It was dark, early, before dawn, a mere 5:30 a.m. I should’ve still been asleep. Instead, after waking up too early and refusing to fight the hopeless battle of trying to fall back asleep (I usually end up tossing and turning for an hour before surrendering to being awake), I was in my car on the way to the gym.

No, it’s never my goal to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, but if I’m up may as well be productive, right? En route to the gym (about a ten mile drive), I started to wake up and realized I could ditch the treadmill and go running at the Cliff Walk. For those who don’t know, the Cliff Walk is a waterside walking trail in Newport, Rhode Island that runs along the Atlantic Ocean. I decided I’d go there instead of the gym even if it was at least an extra twenty miles out of the way, never mind an extra $8 for bridge tolls….

And that’s when I realized it: it’s important for me to do things for me, for you to do things for you, the individual to do things for the individual. Without saying, it’s important to be selfless in life, and common courtesy and being amicable are both things I strive for on a daily basis, but it’s okay to be selfish, too. It’s okay to go out of your way to do something nice for you, something that only affects the awesome person that stares directly at you in the mirror.

With so many people around us, whether they’re friends, family, colleagues or acquaintances, it can sometimes be easy to get lost in trying to make everyone happy and we wind up forgetting about numero uno, us as individuals. So what if I didn’t get to share a sunrise with someone else; I’ve got that image lodged somewhere in my memory and now the best I can do for you, and anyone else, is to recreate that with this picture to the side. (And no, the picture doesn’t do the scenery justice.)

This is starting to sound preachy, but I do think it’s important and hope that you’ll do something for yourself today, whether it’s driving twenty miles out of your way for something or simply remembering to take your lunch break. I’ll start the do-something-for-yourself movement by now going to sleep (it’s just past midnight as I’m finishing this)…and hopefully not waking up at 5:30 a.m. Let’s hope selfish me can do it.

:] Joshua

Hopefully you’ve been able to travel abroad immersing yourself in the new, eager to come away with experiences you could never have had back home. (If not, add it to your list!)

Diving into quirky local events (the ones that don’t make headlines), tasting the local bites & enjoying all there is to see is a sure way to do just that.

I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing an event that rocked my world; the week-long Cork Cycling Arts Festival, held each July in Cork City, Ireland. Being the biking nut I am, I made it to all the free events, from those you might expect – a gorgeous moonlit bike ride to a hauntingly beautiful castle – all the way to the downright surprising.

The most memorable event (not to mention strangest) was when I was asked to assist in the building of a rolling land-boat, or, as I like to refer to it, “The Ark of the Biking Viking.” (Ohhh ahhhh)

Thou shalt build the Ark

I arrive at Cork Unitarian Church, pumped to build the Viking ship that will sail on bikes across the town, following the path of the ancient Cork rivers that the Vikings would have sailed in the 9^th century. I search amidst the small, busy crowd for Darren McAdam O’Connell.(quite the Irish name, eh?) Finally, I find the blue-eyed titular “Biking Viking”, white flowers standing out amongst the snarl of his fiery beard, leading the festivities. (I was in for a real ride!)

When I arrive, some volunteers are decorating their bikes with flowers, vines, and bells. Everyone else gathers together to build the bamboo skeleton of the Viking ship. Slender, brown lengths of bamboo are duct-taped together, providing a frame in the familiar shape of a sail boat. This skeleton rests atop two bicycles connected at the frames. Darren asks the volunteers to tie string from one corner to the other, connecting all major joints of the ship to give it shape. We next wrap the bamboo in Terry cloth and sew the edges, leaving the inside hollow so that the Biking Vikings can navigate the boat through the charming cobblestoned streets.

Volunteers and cyclists are also invited to “Pimp My Bike,” festooning their vehicles with tinsel, flowers, feathers, ribbon, stickers, and bells. (You name it, they have it)

Sailing through Cork

“Arrrggghhh”and “make way for the Vikings” shout the brave and jubilant “Biking Vikings”, fearlessly leading the way while the followers ride bicycles draped  in Biking Viking livery alongside, guiding the massive vessel.

Storming Black Rock Castle

The festival ends with a full-moon ride to the Black Rock Castle by way of the woods of Cork, along the River Lee port. (Talk about breath taking!)

Riding to the castle, I experienced a moment I wished I could freeze in time: soaring through overgrown trails that seemed to never end, the sound of Bob Dylan played on a portable stereo floating through the trees. After the ride, I was able to interview Darren about his passion for cycling.

