Here's The Skinny...

Skinny:
-adj; very lean or thin, narrow or slender
-noun; accurate information, facts; news

Wordplay is fun, isn't it?

As I'm writing this, I realize that someone along the way may not know what kind of changes I've gone through over the last year or so. In November/January of 2009/10, I weighed 315 pounds. I had just graduated from the University of Georgia, or so I thought (but that's a different story), and had too much free time on my hands. So I did what nearly any red-blooded American college student living in Athens would do: I drank way too much. It almost became a nightly occurrance and at a point, didn't even require other people to be around. I'd start drinking, and if other people came along then I'd hang out with them...if not, I'd drink by myself. It was a pretty dark place with more factors than I'll get in to right now, but suffice it to say, it was ugly.

And, as anyone who's done their fair share of drinking knows, when you drink late at night, you get hungry. So I'd eat at 2:30, 3:00 in the morning and go to bed...the easiest combination to gain weight extremely quickly.

So, February rolls around and I go to live back at home where my mom surprised me with an idea. She had just received a book called the "Belly Fat Cure" by Jorge Cruise and wanted me to join her in trying out the diet guidelined by Mr. Cruise in his book. He stressed what was, essentially, a sugarless diet, as well as as low-carb as possible. That was it. There was no counting calories, no deciphering fat content. Just stop eating sugar. So I decided to give it a try, but in the back of my mind I was thinking that I'd do it for a week or so and just give up. You know, the usual outcome of diets that restrict rather than encourage.

To tack on the this newfangled diet, I decided that I needed a life change as well. I was in the midst of planning a trip to Las Vegas with some of my best friends. So, I told myself that I'd stop drinking until the Vegas trip, just to prove to myself that I could.

I'm sure that most of you are thinking that this was too much to take on all at once, especially being a "cold-turkey" quitter of borderline alcoholism, but in all honesty, it wasn't too difficult to stay on board. And the first month's results were pretty astounding...but I'll get in to that next time.

-HW

Peace Be the Journey

I've been informed by a few people (sometimes repeatedly) that I should start writing a blog. I was never quite sure why anyone else would care enough about my life experiences and stories to take time out of their own day to read about mine. But now, due much in part to Dakota actually asking me to contribute to something that clearly means so much to him and numerous other people, I've decided to take the plunge and join the ranks of the faceless merchants of free stories and life lessons: the bloggers.

As my inaugural entry, I was required to develop a title for my contribution. I thought that, considering the blog's title, it would only be fitting to settle upon a line from , as well as the meaning behind the title of, my favorite movie, Cool Runnings. Cool Runnings is, has, and will most likey always be my "go-to" feel-good movie. There's just something about that ragtag group of Jamaicans that makes any worries I've accumlated throughout the day just seem to vanish. Plus, the soundtrack is solid, which is just an added bonus.

Being that our blog is based upon sharing inspiring anecdotes that we have seen and lived, I feel like these four words have done a lot to inspire me as I've lived my life. Having just left home for what is really the first time, and moved to Orlando to start my career, those four words selected to represent my ideas and my life in internet form are ringing even truer. You have to enjoy the simple things in life, treasure your family and loved ones, an as my boy Yau-Man from Survivor:Fiji pointed out, "Love many, trust few, and do harm to none". Peace Be The Journey. During this past holiday season, I realized that if you can live your life along these guidelines, you'll appreciate everything that makes life the greatest gift you can receive.

So, until next time,

Peace Be the Journey.

-HW

Patience is a Virtue

This is the first post to my blog, but I must warn you...it is far from inspirational. Instead, it is more about a lesson that I have learned at an early age. One of the keys to a successful life is patience. I have been working on starting a business for the last 5 months with almost nothing to show for it...or so I thought...

How 'bout for kicks we analyze my situation in another context. Tonight I did something that I haven't done in a long time; I counted all of the coins in my "Rainy Day Fund" and rolled them...Cha-Ching! It took me almost 7 months to hit my goal of cashing out with $100, but I did it. How did I manage to complete this task? Simple, I set an attainable goal, and I diligently worked toward it. With every coin I put in the plastic jar, I got closer and closer to my goal.

Not all tasks are as simple as dropping some loose change into a plastic jar--mine even counts the money for me! Each day I put forth an effort to turn my business ideas into reality. Sometimes it even feels like my progress has taken a wrong turn and is steering me in the opposite direction.  Throughout this blog, I will share some of the challenges that I have faced and continue to face as a young philanthropreneur. I will also introduce you to a few people who have been my inspiration throughout life and have motivated me to dream boldly! 

 Although my business plans have not reached fruition, I have learned a lot of lessons along the way and there will be many more to come. I have also revamped my business strategy to put myself in a better competitive position when I launch my new venture. This is only the beginning; my passion drives me to succeed no matter what challenges I face. If my "Rainy Day Fund" is any indication of what I can expect out of my business venture, then I will exceed my expectations by about $18.49.