Posts Tagged ‘africa’
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told I’ve had the privilege of meeting some real-life heroes over the years through my Africa, Coast Rica, and US travels. One of those heroes is Chrissie Lam, founder of the Love Is Project and The Supply Change. It all started in 2012 with a simple LOVE bracelet project collaboration with the Masaai in Kenya.…
Read MoreThe Revolution Begins
I’ve been studying the concept of ubuntu, a South African philosophy, since I was about 15 years old. The ancient philosophy posits that we are all intrinsically connected, unable to reach our full human potential as individuals. We can only manifest our truest, most enlightened selves through consistent interaction with other humans. I’ve detailed my…
Read MoreOnly As Big As You Make It
There are certainly many habits that make me who I am. I diligently work at being deliberate about all aspects of life and I think that’s a fundamental must. Then I work to create solid habits from that foundation. Everyone struggles, to some degree, with fear, stress, lack of confidence and various other worries. Then…
Read MoreWe’re Gonna Need More Phils
I met Philip almost three years ago on our first night in Mombasa. Ilea and I showed up at his eighth story flat in the center of town. He graciously welcomed two strangers into his home that was already overflowing with life (largely in the form of other travelers that also became close friends). He…
Read MoreEmbracing the Gray
Society constantly pushes us to simplify life down to black and white terms. But I’ve found that the much of the beauty of life is discovered in the gray areas. Those areas that teach us, refine us and reveal who we really are. It’s where we find our character and what we’re made of. It’s…
Read MoreWhat Wolf Will You Feed?
This Cherokee proverb is quite popular, and seems to keep coming up on my radar. It’s simple, but profound. One evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil, full of anger, envy,…
Read MoreBreak the Silence
The proliferation of the internet has resulted in a substantial increase in worldwide accountability. Big industries can’t get away with sweatshop labor as easily as before. Tyrannical dictators are being tracked down. Famines are being addressed. We’re watching now. And we’re empowering the masses. I’m grateful for this increasing phenomenon. However, this dynamic also intimidates…
Read MoreKeep Her Sacred
In 1927, the Grand Council of American Indians made a statement about the colonization of America by “the white man”. Today we would call it “development”. “The white people, who are trying to make us over in their image, they want us to be what they call “assimilated”, bringing the Indians into the mainstream and…
Read MoreNot Another America
Fortunately, due to the endless flow of information via the Internet and the ease of travel, the world is becoming more and more aware of the long-term destructive effects of handouts and traditional aid programs. Aid agencies and humanitarians have begun to embrace the concept of “teaching a man to fish”, rather than giving him…
Read MoreWhat Will Be My Life
In March 2006, I dropped everything in Nashville (TN) and moved to Kigali, Rwanda to pursue my dream of developing businesses that would foster an image of beauty and excellence for Africa. About two weeks into it, I met Francois Murengerantwari. He was an 11 year old street kid, selling some odds and ends at…
Read More