Being a newly minted author has presented opportunities this past week to meet and be introduced to some amazingly inspirational people. Blessed. I would like to share these meetings and introduce you to these inspirations.
I was referred to and was interviewed by Mary Fran Bontempo and Kristin Smedley for their Podcast called “Brilliantly Resilient” Brilliantly Resilient – with Mary Fran Bontempo & Kristin Smedley. They are both accomplished authors and speakers who have overcome some big challenges in their lives by becoming resiliently – brilliantly! Kristin had two boys born blind at birth and Mary Fran had to handle a son with a heroin addiction. It was an honor to converse with them. The one thing that we hit on from my book that they found important in being resilient was to “LIMIT YOUR PITY PARTY” when things are not going your way. I had to do this when it looked like we were going out of business in March 2020. It is ok to throw one, even an epic bender of one for a few days. But just limit it in order to start your journey to becoming resilient! I’m not sure how brilliant I am, but I did have to be resilient in my Leap Year of Firsts to survive the many challenges.
I also spoke to Chayne Greg this past week. Mr. Gregg is the executive producer of the movie “Hell or High Seas.” HELL OR HIGH SEAS. I had watched it the previous week. I had networked to get to him. I had to tell him personally how amazing the film was. In our conversation he said it was a film about “resilience.” What are the chances after the recording of the Podcast Brilliantly Resilient the day before?
To give you context of why I was so passionate to talk to Chayne, I have just completed the Veteran’s Administrative training for their ETS Sponsorship Program. The program is basically a “Big Brother / Big Sister” program for returning veterans. My job will be to help connect a vet back into civilian life. The program’s purpose is to reduce the suicide rate that currently exists (22 returning vets a day commit suicide). I’ll be assigned a vet for one year to help him make his way back into society – safely. This was THE plot of Hell or High Seas. The challenging journey of a vet trying to make it safely to civilian life.
HELL OR HIGH SEAS follows U.S. Navy veteran Taylor Grieger and writer Stephen O’Shea as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime — sailing around Cape Horn, the world’s most treacherous ocean waters – from Florida! 10,000 miles! The documentary is a moving portrait of a veteran using his own painful journey with PTSD to find healing for himself, and pave a smoother path for veterans returning to civilian life. It is a true story. I was blown away. I think it is a MUST SEE for ANYONE that goes through the ETS-SP training I just completed. I think it is a MUST SEE for EVERYONE!
For some food to feed your soul you may want to catch the Brilliantly Resilient Podcast or watch Hell or High Seas.
Forever Grateful. With much love, Keith
PS. Tomorrow is the official release for my first book – A Leap Year of Firsts. Thrilling! https://www.amazon.com/author/keithbaldwinfirsts.com