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TheFreunds
Susan Blog
Susan Photos
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MutedBeauty
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Song Bird
SongBird, Humanity, HumanStories, Thailand, Transition
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Song Bird
SongBird, Humanity, HumanStories, Thailand, Transition
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Today the story of a woman we new and cared for in Thailand. My hope is that it honors her as a person and shares some insight into the complexities of volunteer life and service to others.

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SongBird, Humanity, HumanStories, Thailand, Transition
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Ambitious?
wisdom, ambition, change, @caseyneistat
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Ambitious?
wisdom, ambition, change, @caseyneistat
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Just when I think I will be whisked away from you all by my busy life, I find myself unexpectedly sitting idle. In between moments of being present and with my family, I had some time to sit and reflect.

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wisdom, ambition, change, @caseyneistat
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Simple Fears
2 Comments
Simple Fears
2 Comments

Well - sooner than the last time, but still not good. I have been wanting to get another blog out there since the last one, but between getting called-in to work on my days off (not a choice), my dad spending over a week in the hospital (he is doing great), and preparing for a baby (which could come any day), it has been hard to center my thoughts and take the time for this.

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2 Comments
Laryngitis
4 Comments
Laryngitis
4 Comments

ooooweee - it has been a long time. I wrote this blog in April and then found myself going to ground again. In nursing school there was a terrifyingly common refrain “fake it till you make it.” I know what that means more than ever before. Oh and click UNSUBSCRIBE if you so desire. No judgement, each of our lives are busy and your time is precious.

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4 Comments
9 Weeks.
Updates, Reintegration, Chicago, SocialJustice
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9 Weeks.
Updates, Reintegration, Chicago, SocialJustice
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Just another set of updates on where we are and what/how we are doing. Sorry for the long delay. I promise I continue to have every intention of regular blogging again. 

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Updates, Reintegration, Chicago, SocialJustice
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Spring Thing
Transitions, America, WhatNow
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Spring Thing
Transitions, America, WhatNow
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4 weeks in and it is time for a short update. My apologies for not writing sooner. I have every intention of returning to regular writing. 

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Transitions, America, WhatNow
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Check-in
SocialJustice, MyThaiLife, Death, GSV
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Check-in
SocialJustice, MyThaiLife, Death, GSV
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Our travels were absolutely wonderful, and I apologize for not checking in sooner. I expect to be resume blogging more regularly as we learn to again navigate the busyness of life in America. In the meantime, I wrote a blog for Good Shepherd Volunteers. Please click the link and read if you have the opportunity.

What does it all mean?

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SocialJustice, MyThaiLife, Death, GSV
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In the Middle is Nowhere
Bali, Indonesia, Waterfalls
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In the Middle is Nowhere
Bali, Indonesia, Waterfalls
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Another week of traveling finished. It has been eventful, but not necessarily in a good way! Oh well, just look at the photos and you can envy our perfect trip!

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Bali, Indonesia, Waterfalls
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Goodbyes and Smiles
MyThaiLife, Goodbye, Heartbreak
1 Comment
Goodbyes and Smiles
MyThaiLife, Goodbye, Heartbreak
1 Comment

A lot has happened since I last blogged. We said goodbye to our community in Thailand and jet set for the beautiful country of Indonesia. It is a predominantly Muslim country, so recent events did create unwarranted anxiety.

Today is mostly a recap and reflection of the goodbyes, but as our travel slows I hope to share more of my infamous reflections/perspectives in coming days.

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MyThaiLife, Goodbye, Heartbreak
1 Comment
Impending Departure.
Blogging, Career, HealthCare, MyThaiLife, Future
2 Comments
Impending Departure.
Blogging, Career, HealthCare, MyThaiLife, Future
2 Comments

As our time here quickly winds down, maybe you have been wondering about the future of this blog. Do I have a plan for it, or will it just end? I started to really think about this as I listened to OnBeing this morning during my run. Her guest, Anil Dash, said it takes about 7 or 8 years to become good at blogging: that makes me feel a little bit better.

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Blogging, Career, HealthCare, MyThaiLife, Future
2 Comments
Upswing
Wedding, Culture, Thailand, MyThaiLife
1 Comment
Upswing
Wedding, Culture, Thailand, MyThaiLife
1 Comment

A short update on how things are going - generally good! We also went to a Thai wedding last weekend, so you can see Susan in a fancy dress and a few pictures of the formal event we are honored to have been invited to.

