People amaze and delight me. They’re out there making a difference, following their dreams, connecting and inspiring others. Listed below are links to the stories of just a few cool people doing cool things.
Do you have a story to share? E-mail me the information.
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Out There
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In June 2006, Dominic Gill embarked alone on a 20,000-mile journey from the Artic Ocean to Cape Horn, all the while searching for company to join him on the back of his tandem bicycle.
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Photographer/author Lorraine Chittock gave up the ordinary life to be part of an African dog pack. Today, with her two Kenyan dogs, she's touring South America in an old CIA surveilance van keeping busy finishing her new book "On A Mission With Dog."
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Visit India like an insider with the inspired guidance of Antonia Hoogewerf, global citizen of Paris, London and Calcutta.
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Follow the adventures of my amazing friends, Cheryl (mom), Pat (dad), Hannah (17) and Afton (15) Sullivan, as they explore South America in search of a new home and life south of the border.
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This dynamic duo have been criss-crossing the globe for the past decade with an eye towards authenticity, humor and connection. No resort surfing for this intrepid team.
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Meet the Buried Life Crew and answer the question: What do you want to do with your life before you die?
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The Dream
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Yep, Hank Barone is my hubby. And, yes, you bet, I think he's cooler than cool. Writing young-adult action,-adventure fiction novels is his latest passion. Click here to purchase his books and help turn him into the next best selling success story!
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Learn how one woman's quest for bliss led her to found the hugely successful Hawaii-based SwellWomen women’s surf and yoga retreat. A personal favorite!
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Believe in You! This program provides a combination of money, mentoring, marketing and technology tools that women entrepreneurs need to help grow their businesses from micro to $millions.
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Tabetha Hinman's Think Bigg is an inspiring resource and non-profit blogsite dedicated to bringing information and inspiration to those who care about the people, communities, culture, and world in which we live.
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What do you do when life takes a bad turn? You pick yourself up, follow passion and start cooking. At least that's this culinary wizard's amazing story of success.
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Danna first e-mailed me a year ago wanting to know how to “become a travel writer.” “I can only dare to dream,” she wrote then. It didn’t take her long – today she's moved to Alaska to finish her first book of memoirs. How cool is that!
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Inspiration
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Feeling harried and out of balance? Then take a peek at Dirk McDonnell's photography. Just a few minutes spent gazing at his dreamlike images and you can't help but remember the world is beautiful.
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This book recounts author Brad Newsham's 100-day backpack trip around the world and quest to invite someone who would otherwise never have the opportunity to visit him in America for one month - his treat. How cool. How nice.
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If you've ever had the desire to travel, but don't have all the money saved yet, you'll want to watch this awesome video,"Where the Hell is Matt?," for inspiration.
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Quiet Hero works, one child at a time, to reverse a small part of war's damage. Operation Quiet Hero's goal is to bring injured children to the US from war-torn regions, be it Iraq , Afghanistan , or the Sudan , for reconstructive surgery.
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Role Models
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This intrepid and outrageously generous travel writing and photography duo gave me my first break in the biz and haven't stop supporting me since. They're the best!
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I cannot look at visual artist Lisl Dennis' graphic imagery and not want to follow in her footsteps.
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Photographer Nevada Wier is my hero; as a human being, and as a professional.
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Make a Difference
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Make a difference in a life today. Through Women for Women International, you can sponsor a woman in another country and help her find a better life.
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Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence.
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Changing the world one pair at a time. Donate shoes (new and used) and help Soles4Souls aid the hurting worldwide.
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If you've ever been traveling and visited a place that could use donated items and thought "if I'd only known, I could've brought that!" Well no more. Before you go, visit stuffyourrucksack.com, a site that lists crucial items needed across the globe.
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In December 2003, founder Matt MacAdams and his wife were traveling when they witnessed a horrific crash, which later was found to be caused by someone distracted while talking on a cell phone. Since then, he’s shipped over 160,000 free headsets.
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A grassroots and entirely nonprofit worldwide movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns.
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It's Cool Being Green
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"Sustainable Dave" journalist Dave Chameides document's his attempt to throw nothing away for a year.
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Acting on the belief that no one wants to damage the very environment they have traveled to see, TCT provides the means by which travelers can support local conservation initiatives and small-scale community development projects.
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Planet Chill: Sustainable travel tips from Lonely Planet and Ben and Jerry’s. Download a free copy of “Planet Chill: Sustainable Travel Tips.
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For Peace
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READ Global has set out to change the world. An ambitious goal? Not if you're READ Global Founder Dr. Antonia Neubauer and a world of generous donors who are empowering change one person, one village and one country at a time.
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Surfing the world one couch at a time, this social networking site seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding.
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