Darren’s vision is one of uniting the local Irish community by way of his favorite hobby. “I have a much higher quality of life cycling than I would if a taxi came to my door and chauffeured me everywhere.” Cycling not only reunites the community by encouraging outdoor fun, it reinforces travelers, students, and anyone yearning for an adventure in a new culture.

I arrived in Ireland a “stranger in a strange land.” Common ties that go beyond nationality are found here, in Cork, Ireland. I was accepted into the Irish community in a way that would not have been possible were it not for my love for bikes. In short, we grok.

The Challenge…

I challenge each of you to grab a map, throw a dart & start your voyage because you never know what marvelous journey awaits you.

:] Jessica Rose Listi

Edited by: Kristalina Steininger

As of Monday I’ve been to nine concerts in 2012, the most I’ve seen in a year by far, and it’s only August. Here’s the list of bands I’ve been lucky enough to see: Death Cab for Cutie, Feist, Santigold, Deer Tick, Roger Waters, David Cassidy, Wilco, Wilco again, and Mumford and Sons. All are bands who own a permanent spot in my iTunes, except for David Cassidy. Yes, this is the same David Cassidy who was a one-time teenage heartthrob, the same David Cassidy who was part of the Partridge Family, and yes the same David Cassidy my mom has had an undying crush for since the seventies.

I’m a firm believer in spending money on experiential things, so when Mother’s Day rolled around this year, it made perfect sense to get tickets. And once July 21st came, David Cassidy became the sixth concert I saw this year, while it was my mom’s first…ever…in life.

When I first bought the tickets, I secretly hoped she’d have a friend to take, but I mentally prepared to go myself. But of course, mom wanted her son to go, and there I was…sitting inside a giant tent-like venue about to see the sixty-two-year-old David Cassidy live in the flesh. (Clearly my dream concert scenario had been realized.)

But as indifferent as I was, I did have a good time and did learn a few things: David Cassidy can rock, he knows how to rile up a large group of women and it’s okay to not act your age sometimes.

The last part is what really rings true to me. Sometimes it’s easiest to realize something by observing it through others, and the largely female crowd, including my mom, is a perfect example of this. While the ladies in the David Cassidy crowd were most likely all wives, mothers and professionals in an office, they seemed more like teenage girls who were seeing the Beatles for the first time.

One of my Twitter friends may have had the best description when she compared David Cassidy to Justin Bieber. Though I don’t know if David shares the same affinity for the color purple that the Biebs has, I do know they can both make women of their respective ages go crazy. While societal expectations may say going this is acceptable for the Bieber fans, it might seem taboo for crowds that are older. And that’s where the appreciation for this David Cassidy crowd comes from.

They took that societal expectation and crushed it, dancing wildly to every song, staring at David with captivated eyes and crowding the front of the stage, even after several warnings from security. I’m not sure what she did but one fan was even removed by several police officers, the first time I’ve seen police remove someone from a show. (Figures it happens at a David Cassidy concert.) It didn’t matter that Cassidy’s been past his prime for quite some time or if the crowd almost surely had a husband and kids to go home to later. It simply didn’t matter for performer and spectators alike.

In the end it’s cliché, but what’s in an age? Why should an ever-increasing number define how we’re supposed to act? It shouldn’t. Of course, we have responsibilities like going to work, paying bills, supporting dependents and taking accountability for our actions. But it should never have to be a restriction.  Age should never dictate who we are or limit us from whom we want to be. Only we should.

:] – Joshua

Write your very own, awesome book… today!

Hello little smunchkins! I hope you’re all having a super fabulous week I’ve been a busy bee this week but wanted to share something fun and Über inspiring with you, ready?

Have a few dusty books hanging around the house? (I think old books with yummy leather covers are charming and they totally make me smile!) Grab a book, some fun pens, stickers, tape, paper scraps or anything that you find fun/ or stuff that make you feel creative!

Next, scribble down some badass quotes, draw pictures and just let your vision flow! Now, find your favorite pages in the book and make some magic. There are no right or wrong answers to how to do one of these journals. Rock out to some fun tunes… Start a daily journal… Write one with your toes The idea is to have fun and let ‘you’ shine in your very own book. I’ve started a few of these (I like to run off on creative tangents and switch it up time from time) and they’re awesome to look back on.

