Blenster @Blenster@qoto.org

Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrate!

Today is a great day to reach out to someone you haven't talked to in a bit and tell them you're thinking about them.

Tell folks you appreciate them now, while they're still here to be told.

Love y'all.

#MakeKindnessNormal

It's 10:36 AM Eastern and I'm glad you're alive.

I'm proud of you. Surviving all this is not easy and yet you persist. I'm glad we're here together and not alone.

Keep going. One foot in front of the other. We will make it through. Together.

#MakeKindnessNormal

It is 1:26 PM Eastern and I'm glad you're alive.

Thanks for being here with me.

I love you.

#MakeKindnessNormal

Heavy times call for lots of help; check on your friends and neighbors. Check on yourselves.

Have you had enough water? Have you eaten? Have you taken a break for your mental health?

Remember that you are loved and we are not alone.

#MakeKindnessNormal

The state of the world is not conducive to relaxation or stress reduction these days.

Today is a great day to reach out to folks and check on them; now more than ever we all need to support each other.

Remember we are in this together; we are not alone.

#MakeKindnessNormal

Kindness in a world that lionizes petty thuggery is punk AF.

#MakeKindnessNormal

It's 3:39 PM Eastern and I'm glad you're alive. Now more than ever.

I love you.

#MakeKindnessNormal

Today is a good day to remember to take care of yourself and each other.

Stress levels have been high for what feels like forever and now they're even higher.

This chronic stress isn't normal or healthy. Please take care of yourself.

You are loved.

#MakeKindnessNormal

It's 12:49 PM Eastern and I'm glad you're alive.

Thanks for being here with me.

I love you.

#MakeKindnessNormal

It's 10:05 AM Eastern and I'm glad you're alive; thanks for being here with me.

Remember you are worth the effort. Always.

#MakeKindnessNormal

Something happened recently and I've been debating whether or not to share it here but it's giving me pause to reflect on my life.
Around 13-ish years ago I was almost homeless. I owed my landlord thousands of dollars and I don't even want to talk about the child support.

2013-2015 sucked.

I'd had 2 years of back to back kidney stones. My 401k was almost gone. I'd gone through a bunch of startups at various levels - learning but not making money.

It's hard to keep a regular job when you fall on the floor screaming and disappear for a couple of weeks every couple of months.

I look at my life now and I'm a homeowner, I have some savings, I'm rebuilding my retirement, I lead an amazing team doing the best work of my career, I just got an expensive (used) vehicle that is VERY comfortable, and overall life is really good right now.
Such a contrast from those times.

All that to say I was made a Kentucky Colonel this month and I just got the certificate signed by the Governor and it hit me that I made a plan and worked hard and got lucky and made it here and I just want to sit with that and enjoy the accomplishment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Colonel

How did I earn this? Well y'all know I'm a chronic volunteer and I've been active in both non-profits and in the entrepreneurial world (as I said, lots of startups) and I've taught classes and spoken all over the state and the country.

I have complicated feelings on this honor.

On one hand: you could frequently get awarded through political favors or other trivial means. On the other there are a long list of people who worked hard and helped the community that earned this award as well.

On the whole I am humbled and proud to be an ambassador for my adopted state.

I apologize if I rambled a bit here; I'm still processing this and reflecting on the various achievements and where I am in life now, where I want to go next, and how I feel about all this.
Also: I definitely updated my work email signature. 😜

I love you.

I don't have the right words so all I can say is that I love you and that I'm glad you are here.

Thank you.

#MakeKindnessNormal

This can be a rough time of year for folks; please have as much patience as you can with yourself and others as we all struggle through this together. Take good care of everyone.

Remember we are not truly alone as long as we have each other and our communities.

I love you.

#MakeKindnessNormal