Today is the first day of October, and for me the first day of a month dedicated completely to holistic health and wellness. After 27 years of great physical health, these past 18-months have been challenged by allergies and intestinal parasites (yum!) This is the month to return to physical health! But well-being is about …
Beginning to Rebuild Community
When I travel internationally, or live abroad, I often feel something different happening. I feel alive, I feel inspired, I feel connected. When I spend time in small towns and rural communities in Africa or Central America, I find that everyone knows everyone else, stops to say hello as they walk by, invites me into …
I Wanted to Change the World
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried …
Welcome to Long Beach, CA!
It has been over a week in Long Beach, CA, and I have come to accept that I now live in southern California. As a native NorCal resident, I have always heard stories of this land of heat, smog, consumption and materialism. "Why do we have major cities in the desert to begin with?!" I …
Passion, Clarity, Direction
We are told there are many ways to lead, and many types of leaders, and that is true. "Charismatic," "authoritarian," "democratic," etc. There are also many ways to make others do something: force them (police), reward them (work/school), ask them nicely (friends/family), bribe them (politicians/hungry college students). Free food! 🙂 When it comes to working …
Graduate School: What and why?
Often people ask me whether I will go to graduate school, and what exactly I would want to study. Law School? An MBA? Maybe an MSW? Graduate school is exciting to me because it is an opportunity to learn and to expand my understanding of the world. Mostly, though, it is a chance to strengthen …
To Oregon (through the Lost Coast)
Following the Global Brigades SLC, I needed 3 days to rest and recover (and celebrate!) along the northern California coastline. After exploring Oakland and Berkeley with my close friend Allen Gula, we left for the north with Katt (my partner) through Bodega Bay to the foggy, rocky and stunningly beautiful NorCal coast. This is one …
5 Understandings for 5 Years
My last 5 years have been an exploration of how to better serve this world. “How can I help?” has been the question. The below 5 points are the first I consider, even before beginning to “help”: Help yourself, then others. My ability to help others depends on my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. …
What Next? After the SLC…
To all of you that attended the GB SLC 2013, welcome back home! For most of you, that is back to your university, getting ready for another academic year as one of the top student leaders on campus. For some of you, maybe you have a few more travels planned before you finally settle down …
Donations: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
I’m sitting under a tree in Srafa Aboano, a small fishing community along the coastline in the Central Region of Ghana, and a small boy walks up to me. “Please, give me one pen,” he asks. His name is Kojo, 7 years old, and he is about to start Primary 2 (second grade). He smiles …
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