Take a look at my latest…

*Hugs – Kristalina

Why freaking out is RAD… OK so maybe the freaking out part isn’t so awesome but what comes after can lead to huge things (and this is the real deal).

Let’s time warp…

1^st day of high school, 1^st class and one of my 1^st memories – “TCOB dudes”, says my freshman careers class teacher. He was one tan mamajama, the golf coach, and a total riot! Ok, so the class was a complete waste of time but “TCOB” was awesome and has stayed with me to this day.

“TCOB”? For those of you that don’t already know… “TCOB” stands for Taking care of business and is no joking matter!

I recently had a freak out; I’m talking no sleep, upset tummy, the whole enchilada! I didn’t “TCOB” and I let some stuff go for far too long. Then one day out of the blue I decided my world was going to end unless I had everything resolved (dramatic much?)

I sat on a plane with nowhere to go, torturing myself thinking about things over and over again, making myself absolutely sick worrying about the big bad “unknown”. As if that weren’t enough, my “sane” adult voice kept yelling at me telling me I was being completely ridiculous (ehh hemm, which I was) and that I was sweating the small stuff.

Why do we do this to ourselves? We focus on the small things and bring them to levels of complete toxicity. So how do we resolve these issues before they become overwhelming?

Here’s the scoop – I don’t want to ramble on and give you the 10 steps to Calgon your stress away, you know what’s up. I will however, tell you that it will get better but only after you decide to face up to your challenge and “TCOB” (See how smart that teach was?). This will only last as long as you allow it.

Remember our talk way back about “baby steps”? Start taking baby steps and focus on your challenge in stages, you’ll feel great while doing it and even better when it’s done.

When we take care of outstanding or challenging situations we truly start to feel the reward and almost immediately in most cases. Prior to that it’s like spraying air freshener over a dirty cat box (ewe), only covering the sh*t until it starts to surface again leaving you feeling more and more anxious.

Chances are you’re just blowing things out of proportion and making them seem much worse than they actually are. Don’t worry; you’re not alone in this. The hardest part of doing anything you don’t want to do is the anticipation or fear of the unknown after that it’s cake!

I will tell you that for me, having a positive attitude can help change my outlook and level out my emotional swings.  It’s all mind over matter and you’re going to kick some booty!

“I’ll think about that tomorrow” <- You’re so dead to me…take a hike! Right here and now I am pledging to ban my procrastinating and challenge avoiding ways and “TCOB” from the start, join me?

*Hugs

Kristalina

I work in an industry where good communication is pivotal. That said, it’s amazing for me to think of how socially awkward I was growing up. Perhaps socially awkward is too light a term. Certainly, I mean socially inept. What’s chitchat? A sense of humor? Friends? Foreign ideas to a boy who always thought twice before making a comment, never mind joining a conversation. I think I finally discovered the whole socializing thing in the sixth grade and today, at 22, you can’t shut me up.

But what started the transformation from antisocial hermit to social butterfly? I think the quiet and timid me finally made the decision to make a change, and go with the “fake it till you make it” route of learning how to talk to people. Of course, being a talker is easy for some, but for me it took a little bit of oomph to start speaking to people without feeling self-conscious. That oomph came in the form of  courage.

If you asked me a couple weeks ago what kind of people I thought were courageous, my instinct would be to think of someone who puts everything on the line to serve the greater good like soldiers, policemen and firefighters.

Then, a few weeks ago, a friend of mine baked a cake.

Trying out a new recipe, she made a pink lemonade cake for her boyfriend’s birthday and then blogged about it here. In the post she writes, “Creativity, to my mind, always takes some courage.  The courage to be daring, to allow chaos, and to accept possible failure.”  Creativity’s not the only thing that requires courage. We all have to be courageous at some point, no matter what the reason and regardless if it affects millions of people or just ourselves and whether or not everything is on the line. In short, what may be courageous to me may seem insignificant to you and vice versa.

When I was 16, I remember being so scared out of my mind to go to driver’s ed. The teacher was a very large grumpy old man who seemed to be the least approachable person in existence. I somehow unwisely sat in the front of class, and soon enough, I became the go-to person for him to ask questions in class. More often than not, I would get them right but on the occasions I got them wrong, I’d be treated like a kindergartener. It got to the point where I considered quitting driver’s ed. and simply waiting until I turned 18 to get my learner’s permit. Entering that class twice a week for 11 weeks was one of the most nerve-racking things I had to do in high school. Now of course, I know it would have been foolish if I had quit, but at the time, it took a lot of interpersonal coaching for me to get through that.

