these questions are kind of a mystery. Friendship just isn’t the territory of formula, and that’s for the better.

#18 Living Room Date

18 January 2020 // La Jolla, California

Tonight we went on our second date night since having Rhys.

Normally, I try to be creative and surprising with our date nights. They usually happen in two to three phases and I used to pride myself on doing more than just dinner and a movie.

I’m sure that the desire to be creative and adventurous isn’t dead, but merely dormant as we get used to Baby life. Our first date night literally was dinner and a movie. (Albeit, a very good movie and very good dinner.)

We instead went around La Jolla on foot. We stopped for a treat at The Living Room and discovered they have some of the best truffle fries I’ve ever had. We also went to Puesto and spent some time walking nearby the ocean.

We talked about how Deanna was feeling about work. About how she really wants the extra time with Rhys and I totally get it. We just need to figure out how to make the money thing work. So much is up in the air.

Here’s what I’m thinking, though. I think it’ll be a big year for us. An important one. And we’ll see a few big changes- especially on Deanna’s side of things- that result in is being where we need to be.

I feel a few big steps forward coming. Especially financially and with health. We just gotta wait and see.

#19 Santa Margarita Trail

19 January 2020 // Fallbrook, California

Things I’ve learned:

Excellence isn’t being better than everyone else. It’s knowing that you didn’t cheat on your potential.

Maturity isn’t an aura of seriousness. It’s learning how to add up all the facts and still be joyful.

Wisdom isn’t knowing more facts. It’s seeing things in front of you more clearly.

Courage isn’t the lack of fear. It’s the decision to go ahead anyways.

Abundance isn’t having more. It’s wanting less.

Strength isn’t lacking vulnerability. It’s being able to keep a soft heart beneath thick skin.

Peace isn’t the absence of conflict. It’s the reward for fighting for the right things.

#20 Hot Coffee, Cold Beer

20 January 2020 // San Diego, California

“I don’t know, I think I prefer the Civil Rights Leaders from before,” I heard a friend say while comparing the movements of Black Lives Matter to the 1960s Civil Rights Era.

Are you sure?

It’s Martin Luther King Day and while I have no shortage of favorite quotes and anecdotes I typically enjoy sharing, what has my attention is a statistic.

His disapproval rating just before he died.

75%

That’s disapproval. People who were actively opposed to what MLK stood for. It’s higher than any disapproval ratings at any point for Barack Obama. Ilhan Omar. Colin Kaepernick. President Johnson totally cut off contact with him- too much of a reputational risk.

The idea that today’s voices for equality are “too much” compared to those from the past is only possible because we’re distant enough from MLK’s era that we can convince ourselves that his was a more moderate approach that always merited the same reverence that his name gets now.

No.

After all, three in four of us would’ve been among the 75% back in 1968. Is our attitude towards today’s less controversial voices, ideas, or movements any indicator?

#21 The Volvo Survives

21 January 2020 // San Diego, California

After our weekend hike, we started the Volvo to the tune of a rumbly engine and a check engine light. I kept my fingers crossed that the repairs wouldn’t be too expensive.

This afternoon I learned: $300 for a pair of new spark plugs and coils.

Bummer. But also, that could’ve been way, way worse.

And this bumps up the urgency with which I want to replace that car.

It’s been the most strangely expensive year in terms of unexpected things. The HOA Assessment: $1200. The unexpected property tax assessment: $2000. The surprise hospital bill: $800. The total of various car repairs: $700. Two ER visits: $500. The water damage: $500 – If you start tallying these things up, it starts to represent a large chunk of our income, on a year that we’re 70% shy thanks to paternity leaves.

I’m thankful to be in a spot in life where we can weather these storms and that we’ve had some rainy day funds set aside. But seriously, this is more than some light rain.

#22 Rhys’ Faves

22 January 2020 // San Diego, California

Do you ever go to bed feeling like you wish you accomplished more that day than you actually did?

I gotta admit, I’ve only recently become aware of how frequently I go to bed feeling that way. Like, nearly every night.

See, every day I set out with a little list of the things I want to get done. And generally, I’m pretty good at getting stuff off that list, and crossing off gives me a little dopamine hit. So then, I add more on the list. And I keep adding more. Soon the list looks like something no reasonable person could get done.

