If you ask almost anyone where they’d like to visit most in the world, chances are they have a ready answer: some uncharted destination, some future hope to travel into the depths of a desert, to the heights of the tallest mountains, basking in tropical heat waves, wandering through the subzero tundra. (It’s true, people want to visit there, too.) Our world is a massive mystery. It seems, to the untrained eye, a place that contains such vast differences even from one block over let alone counties and states and nations away. Imagining the things we could learn from a new place and a new perspective is enough to leave us struck with silence, in awe of this ever-changing planet we all inhabit together.

Part of the Manifesto urges us to travel often. When I think of this particular reminder, I am able to think back on the handful of places I’ve been lucky to see around the world and remember the experiences, the challenges, and the beauty of each place. Digging deep into what other places have to offer us is a crucial step in being open to newness, open to being changed from the inside out. As people we have an unexplained tendency to reject things we don’t understand, to walk away from something if it’s too different or too unsettling. I think the point of being somewhere new is to feel a little uncomfortable, a little lost, and always prepared to adapt.

This particular video of a 12,000+ mile drive around America is a stellar example of what the concept of wandering, of losing yourself in the journey, can look like. (Lombard Street in San Francisco!) Where will your next cross-cultural (or cross-continental) adventure take you? Approach your next destination, whether near or far, with intention, with high hopes, without inhibitions, and with the anticipation of discovery. 

The stories pouring in for the My Life project are amazing. So many different experiences, places in life, reflections, and powerful inspirations are included among these posts. We could not be more honored to share them on this site. Thank you to everyone who has graciously shared a piece of their lives with us. 

A few highlighted stories:

I am happily coming to terms with this incredibly rewarding lifestyle - embracing risk, establishing relationships on a deeply human level and grateful for the challenges that have brought me this far. - Jeff Tomczek

I think sometimes if we are open to the signs (they are everywhere) and listen to the little voice in our heads (that will not go away, so just listen to it for goodness sake) and keep pushing ourselves (do something that scares you everyday- this is a good motivator) then the world opens up and we take this life, our life, into our own hands. - Kristin Ritter

There’s an unexplainable energy that when you start “following” or “building” your dreams, without expectations: the universe will revolve in a surprising way that it will cure; it will reward. - Lucia Pivas

Looking back, it’s pretty funny that it took this poster for me to finally realize how ridiculous it was to be doing something that made me so unhappy. It finally got me out of my rut and gave me the courage to take control of my situation and believe that I deserved to be happy.  - Shannon Dunbar

Do you have a story to share? We are accepting them on a rolling basis here.

“For every big decision, we make sure that we don’t only look at the numbers but also think about why we’re doing it in the first place." -Fabian Pfortmüller.

Many thanks to the wonderful people at Mashable for this awesome feature! 

The most beautiful thing about the spread of the Holstee Manifesto has been the stories that it has helped to create. We have been honored and amazed by the most powerful response we have received since we put these words to paper: "Hey! This is me." 

Mother's Day is only ten days away and what better way to celebrate Mom than with a gift that does good? We are pleased to feature the Somaly Mam Foundation and the amazing work that they are doing to empower survivors of slavery throughout the world. See how you can make a difference this Mother's Day and learn more about SMF:

The Somaly Mam Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to the eradication of sex trafficking and the empowerment of its survivors as part of the solution. Founded by two 24-year old American men and Cambodian survivor and activist Somaly Mam, the foundation takes a multi-tiered approach to the issue by supporting victim services for rescue, recovery and reintegration, empowering survivors as advocates and activists, and mobilizing a passionate network of young professionals, students and supporters to say 'no more' to modern day slavery via grassroots campaigns and events.For Mother's Day, the girls in the center for the youngest rescues personalized 300 cards with drawings and poignant messages. They did this during a visit from a team of cyclists: SMF supporters who fundraised in advance of a 10-day cycle challenge through Cambodia's cities and countryside. When the team showed up at the Kampong Cham center, they brought packages of blank cards ready to be given a final touch by a survivors' creative hand.

As part of the recovery process for a woman who may have spent many of her developmental years in a brothel, residents of the centers learn to make silk beaded necklaces, woven bracelets and scarves: handicrafts that are then sold on SMF's online Empowerment Store. Part of recovery also offers choices when they formerly had none: a girl starts to learn independence and self worth when she realizes her choices - and life -is of value.

You can support these brave survivors by buying a gift or card (or both) for Mother's Day. 

Mike: Beastie Boys Ill Communications--the first album I purchased that I remember really getting into and Sabatoge is still my all time favorite music video.

Dave: This jam is all me today.

Mary: A rainy day in NYC calls for Jazz. Also, I continue to be obsessed with this song and am loving this gem of a collaboration.

Tylea: Santigold kills it. And this video is a current favorite.

Thomas: Ronald's music has a profound effect on me, mainly when I watch him play. I'm really moved by the beat, rhythm, and composure of music. 