Sure, courage may be needed to face a situation in which your life is threatened. But it may also be needed in moments when you must admit you’re wrong, own up to a mistake or simply do the right thing, even if it’s not necessarily the most convenient thing. And yet, it’s needed in times that may seem trivial to others, like baking a cake, going to driver’s ed. or simply deciding to tell someone a joke (one of my childhood social deficiencies I’m glad to say I’ve overcome).

Truly, it’s a case of quality over quantity, finding the right amount of courage for the right situation. Whatever the situation or moment, we all have little bits of courage that help us get through life. What do you use courage for? Perhaps, you use it to answer that very question.

- Josh

*Joshua Aromin is one of our newest “Co-Op” contributors and we absolutely love him! Make sure you also check out Joshua’s personal blog here.

How many of you have an old chair or table hanging around the house collecting dust? Each time you move, you drag it along. Being a chair was it’s first job, but that was quite some time ago. Now, it has become a professional dust collector/junk storage center… What a life

Now, how many of you are the same? You know, hanging around the house, collecting dust. I’m not talking about with your Swiffer either! I’m talking about your voice, spark, light… Your Power!

What if I told you that your current job was no longer and your new job was to sit all day on your hands waiting for someone else to move you along? (I know some of you are taking this a bit too literal. You’re thinking, “I work in corporate wherever now… I’m told what to do and when to do it” but I’m not talking about your “J.O.B.” its deeper than that) If this person forgot about you or didn’t need you, they would set you aside and pile old magazines on top of you…leaving you to sit and collect dust… would you stay?

Now, what if I told you this really happens!!

Let’s look at it like this:

• CFO of AppleSchmaple is ClaraLooHoo aka “C” she’s a real firecracker.
• CEO of WindowOpoly is SamMyWay he’s the boss.

Clara & Sam meet, fall in love, get married… yadda yadda

Clara & Sam have a baby, life is great & Clara becomes a rockin’ mom that works from home. (Sound familiar?) After a few years Clara decides the role of CFO is not working for her anymore, she lost the passion and has other priorities now. (Completely understandable) Instead, Clara focuses on a few passion projects and continues along, happy.

Sam takes on a merger & is now working even more than before. He is bringing in the dough and kisses Clara & baby while rushing out every morning.

Years go by and Clara has become bored with her projects. Not because she wasn’t successful but something was off, she just wasn’t feeling it. Sam was keeping busy and had a wonderful, loving family. In fact, Sam was keeping so busy he hardly had time to think outside of work. I think you see where this is going…

Resentment started to build on both sides…Sam would think, what happened to the powerhouse I married and Clara wanted to know what happened to her husband that was able to balance work and life. (Did you catch that key word, “balance”?)

(If this is a bit too traditional for you, go ahead and switch roles, this isn’t about male vs. female)

Eventually, Sam & Clara’s relationship is quite different from where it started. Sam finds himself unknowingly making snide comments at Clara under and over his breath. Clara, feels sad and unmotivated…she tries to find ways to fill the time but eventually stops because her creativity has expired. She thinks about the things Sam has said to her… “You were so smart, what happened”, “Wow, I didn’t know you were that dumb” Ouch, how numbing, even reading them has an effect, right? Sam’s words were so powerful; especially towards the one he “loved the most”.

In the end, Clara develops Alzheimer’s disease and spends her days, weeks, even years trying to remember the good days. Sam was too busy; he can’t remember many of the good days… Actually, Sam was so busy he never made time for the good days!!

Think this sounds a bit extreme? Think again… Clara allowed herself to become the furniture & Sam never learned what balance was…Life slipped away from them both. They had love but didn’t share the experience of “loving life together”.

Let me clear a few things up:

First, I’m not telling you to quit your job(s).

Second, like I said before, this isn’t about man vs. woman (its not 1940) this could go either way.

Third, I’m not saying Clara or Sam would have been better alone (I told you, they always loved each other)

Do you see the big picture here?

Sam was guilty of telling Clara she wasn’t smart or worthy anymore because she wasn’t carrying the same title as when he met her. In fact, she was carrying a title that was at the same level if not higher… She was a mom, and a great one at that!  Do you think he really thought that of her? Probably not, chances are, Sam was overwhelmed in his own chaos that his words were a reflection of his own feelings. He wasn’t experiencing compassion and didn’t make time to work on becoming a compassionate person therefore, he was acting out anyway he could… Really it was a cry for help!

