Perpetual Good

The story of Michael Kent and Tiffany Whittier is inspirational all by itself - a black, female parole officer is assigned to a white supremacist parolee, and their interactions causes Michael to turn his life around. However, it is only when you go deeper, to get to to the story behind the story, that you find the true riches that come, not only from their story, but from your own. 

In this episode, we look at the highlights of the story of Michael and Tiffany, all the while looking into our own heart and our story, and asking "why? what makes my story so special?"

If there is one thing that is true, it is that good food brings people together. And not just around a table - Good food unites generations, passing down recipes and traditions from parents to children. It also allows friends to share their creations with their loved ones, whether around a table, or through the medium of social media.

In this episode of Perpetual Good, we continue our conversation with Claude Ellis IV, Founder of BDF Catering and Executive Chef at The Olde Pink House, Savanna Georgia, to hear about his journey into the fantastic world of good food.

Be it large gatherings celebrating traditions and cultures, families gathered for a backyard barbeque, or good friends meeting to catch up, you can pretty much count on there being good food.

Many of us tinker in the kitchen with the same passion as professionals, desiring to deliver a culinary experience to our family and friends, while others take it a step further and turn their passion into their profession.

In this episode of Perpetual Good, we go on the road, back to our home town to talk to Claude Ellis IV, Founder of BDF Catering and Executive Chef at The Olde Pink House, Savanna Georgia, to hear about his journey into the fantastic world of good food.

Have you ever looked back at your life and thought, "if only I had more time", or "if only that one thing hadn't happened, I would have fulfilled my dream"? Delays, prohibitions, jobs, having kids, etc., all valid reasons why things get placed on the back burner, or get locked away, never to be considered again. There is a proverb that says, "delayed hope makes the heart sick, but fulfilled desire is a tree of life." Delayed and unfulfilled dreams, or circumstances that prevent us from fulfilling who we really are can have a profoundly negative affect on us. 

What if I told you that neither time nor circumstance are powerful enough to stop us from fulfilling our dreams? While the end result may look different than we originally pictured it, as long as we hold onto those desires, there is a possibility for them to happen. 

In this episode of Perpetual Good, we will look at 2 people who defied both time and circumstance to see the fulfillment of what was in their heart:

What do bells, basketball and black pens have in common? Very little… not that they have nothing in common, but in all three cases, something very little about each of them resulted in a very memorable or impactful event, even potentially saving the lives of astronauts.

In this episode, we look at the unlikely savior of the Apollo 11 mission, the start of the Salvation Army Bell Ringers, and a very special basketball team manager, to see how the smallest of things can bring about the largest returns.

It is very easy to allow the hardships of life to take over and make us believe that there is nothing to be thankful for. However, by taking the step to pursue gratitude, our eyes will be opened to all of the things we have to be thankful for.

In this episode, we look at people who have made the choice to not only start being grateful, but who are living a life of gratitude .

It is very easy to allow the hardships of life to take over and make us believe that there is nothing to be thankful for. However, by taking the step to pursue gratitude, our eyes will be opened to all of the things we have to be thankful for. 

In this episode, we look at people who have made the choice to not only start being grateful, but who are living a life of gratitude . 

American history from the 1950's and 1960's is full of images of civil rights conflicts, and as many marches for equality as there were, there were an equal number of protests against fair and equal treatment of citizens of African descent. One notable story involves a little girl, Ruby Bridges who by entering William Frantz Elementary School set off a series of angry protests and the withdrawal of every white student from the school by parents who believed that black and white people should remain separate.

Yet years before Ruby made her historic walk to the school, the community of Sunnyhills in Milpitas California was being formed as the first planned racially-integrated community in the United States. Sunnyhills was not mandated by the government, but by the people who lived and worked there, and serves as an example of what can happen when people decide to take action and do things different.

Our phones are wonderful, because they can tell us how much time we spend ingesting information. News and social media provide us with so much content, we can't keep up, and it can be a full time job taking in and regurgitating the content and opinions that we receive on a daily basis. The unfortunate result of this is that many important stories get buried under the rubble, forgotten because 10 other stories have taken their place.

If starting over was easy, everyone would do it all the time. What we find, however is that taking the step to start over is hard... very hard, and it is wrought with fear, doubt, and many times a desire to just stay where we are, even though we know there is better waiting for us.

There are some keys for us to make the Start Over successful, and much of it has to do with our perception of the Start Over and what it can bring.

As a society, we are constantly pushed to move ahead, to achieve, to always make progress. But what happens when, whether by choice or by force, you are faced with starting over?