Somehow, there’s always more to be done.

Someone once said that abundance wasn’t about having more. It was about wanting less. Being a dad is helping me with that.

Recently, I spent a day mostly looking after Rhys solo. And he’s a pretty easy baby, given his age. But still, getting him to cycle through his eat-play-sleep routine took quite a bit of effort. Of the things I planned to get done, I got maybe one or two things checked off.

But then, at the end of the day, I had to remind myself: hey, today, I managed to write an essay I’m pretty proud of. I got to talk to a highly respected climate scientist. I got an invitation to be on a podcast. But most of all, I got to be a dad. I got to make Rhys smile while booping his cheek. I kept him fed and alive, and we even got to go out for a bit.

It made a day I would’ve previously thought of as unproductive feel like a big win.

Take a little time at the end of each day to celebrate. Take the time to find the things worth celebrating. It isn’t good to end each day wishing you did more, especially when you’ve actually done a lot. Find the wins.

#23 Don’t Cheat Your Potential

23 January 2020 // San Diego, California

I don’t know if I’ve ever put it into words, but in the back of my mind, one of my goals has always been to make sure I don’t close a chapter of life- better yet, the whole book- wondering what could have been.

I don’t want to think that there’s more energy I could’ve given an endeavor, more weight I could’ve thrown behind a cause, more muscle I could’ve put into a battle worth fighting. I don’t want to think of all the missed opportunities to have been a better dad, to have had a bigger impact, to have shone more light on people.

It’s not always about knocking every pitch out of the park for me. Or even getting a hit every at bat. It’s about not striking out without giving the bat a swing.

When you live life like this, you inevitably run into a lot of failures. You’ll find out what things aren’t for you. You’ll simply know your limits.

But you’ll also know you didn’t miss an opportunity. And those roadblocks are way better than regrets.

#24 Sustainability Shorts

24 January 2020 // San Diego, California

Do you ever see a nonprofit do some marketing practice that feels like a different era?

Or do you ever encounter nonprofit messaging that makes you feel like a lot less like giving to their cause?

Working in the world of nonprofit marketing, I do. Quite a bit. And you might think that this is something that happens to those small, desperate nonprofits that can’t afford anything better, right?

Unfortunately, I see some giants in charity promote themselves in ways that I just don’t understand.

I’m trying to start making more materials to help organizations of any size to avoid these mistakes. Starting with a video that digs into nonprofit marketing practices that need to end ASAP.

#25 Good Moments with Rhys

25 January 2020 // National City, California

People ask me a lot about how I like being a dad. Truly, that feels like the easiest question on earth.

It’s everything. I love it.

It puts all the little morsels of life under a magnifying glass and makes them feel massive.

The small struggles get harder. We do laundry so infrequently now, just because lugging down all our dirty clothes while juggling with the infant isn’t the easiest thing. Things like oil changes and making a balanced dinner while putting the kid to sleep feel on par with some courses I took for my master’s degree.

But also, the sweet stuff- anything remotely endearing, becomes robustly sweet. Getting to hear Rhys attempt to mimic the sounds I make. Seeing how he likes new environment, new places, or takes to new people. Trying on random new outfits as he changes in size yet again.

It’s everything, it’s my life now, and I love it.

#26 Anchor City

26 January 2020 // San Diego, California

Today I got to speak at Anchor City Church.

It was my first speaking gig of the year and I had a great time sharing about faith and climate change.

Some ideas shared:

You often hear of these things you can do to lower your carbon footprint or to be more eco friendly. Bringing around a reusable water bottle or straw. Eating less meat. Driving less. The thing is, I used to know all these things and I would feel bad about what I did or didn’t do, but it didn’t actually change anything.

I learned that your motivation can’t be guilt, and it can’t be trying to be a hero. When you attempt that, you’re bound to fail, and it’s so easy to then get demotivated. But when you partner with God in making all things new, it’s no longer about guilt. When I try to drive less, or to make more mindful purchases, it’s because this is another way for me to steward God’s creation and to serve people like Elie.