Here’s the problem, Clara believed him… Can you believe that? She was intelligent and always knew it so how could that be? She listened to Sam’s negative comments and started to believe them. Clara was guilty of allowing someone to set her aside while trying to figure their own sh*t out. Problem was, their issue was with balance and they never made an effort to work on it… They were too busy to live! (Read this) Clara waited and waited and along the way, she forgot who she was. You know what, she didn’t even realize it was happening!

WAKE UP

Don’t waste anymore of your life! I want you to practice a few things:

1. Speak with compassion in mind
2. Keep your mind active
3. Make time (trust me, you have time!)
4. Remind those around you what it is you love about them (You have the power to make a positive impact on their day, week, month even years)
5. Reflection, make sure you’re projecting what you want to see (the people around you will start to reflect what you put out)
6. If someone sets you aside, Do Not become his or her furniture – Keep moving & growing!

This is about keeping your spark no matter where life takes you. This is about staying true to who you are even while adjusting with life’s changes. This is about learning BALANCE… This is about loving who you are enough to not allow your brain, creativity, passion or love to expire leaving you to collect dust!

This is to remind you to speak with compassion! This is to remind you to be kind to yourself! This is to remind you, you have the power & can do whatever you want with YOUR life!

Don’t just Live… LOVE LIVING, LOVE LIFE & SHARE IT WITH THOSE YOU LOVE!

K

When people want to know if you’re an extrovert or an introvert they’ll generally ask you where you get your energy from.

I get my energy from having time to process. Since I was 7 years old I’ve worked my puzzles out at the writing table. One by one I would solve them with my pen and paper. These introvert tendencies are not surprising to me considering my mom–a painter–would disappear into her studio for hours listening to middle eastern music and making work. She’s a talented artist with more books than shoes–and books, ideas and art was what was valued in our house growing up. I find it comforting to know Anne Lamott’s father was a beat poet [there is hope for me too].

Fast forward 17 years and I am living in New York City, working as a knowledge worker in a very fast-paced sales environment.

In the corporate setting I found it exhausting to focus on knowledge work in an open office where there were people constantly walking by–distractions [whether it was meetings, social pressures or ad hoc requests] aplenty. As dudes high-fived and bonded, I would sit quietly feeling left out. I’m not the high-five type at work, but that doesn’t mean I’m not a good employee that cares about the team. It’s just not my style to high five and make sarcastic jokes throughout the day to show I’m a team player.

Eye Contact

When I worked in a corporate job in NYC there was a tall man I worked with who was my superior. At one point my boss was frustrated with me and said, “Blake, John complained that you don’t make eye contact with him when you talk to him. Why is that?” I was about 24 at the time.

I wasn’t totally aware of my shyness. The truth was he made me uncomfortable (or let’s say the way I viewed him made me uncomfortable). But this was something I had to learn to do. I spent a year at Toastmasters learning how to look UP when I spoke to people.

This ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when you don’t believe in yourself.

I would look around at the other people who could “show up” in meetings making confident statements without sweaty palms and red cheeks. I didn’t understand my own inability to look people in the eye and speak in public.

And I spent a lot of time obsessing over what I had said and how it was perceived–if I was liked. I felt like I was in a sea of sharks and it kept me going because I couldn’t afford to stop swimming.

Living in New York pushed me in a good way. Eventually I learned to speak up and even became addicted to it. It was challenging, fun and rewarding. Sometimes when you’re afraid of something for so long, and you finally face it, you realize there was something you wanted behind that fear. And today I really love sharing my ideas. And I use that as a tool when I go to events, to help me find like-minded individuals who care about what I care about. Sometimes my palms still sweat, but I look at that as “that’s how I know I’m ready!”

Today I am still an introvert working on bringing the ideas that I so comfortably write on this blog to people in person. Yesterday I attended a public speaking workshop focusing on eye contact.

In one exercise we had to stand across the room from our partner and keep eye contact with them. We then were asked to move forward two feet, and two more feet until we were about three feet apart.

Standing a few feet from our partner, we were asked a variety of questions by the moderator. We were to report feedback on how our partners face contorted when asked: “Why do you do what you do?” and “How are you going to sell your services to the person across from you.”