Live performances are the epitome of a jazz musician's work. When everything is flowing and the audience is responding, there is so much satisfaction and fulfillment for the musician. But you also run the risk of something unexpected. Such is the story as told by Herbie Hancock, while playing live with Miles Davis. Herbie made, to him, the error of all errors that could have ruined the song being played, but as it turned out, learned a valuable lesson in perspective and opportunity, from none other than Miles Davis himself.  We take Herbie's lesson and apply it to our lives to help us find good in even the worst of situations.

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Yendis Thomas who has been doing a series on Instagram and Facebook on the gifts we have inside, how we can discover them and use them to benefit those around us. 

Theme Music Wild and Windy  by BledJon, featuring Linnea Locsin

Additional Audio: Strawberry Sands  by Elijah Ray

In this episode, we celebrate Father's day, and unpack the good that comes from celebrating the people in our lives. All the more special when the good reveals itself in the midst of the heartbreak of loss.

For those who are without your fathers or are separated from your fathers this Father's day, I pray that you have the comfort of good memories, good lessons, and others around you that can be with you in this season

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Anthony Ware, founder of Aware Catalysts and Founder Mental Wealth. Anthony expounds on the tools he uses and helps under-estimated entrepreneurs and founders use to ensure that they stay mentally healthy. This is so important for those who are building the financial backbone of the country, but it is not only important for them:  maintaining good mental health is vital for all of us, and the ability to invest in oneself , in what Anthony calls, "Mental Wealth Deposits" is key to being able to navigate the various societal pressures we encounter daily. You can find Anthony online as follows:

This episode features Anthony Ware, founder of Aware Catalysts and Founder Mental Wealth who has been focusing his efforts on helping under represented entrepreneurs and founders focus on one area that gets overlooked in the creation and building of a business: their own mental health. While Anthony's focus is on founders, his information and lessons are applicable for everyone. Maintaining good mental health is vital, and the ability to invest in oneself , in what Anthony calls, "Mental Wealth Deposits" is key to being able to navigate the various societal pressures we encounter daily. You can find Anthony online at:

Champions are not born. They are forged in the intensity of deep trusting relationships and lives of sacrifice, and upon the shoulders of those who have gone before and paved the way. Last week we saw the benefit of paying it forward - this week we look at those who paid it all to bring others to the forefront and make them succeed. 

Life is full of unexpected things: Flat tires, washing machine goes on the fritz, a diagnosis that changes your outlook on your future. But what if the unexpected is a welcome surprise? The person ahead of you paid for your lunch, or you find a bag of groceries on your doorstep with a note that says, “just because”? What if, as you are standing in line, trying to figure out what to put back, the person behind you says “put it on my card”? These are definitely unexpected, but guess what? They happen all the time, and they are easy to do. Paying it forward has so many benefits outside of how it makes the giver feel. Often it leads to a series of selfless acts that benefit not one but many.

Show up...

Listen...

Pay attention...

Use what you have...

At no time in human history is the following phrase more apropos:

No man is an island. - John Donne, 17th century English poet

It may take a special person to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and make a name for themselves, but those people rarely make great superheroes. Real superheroes are always focused outward, on those in their community, and do whatever they can to make the community better.

It would seem to be an easy thing to talk about the good things that are happening, but many times, it is a struggle. Facing the complexities of a world in conflict, it is very easy to be dragged into negative thinking and fear, and think that it is worthless to pursue good. Good, however has to be a choice - it is the tough sacrificial choice, and the one that must be made if we are to see any change in our communities. 

In this episode, we look at a number of stories of people who apply their passions to the situations they are experiencing, and by doing so are able to do good for their family, friends and their community. If you are wanting to do something but are not sure what or how, start with the basics: what is in your heart, and what do you love to do. 

The stories show us that it doesn't take much, as long as it's done with a lot of heart. 

I hope you are inspired by the stories of good, not just for what the individuals are doing, but that you are inspired to reach out and do good for your own community. 

Credits:

Celebration - Kool & The Gang

Put 5 people in a room and ask them to define anything, and you are likely to get 5 different answers to the question. Defining the concept of Good is no different, but there are some things that can be considered when you are defining good, especially because good may not always look "good"... at least initially. 

In this episode, we will tackle good vs. great, "feel good" good, and pursuing goals. 

The journey for good continues. 

When all that seems to be published is gloom and doom and bad news, hearing something good can be a breath of fresh air. But if it stays as just something we hear, it can last just as long as that breath. I have seen evidence of more good in the community and the world, much of it happening without fanfare or camera coverage. I felt it was time to not only share these stories, but to see how we can perpetuate it... use existing good to prompt us to do even more. This is the beginning of a journey to uncover that good, and challenge us to do more.