Helen:  Brett Dennen! My go-to happy music.

Fabian: I love the combination of old and new, perfectly mixed in this Electro-Swing combo.

Eclectic bunch, eh? We're always down for suggestions!

photo via pinterest.

A few months back, Mary pinged me about a girl here in Portland who made a quilt inspired by the Manifesto. Though I was traveling at the time and wouldn't be back home for several wks, I immediately emailed Katie and it's now my pleasure to introduce both her and the awe inspiring quilt she made. This kind of passion is priceless and meeting people like Katie is one of the best parts of my life with Holstee. 

(download)

Click here to download:

Katie_Sciarrino_Manifesto_Quilt.m4v (14.23 MB)

20120327_134919.m4a

(download)

Click here to download:

20120327_134919.m4a (14.54 MB)

For more updates on Katie's work, connect with her on Twitter and Pinterest! 

MK

I had the privilege of attending this month's Creative Mornings/NewYork last week and could not have been more inspired and encouraged by the words that the amazing Simon Sinek shared. I am so excited to share this video recording of his talk--it is definitely a must see and worth sharing. How different would our workspaces and entire lives look if we all collectively began to realize the truth of the power of kindness?

"The way we find fulfillment is in doing good for others." Yes, indeed. 

We are super excited to welcome Helen to the Holstee family as our Community Love Intern! Helen will jump on board our Community Experience Team to continue to keep the customer experience at Holstee the best it can be. Welcome to the fam, Helen! Thanks for sharing these words on your journey:

The post-graduate world, the environment in which you find yourself once the cap and gown are gone, tassel turned, brain brimming with information, new ideas, fresh knowledge, and big hopes, is not exactly kind. The combination of the dreaded economy, the sudden panic-mode that comes with what we can and can’t afford, where to live, to go, to be, to become, are all factors that come with being an educated-sans-experience-twenty-something. I truly believe that graduation, schooling, degrees galore or even an acutely specific idea of what comes next can’t prepare you for, well, what actually comes next. 

I attended a small, liberal arts college at the gold-and-black clad heart of western Pennsylvania. A head-scratching experience unto itself, I made my way through four-years of undergrad as most pensive, dramatic, writing majors do: lots of late nights, poetry, espresso, last-minute inspired stories and papers being furiously typed only minutes before their deadlines, all projects crafted and honed with careful intensity and unified flourish. Still, towards the end of it all, I didn’t know how to plan out the next few years of my life, let alone the next few timid steps. I’m not sure, is what I told everyone when asked what I planned to do after graduation. I’ll figure it out.

While writing is an intrinsic part of my person, while I will always find time to jot down new ideas, foster characters to completion, pull over while driving to scribble out an opening line (all the time, it’s true), I found out that merely enjoying a craft or even being good at something, anything, was not necessarily the window to forming a career, or even necessarily the right reason in doing so. The job market, guarded by a solid and infinite wall with no place to gain footing or traction, left me hung to dry after nearly three years of searching for the right way in. Things weren’t going to just open up before me; I had to work for it, I had to really think it over. I had lots of time for self-examination, to be challenged, to cultivate growth, to find out what really mattered in terms of me living my best life, and moving in that direction, however slowly or off-beat.

This journey of somewhat epic proportions is what rightfully led me to Holstee. My first introduction to this company was through their profoundly worded Manifesto, which I took to be a beacon of encouragement in this ever-unknown situation. I found it both moving and motivating, both of which led me to dig deeper into what Holstee is all about, where they began, and what they’re doing now. Reading further into their philosophy, I was struck with a new sense of hope, a reason that was deeper than just wanting a place to work or a job to cling to for financial security. Being brought on to Holstee’s team has renewed my faith in possibility, that there is something in this world that can excite us, can bring us through, can give us purpose. While I believe we’re never through learning about the people that we are, I’m ready for what this brand new opportunity will teach me about myself, about my world, and about how those two things are meant to meet. I knew that the right fit for me would be a place that encouraged creative thinkers, implored me to live mindfully, urged me to be grateful, to do those things (like writing!) that bring me joy, and remind me that life, with all its ups and downs, my constant job search being a nearly perfect example of that, is beautifully simple.

“Meaning is not something you stumble across, like the answer to a riddle or the prize in a treasure hunt. Meaning is something you build into your life. You build it out of your own past, out of your affections and loyalties, out of the experience of humankind as it is passed on to you, out of your own talent and understanding, out of the things you believe in, out of the things and people you love, out of the values for which you are willing to sacrifice something. The ingredients are there. You are the only one who can put them together into that unique pattern that will be your life. Let it be a life that has dignity and meaning for you. If it does, then the particular balance of success or failure is of less account.”

- John Gardner, “Personal Renewal” November 10, 1990

Posted by our friends at The Acumen Fund

Photo of Norway via Makr Blog