Bits & Bites for March!

When I am with a group of human beings committed to hanging in there through both the agony and the joy of community, I have a dim sense that I am participating in a phenomenon for which there is only one word...."glory." M. Scott Peck

I truly cannot believe it is March of 2016. Time is flying. I wish it would slow down although I am eager for warm sun beating on my skin in Chicago!

I thought I would share my first 'Bits & Bites' of 2016! From all of your feedback at the end of last year, most of you really appreciate the B&B blogs! I personally love writing them because they are a peak into my fast paced mind which tends to house so many thoughts & ideas per minute!

First, I wanted to share some links to the companies I have my eye on this year! These are corporations that are changing the world in tech, social justice, agricultural & animal advocacy!  You can simply click on each company to read about them yourself if any interest you: Sama Impact, Sama School, Laxmi, Mud Love, Love Does & Beagle Freedom Project.

I have soaked up every bit of knowledge & education that I possibly can from Leila Janah who is just so brilliant! Leila is the resourceful genius behind Sama Source!

I believe - as a society - that we are in this perpetual state of 'movement' & 'achieving' without many actually achieving anything at all but 'busyness'. We are a society  - as a whole - that 'talks' and doesn't want to get dirty & uncomfortable as we climb mountains. Because climbing mountains requires falling down, tripping up, failing, facing fears and requires a soul filled grit that is painful. Climbing mountains requires strategy, discipline & commitment. So when I personally encounter those that are actually changing the world. I pay attention to them - I study them - I get educated by them - and I want to be a part of what they are doing! I set out to emulate them.

What I learned from Lelia is that it's critically important to take time out - months or even a year if necessary - to study, get educated, research, learn, get knowledgeable at your craft & fully prepare before 'executing'.  I particularly appreciate this interview with Leila Janah 'here'.

I am also learning that the only way we all truly grow is in community. Being in community has changed my entire life. Community has shed light on God, self love, love for others and love for our environment. Being in community has changed the way I date, befriend others and how I live day to day. Community.....'Safe Community' has me seeing through a lens that I never thought I would. I am transformed - changed - permanently.  And I realize the power we all have to change lives when we all put our hands on deck. We can all be doing so much good in this world 'together' if we just make the extra effort -take the extra step - look outside of ourselves and INVEST! There is SO much to do! None of the companies I mentioned could be where they are today if it weren't for community. No way. 

I really loved how Jennie Allen said it "Use your gifts- somehow, some way, anywhere, any time. Forget about size or impact or reach'.

Finally, I really recommend gathering every passion you have - every interest - every single aspect of life that 'makes you feel alive' - all of it - all of the people too that create that energy in you to strive for greater heights - and write it all on a big poster board. And study that page. You will start to see how God is threading your passions & people together for your calling in life! I learned this through the book Restless by Jennie Allen & Donald Miller's LifePlan! It's fun and kind of fascinating to see it all in writing. Light bulbs start going off as to your God given purpose here!

This life is SO short! Your twenties, thirties, forties and onward go by 'just-like-that' - it's a beautiful blur! Please stop waiting for 'one day' and let that 'one day' be NOW! Use your gifts now - take the risk NOW - and take that leap of faith NOW!

Enjoy your week!

P.S. The New Nutrition Stripped Cookbook is coming out! McKel Hill is KILLING IT in the health & wellness arena! She is the one to watch!

All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.  Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.  I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.  Martin Luther King, Jr.