So I actually have an invitation. Find something you can do to be a better steward of creation. You can call this a challenge if you like that word. I do personally. I think I’m much more likely to do things when you use the word challenge. Can you change our son’s diaper? Yeah sure. Wanna take the diaper change challenge? What’s that? Bring it on!

The challenge is to find one thing, just one, to be a better steward of creation. Not out of guilt. Not to save the world. Just out of love.

#27 The 2020 Annual Report

27 January 2020 // San Diego, California

I was rehearsing my sermon an hour before giving the talk yesterday, when the push notification hit my phone screen.

Kobe Bryant reportedly killed in California helicopter crash in Calabasas

The report turned out to be true

41 is young, but it felt like Kobe was around forever. On our screens since the late 90s. On the backs of all my middle school friends. On our lips throwing socks in the hamper.

Huge, sad reminder that life is short. Leave it all on your court.

#28 Late Night Groceries

28 January 2020 // San Diego, California

I keep finding myself racing to get stuff done.

If I’m late to drop Rhys off at my mom’s I’ll get a late start on my work.

If I don’t turn on the turbo jets at work, everything will get bumped to the next day and I won’t be on schedule for getting stuff done. It’s the only time of day where I can hone my focus.

If I’m late leaving work, I’m gonna hit all kinds of traffic on the way back to my mom’s.

If I don’t stay long enough, they feel short changed. If I stay too long, Deanna misses out on time with Rhys. Either way I get traffic and I still gotta race. At night I can maybe squeeze in one thing while also thinking about dinner and the dog and what not.

I don’t like days like these.

It’s hard to just sit and be and feel eternity, like time doesn’t matter.

It makes the week go by too fast.

Rhys’ infancy go by too fast.

I don’t have the most obvious solution handy. Maybe next month I try to do even less at work. I care less about traffic and just get there as smoothly as I can. I deliberately stop and do nothing after a while.

I’m just done with the racing.

#29 CO2 Summit

29 January 2020 // La Jolla, California

What do you know about sequestering carbon? Reducing your carbon footprint isn’t enough. There’s already an excess of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere that we’ve got to sequester somehow.

I’ve spent a good chunk of this week at a summit in La Jolla learning about the process of verifying how carbon is sequestered to create carbon credits. At first, I thought it would be a real technical meeting with lots of nitpicking over details that went over my head. It actually turned out to be one of the most encouraging things I’ve heard about the environment in a long time.

Have you ever heard that stat that 100 companies create 70% of the world’s carbon emissions? That means even if I successfully rallied every individual to go on strict vegan diets, switch to clean energy, and forever surrender plastic (none of which I’ve totally done myself), it would only take care of a pretty small part of the problem.

At this summit, though, I was able to hear a variety of perspectives that helped me see how more and more companies are strategizing how to be carbon neutral or negative over the next decade. And not just the few stand-out ones that seem especially conscious, but even some giants: Microsoft, Volkswagen, JetBlue, Siemens, just to name a few.

I got to meet one expert in the field I really hope to have on my podcast soon. I loved the way she put it: Forget what you hear about from Congress. Pretty much every company is thinking about this right now. You have to. MIcrosoft pledged to go carbon neutral, you better bet some folks at Google are trying to figure out how to one-up. It’s not a matter of altruism for a lot of them, but a matter of survival. There won’t be much business to do in ten years if there isn’t much of a planet.

Honestly, I think these big shifts come at the tail of years and years of organizing, speaking up, and awareness raising at the grassroots level. I’m not surprised that a lot of these commitments were made just months after the student-led climate strike. Moving the needle is always worth it. It’s easy to underrate the importance of speaking up for what matters, but don’t. It regularly produces incredible change.

#30 Dolphins & Tacos

30 January 2020 // La Jolla, California

One of the best moments all week was my lunch break during the second day of the CO2 summit in La Jolla.

Milmer invited me to go with him to his old spot where he’d sit and watch dolphins go by.

We had to run to get out there. A 30 minute lunch break only left so much time to go watch dolphins.

We ended up at the Torrey Pines Gliderport with only about 15 minutes to spend out there.

But it was the right 15 minutes.