As you can imagine this was a very challenging exercise. It can feel very awkward not to speak, and to stare into the eyes of a stranger for an extended period of time. But the exercise turned out to be incredibly rewarding. There is a lot of power in the eyes, and you learn so much by looking into someone’s face.

You learn about yourself from the feedback you get from your partner. More than anything it reminded me that it is crucial to look people in the eyes. It’s also crucial to practice deep breathing and relaxation so your face appears calm, without anger or fear.

I was reminded of the importance of fully participating–of being “seen.” I was really moved by my partner who told me (after I gave her feedback on her face) that I had given her permission to truly feel strength around her career.

Today I’m passionate about helping all people embrace their vulnerabilities so they can fully show up in their lives. To be human is to have them. No matter where your career takes you, being present, confident and present with the people around you will make or break you–so learn from me–and speak to people with your eyes. Look up–there’s a lot to see when you do.

- Blake

This week I wanted to switch it up… give you something fun & creative to do.

Since moving to the UK, I’ve learned to appreciate tea time. It’s a great way to relax, catch up with friends & be kind to myself.

A while ago I received a fabulous book with DIY ideas galore. I stumbled upon – DIY Tea Bags…How fun right?

This project is super easy (super super) and doesn’t take too much time! (Approx. 5 minutes per bag) They make fabulous gifts… for yourself (rainy day kind of stuff) or for friends.

Get as creative you want & spice it up!

You can add quotes or favorite sayings to the tags… Add spices to your tea mixture & even turn these into bath bags if you want (Just add bath salts or herbs instead of tea). Happy crafting & remember to smile!

Hugs -Kristalina

Over the past few months people have asked me… What exactly is “Owning Awesome”? My usual response is far too long (I can’t help it, I’m naturally long winded & totally excited about this project).

This week month I had a true challenge… Defining “Own Awesome” in a clear and simple way… YIKES! I sat in front of a blinking screen hours upon hours. If we had a conversation about this topic I could passionately tell you all about it, so why was this so hard?

I tried putting on my creative music… nope that wasn’t doing it. Dug deep into the archives of my school days & marketing lessons (K.I.S.S…Keep it simple stupid) but still nothing.

Finally I pulled out my magic charm…”S” If you’ve read previous posts of mine you know all about “S” but for those of you who are new… “S” is like a Unicorn…a fairy…a completely amazing person! She is super awesome & totally inspiring.

After a speedy rant about my problem “S” reminded me that just 3 weeks back I told her exactly what “Owning Awesome” meant… I did, didn’t I? I felt like I had deposited my thoughts into a savings account…Phew, thanks again “S”!

I also reached out to one of my biggest supporters & mentor, my father. He’s one of those uber brainy types (so love that) and has such an eloquent manner. He wrote back with a deep thought on the idea and I just have to share it with you guys. Thanks Dad, love you!

I now give you… “Owning Awesome”

“Own Awesome is a blog bursting with light, love & pure awesome.”

Nerdette Kristalina Steininger had a goal in mind when she built Own Awesome… “I wanted to have fun and create a space for my vision, which is ever evolving. I love being inspired and needed to be a part of it!”

What is Own Awesome?

Owning your inner awesome & listening to yourself. We all need those reminders and Own Awesome is a space to gather your worthy!

We like to look at Own Awesome as a place to see the new & open up to more beauty and grace allowing it all to flow free.

Why it works…

The things in life we focus on become bigger. This is why we align the positive and offer another view sanctioning us all to see more magnificence.

My Father’s answer to this question…

In the classic sense, awesome was generally reserved for items, structures, natural wonders.  They were gigantic machines, or buildings, built by men with slide rules, or maybe without. In many cases…God…

In Biology, the word profound or Latin, profundus, means deep, either thought process, or muscle tissue.  The gene sequence of DNA is awesome and profound.  The worlds greatest  supercomputers in series have a hard time mapping the genome. That is AWESOME…Yeah, maybe. Cells are neither profound or awesome, but what they do is both.

Here we are  sit… on a spinning Rock… orbiting a gigantic  ever exploding  hydrogen bomb…hurtling through ever expanding space.

What does this have to do with a weekly blog?  Are you ready for the Awesome challenge? By thinking and breathing you most likely are.  To Quote one of the great  geniuses,  “I think, therefore, I am”  Rene Descartes

Get the Idea?  Own Awesome, with your help, is the bridge, between  the possible and impossible.

I would love to hear what Owning Awesome means to you!