CURRENT MISSION

To do everything I need to do to establish a successful life in the mountains of Colorado, especially those things that scare me most.
Settling roots so that I'm free enough to branch out into the world again.

ABOUT ME

Humanist. Entrepreneur. Alabama born and raised. Gardening and being outside is certainly therapeutic for me in times of stress, as well as spending time with my piano. More recently, yoga has lifted to the top of my daily, de-stressing routine and was easily the best new thing that 2019 brought into my life.

I moved to Colorado in 2012, and as a result of being a foreigner in a new place with an outsider's perspective, I started up my very first small business, Good Life Grinders, which started in Steamboat in 2012 but has kind of been moved to the backburner/isn't worth pursuing further, ever since another more immediate opportunity suddenly arose in April 2015 to go into business with a couple of Mexican coworkers from my first Summer job (2014) in the mountains: installing new landscapes for new houses in Summit County. I call it Good Life Greenscapes...in large part to keep my eye-catching GLG logo haha...plus let's be honest, everyone in Breckenridge is here either to live or as a result of living the Good Life.

I'm typically working, since that's generally what it takes to set roots to live in any land of paradise, but I feel like I'm slowly starting to live my dream, being open to the things that come and that I feel drawn to: speaking Spanish daily, spending most days working outdoors in the crisp, cool, dry mountain air generally under a sunny crystal clear blue sky, and becoming a productive member of the somewhat small, rural community.

This year, 2020, Good Life Greenscapes is entering its 6th year in business, and this spring we will be hiring hardworking, motivated, responsible individuals, who want to start a new life for themselves in our mountain paradise!

As a snowshoe guide at the Breckenridge Nordic Center down the street from my place, I learned a lot about the flora of the area, since that's the only guaranteed thing to see on every hike because most of the wildlife in the area is nocturnal and only leaves tracks to see in the daytime. Going from working the bar and kitchen inside the lodge to snowshoeing and skiing outside really wrecked my knuckles and fingertips, from the back and forth between warm water hand washing and the freezing, dry air.

So, after months of using superglue to stop the cracks from growing (which didn't really help), and months of educating countless guests about the medicinal value of all the trees and shrubs of the area, I decided to try the spruce sap on one hand vs. superglue on the other. Lo! And behold! The sap seals and heals those cracks in 2 days flat, while superglue seals fingertips with a rough, rigid callous, too rigid for knuckles and only gives dry skin a chance to heal from within, after 6-8 days, if at all.

After a bit of experimentation with various oils and natural ingredients, I've created a beautifully rich smelling, natural skin repairing salve that keeps fingertips, knuckles, lips, elbows, heels and toes in supple form throughout the changing conditions of the mostly arid high country!

I call it Spru-Seal..."it's almost like you're saying Spruce Heal"... and we hope to grow the old-fashioned, tried and true method of word of mouth brand awareness.

www.Spru-Seal.com

Spru Seal! Available as of January 2020 at numerous stores & markets in Breckenridge! (And obviously in person).

PHILOSOPHY

Never stop learning. Keep an open mind. Find ways to stay motivated. Think. Don't forget not to take life too seriously. Prayer, to me, is communication and God, to me, is one another...every one. If we're all spiritual beings living a human experience, then we've all got an enormous amount in common and a whole lot to learn from one another along the way.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

After a wonderfully generous host gave me my new start on my own in Boulder, CO 4 years ago and struggling to establish a consistent life since then in the high country, I'm happy to finally have the capacity to offer up a bed a bath and interesting place to stay in a beautiful location for anyone planning a trip to the mountains this winter.

Interests

Spanish language, cultures, cooking, photography, lightning photography, my piano, soccer, entrepreneurship, gardening, philosphy, Liberty, investing, real estate, medical cannabis & natural medicine foraging/making are some things that top of my list. I guarantee I will listen to just about anything you have to say if it is even remotely interesting.

• photography
• cooking
• yoga
• gardening
• investing
• piano
• skiing
• soccer
• business
• entrepreneurship

Music, Movies, and Books

Ayn Rand changed my perspective on life and helped me transform my budding business mindset into something more spiritual and worthwhile beyond the paper chase. Trying to read more fantasy, more books in general. Reading ANY history book (not textbook style) will probably change your life and open your mind in ways that public school never did, assuming that's where you went, like myself. I listen to lots of hip-hop/rap. Country is great for a day of good hard work. I like lyrics, and that's my take on EDM. As a drummer, I was once "beat hypnotized" but thanks to a close friend in college, I am now found and listen to the words the artists put considerable thought into.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

landing in a float plane piloted by my brother off the coast of Kodiak, AK near a pod of humpback whales and taking it all in as their curiosity drove them toward us, silently watching, filming, photographing, before they passed inches underneath the pontoons of the small single engine aircraft.

Teach, Learn, Share

Are you spectating or playing out your life? Planning, thinking, hoping, trying are all forms of sitting on the sidelines. Time for me to step out on the field and execute!

F.L.Y.= first, love yourself...you'll never be lonely if you love the person you're alone with.

Principles by Ray Dalio

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, France, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama

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