In just a short while after we got there, he pointed out a pod of dolphins in the distance. We weren’t sure if they would make their way over to us, but they picked up speed much faster than expected. Before we knew it, we were looking down right at them.

Also, I had a whole plate of tacos with me.

It was a quick moment of realizing that I was pretty lucky to be able to take lunch breaks like these. It’s a good life.

#31 Three Months of Rhys

31 January 2020 // San Diego, California

I have a three month old now.

We started off month number three with a RAD W in the Rose Bowl 🌹, watching a burning magnificent sunset at Joshua Tree 🌅, and learning how to roll. Also managed to celebrate Cousin Zara turning one, stealing the show at a couple of speaking events, and finding a great new trail in Fallbrook. 🏔

I’ve loved being a dad from the get-go but we’re at an especially fun stage right now. So much physical development over the past couple weeks.

He loves it when I beatbox and pretend his face is my drum machine. 🎛 He managed to throw a ball for the first time (barely missed the goal I made with my hands, but you miss all the shots you don’t take, y’know?) 🏀 He decided on a favorite toy and its a French puppy. 🐶 He has started putting together sounds that sound like the word “good.” With a little coaching, I’ve been trying to see if he can give me an I AM GROOT. 🌱

I’ve loved seeing so much personality come out lately. Quality playtimes every day.

All I Ever Wanted

The story of my decade has been one I could’ve never dreamed up.

At the start of 2010, I made a decision to say yes to life, to make sure I gave each day my whole heart, and to live by faith- pursuing the things I knew were right, nevermind the fear of losing.

That decision led me on the wildest adventure.

If I could go back to myself at the start of this decade and give myself a sneak peek of things to come... I wouldn’t. No spoilers! There’s that whole space-time continuum thing.

But wouldn’t I have been thrilled to find out where it all leads??

This decade overlapped with my twenties almost perfectly, and what an eventful chapter of life it’s been. I finished college in Santa Barbara, then collected two Masters degrees in Oregon. I also managed to call Bakersfield, San Diego, Buenos Aires, Italy, and a Ford Econoline van home for different periods of time.

I ignited my love of traveling and discovering places and cultures. I made it to 49 states and three dozen countries. I learned about refugee camps and orphanages and environmental challenges and post-conflict zones up close. That led to a creative career in international development and I can’t believe I get to do work that fits my odd combination of passions so well.

Best of all, I married my best friend. We adopted a doughnut of a dog together. We endured a year of waiting and had a baby together I can’t stop staring at.

It’s all I ever wanted.

God is good. Each day is a gift. Love is the greatest adventure.

2019 in Review

What. A. Year.

I just wrote my annual review- linked to it in my bio. Listing the big wins, the unexpected things, my favorites, all that. This was a trip around the sun unlike any other.

This year in particular, though, leaves me with so many beautiful mysteries to celebrate.
This was the year: 💥 I launched the #grassrootspodcast and found a new medium for telling global stories about sustainability
💥 I checked off my 48th and 49th states in West Virginia and Wyoming
💥 Deanna and I bought a little condo. Seriously would’ve thought owning a home in San Diego would’ve taken an extra decade.
💥 I said yes to a chance to visit a community in Colombia recovering from years of brutal conflict. I learned so much about the challenge of peace building.

But most of all...

💥 This was the year my son Rhys came into the world. I can’t overstate how much I love being his dad. After a long time of trying for a kid, Deanna endures a rough pregnancy, and it all turned out to be worth it.

2019 was all about seeing the impossible happen right in front of me. The seeds of peace are being planted where one of the most brutal conflicts of my lifetime took place. There’s a strong, sweet baby next to me, after a year of waiting, hoping, and nearly giving up.

When this year began, I was in a much different place. But the words I found helpful then are always worth repeating- keep going. Every day, a few more things happen that were once thought impossible.

Choose Hope

If there’s any lesson that the past two years have taught me clearly it’s been this: choose Hope. Hope isn’t optimism. Hope isn’t a feeling. It’s a choice.

A Passport for Christmas

Celebrating Rhys’ first Christmas this week was a blast. Even though Rhys is too young for toys and... pretty much everything... we wanted to get him something both useful and significant. Thus- a passport! It’ll be fun to see Rhys carve out his own international adventures some day.