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Wedding, Culture, Thailand, MyThaiLife
1 Comment
Happy? New Year.
Vacation, Christmas, Volunteer, JustLove, Death, ChristmasSpirit, Humanity, NewYear, Camping
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Happy? New Year.
Vacation, Christmas, Volunteer, JustLove, Death, ChristmasSpirit, Humanity, NewYear, Camping
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This week I bring you up to speed on the events since before Christmas: a touching moment at another Christmas Party, Vacation!!!, the New Year, and return to volunteer work life. Happy New Year or as they say in Thailand, Sawatdee Bee Mai!

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Vacation, Christmas, Volunteer, JustLove, Death, ChristmasSpirit, Humanity, NewYear, Camping
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Christmas Spirit
Simplicity, Christmas, ChristmasSpirit, Materialism, Volunteer, Identity, Altruism
1 Comment
Christmas Spirit
Simplicity, Christmas, ChristmasSpirit, Materialism, Volunteer, Identity, Altruism
1 Comment

Another year removed from America leaves me with a critical eye on how I experience Christmas. This week I share a look into our volunteer life in Thailand during this holiday season, and a touch of the complexity surrounding those seemingly innocuous conversations.

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Simplicity, Christmas, ChristmasSpirit, Materialism, Volunteer, Identity, Altruism
1 Comment
Too Soon.
MyThaiLife
2 Comments
Too Soon.
MyThaiLife
2 Comments

A short check-in. It was a busy, but nice birthday week. This weekend we had Christmas Camp, so hopefully more to come as we enjoy the Christmas celebrations in the coming weeks!

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MyThaiLife
2 Comments
Throw in the Towel?
MyThaiLife, Running, Simplicity, Growth
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Throw in the Towel?
MyThaiLife, Running, Simplicity, Growth
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This week we get back to normal John kind of stuff: simplicity, running, emergency rooms (sorry mom), and trying to make sense of it all!

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MyThaiLife, Running, Simplicity, Growth
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Thanksgiving Day.
MyThaiLife, Thanksgiving, Family, Outreach
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Thanksgiving Day.
MyThaiLife, Thanksgiving, Family, Outreach
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As promised, I have been trying hard to brighten my spirits by focusing on the positive and appreciating everything I have to be thankful for. Seems to be working.

Today, I thought I would just share a summary of my thanksgiving day. I feel like it is one of the better looks into volunteer life here in Thailand. 

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MyThaiLife, Thanksgiving, Family, Outreach
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Baby Steps
Empathy, Spirituality, Election, Racism
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Baby Steps
Empathy, Spirituality, Election, Racism
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I wrote this about 10 days ago. I am not really happy with it, but I think it is time to release it.  I continue to write almost daily, but nothing intelligible seems to come out.

I am hoping by turning my thoughts to thankfulness, I will have something 'happier' to share in a few days. Susan and I are well, the weather is beautiful, and the mood around the Garden of Friendship is upbeat. I have been successful in not spoiling it, but I am hoping to catch it!

Last weekend was a nice change of pace. The staff hosted a weekend seminar (with overnight) for children ages about 8-17. They taught sex education, HIV education, emotional health, and much more. A well crafted weekend with lots of fun games, activities, laughter, and smiles. A welcome distraction from my mind, but I am a little sore from doing too much Hula-Hoop!

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Empathy, Spirituality, Election, Racism
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My Progressively Bleeding Heart
Politics, Divided, CanWeUnite?
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My Progressively Bleeding Heart
Politics, Divided, CanWeUnite?
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I usually like to sit on these for a day, but this is how I am feeling right now. An attempt to make sense of what this means, what has happened, what way is up. I knew about news bias, I knew people were angry, I knew that this was a real possibility, but that does help it make sense. And I do not know that anyone knows what this means for our future - other than uncertainty.

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Politics, Divided, CanWeUnite?
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Anniversary Politics
Anniversary, Politics, JustLove
1 Comment
Anniversary Politics
Anniversary, Politics, JustLove
1 Comment

Written before and posted during, a little reflection about this and that. Happy 4th Anniversary to my wonderful wife!

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Anniversary, Politics, JustLove
1 Comment
Cultivating a Life
MyThaiLife, Cultivating, Intention, Simplicity, Family
1 Comment
Cultivating a Life
MyThaiLife, Cultivating, Intention, Simplicity, Family
1 Comment

Reminiscing a little bit about the past, trying to continue to learn from the wisdom of my elders, and weaving this together to create a picture of my possible future.

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MyThaiLife, Cultivating, Intention, Simplicity, Family
1 Comment
Updates and More Bike Rides
MyThaiLife, BikeRide
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Updates and More Bike Rides
MyThaiLife, BikeRide
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Another short post to update the state of life here in Thailand, and then you can come with Susan and me on an even more eventful bicycle ride.

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MyThaiLife, BikeRide
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Traffic, - typical
MyThaiLife, Marriage, ThaiTraffic
1 Comment
Traffic, - typical
MyThaiLife, Marriage, ThaiTraffic
1 Comment

Well, it seems like everyone is still talking about the debates, but strangely I don't feel the need to. Here is a little piece about traffic, a driver names Santi, a bike ride Susan and I took, and some photos from a day at the races.

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MyThaiLife, Marriage, ThaiTraffic
1 Comment
Times of Trial
Challenge, MyThaiLife, Community, Marriage
1 Comment
Times of Trial
Challenge, MyThaiLife, Community, Marriage
1 Comment

A short post about the many different challenges that have come our way in the last weeks. Thankfully, the balance appears to be leveling as October rapidly approaches. 

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Challenge, MyThaiLife, Community, Marriage
1 Comment
Taking A Knee
Racism, @EdgeofSports, @TBGWT, @TheYoungTurks, SocialJustice, #BlackLivesMatter, #Kaepernick, @PoliReActive, #TWiBPRime, @DemocracyNow!
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Taking A Knee
Racism, @EdgeofSports, @TBGWT, @TheYoungTurks, SocialJustice, #BlackLivesMatter, #Kaepernick, @PoliReActive, #TWiBPRime, @DemocracyNow!
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I had hoped that this would deliver on Sunday morning, but have kept encountering difficulties. I think the post remains relevant.

As football season begins, it seems that everyone has something to say. Of course, I do to... 

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Racism, @EdgeofSports, @TBGWT, @TheYoungTurks, SocialJustice, #BlackLivesMatter, #Kaepernick, @PoliReActive, #TWiBPRime, @DemocracyNow!
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Voices. Vision. Volunteering.
Voices, Vision, Perspective, Community, Kindness, Altruism
1 Comment
Voices. Vision. Volunteering.
Voices, Vision, Perspective, Community, Kindness, Altruism
1 Comment

A very brief post about three ideas that continue to capture my thoughts since our visit home. Hope you enjoy my return to making photographs of rainy season sunsets!

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Voices, Vision, Perspective, Community, Kindness, Altruism
1 Comment
Out and Back
Orientation, HomeVisit, Community
2 Comments
Out and Back
Orientation, HomeVisit, Community
2 Comments

I am feeling very far behind, but maybe I can be okay with that! In any event, here is a general status update after heading back to the U.S.A and returning to Thailand. I am sure to have more as my mind and thoughts continue to organize and overcome the jet lag.

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Orientation, HomeVisit, Community
2 Comments
The Meeting
MyThaiLife, Culture
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The Meeting
MyThaiLife, Culture
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We recently had a full-team meeting, ALL HANDS ON DECK! It really went well, but I thought I would share some insight into what a Thai meeting looks like in my mind's eye! Hope you enjoy.

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MyThaiLife, Culture
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Volunteer Pitfalls
Culture, Pitfalls, UnsustainableChange, Boundaries
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Volunteer Pitfalls
Culture, Pitfalls, UnsustainableChange, Boundaries
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Today's post starts with a small photo album. Jumping on my bicycle or going for a walk are how I find myself adding activity to my life, and finding peace and renewal. I have always liked photography, but now it is an inexpensive way for me to be reminded of the beauty, joy, and wonder the world has hidden around every corner.

I want you all to know that as far as I can tell, I am doing fine right now. There has certainly been a lot of change, and the normal stress that goes with change is compounded a bit in a foreign country.

I have some posts that I want to share because they are relevant to volunteering. The tone may not be upbeat, or positive, but know that these problems are resolved or resolving as we speak.

This post speaks to issues of boundaries, cultural differences, and how good intentions sometimes lead to unintended consequences.

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Culture, Pitfalls, UnsustainableChange, Boundaries
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Terrorism, Globalization, #MaybeNotRIT, Media, SocialJustice, Stereotypes, Violence, Community
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Thoughts in the wake of Nice
Terrorism, Globalization, #MaybeNotRIT, Media, SocialJustice, Stereotypes, Violence, Community
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Things are going to change, I can feel it... I was not expecting to write today, but a quiet morning with the sunrise and a sore throat got me thinking. My thoughts came together in a way that seemed appropriate for public sharing.

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Terrorism, Globalization, #MaybeNotRIT, Media, SocialJustice, Stereotypes, Violence, Community
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SocialJustice, Privilege, Poem
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The Lens of Privilege
SocialJustice, Privilege, Poem
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Today, I am sharing something a lot different. It is a poem that came to me back in December. I have been working on it ever since. It's not real long, so maybe you can muster the energy for it.

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SocialJustice, Privilege, Poem
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Chicago, Illinois 60622, United States of Americajohn@mutedbeauty.com

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