VIRIDESCENT

?? 4 years ago, I stopped pursuing money?? Not that I was pursuing it all that intentionally before, but you don’t have to when the system is built for you to succeed ~~ which it is for me. As 2020 dwindled I decided, I was REALLY stopping. Money no longer mattered to me. I needed to stop the scheming and the striving. This mix of survival and the pursuit to rise above it… This life inside the ?? machine we make our lives in, I was done. I'd pushed myself too hard ~~ I'd been pushed too hard. Not by any particular human (well maybe by my own ego), and not by a specific employer, NO. Rather, by the pace of our infinite growthism. This flawed economic system capitalizes off nature and humans alike. I was like the carbon coming from the core of EARTH and through our tailpipes, an energy source not meant to be burned like this. A robot’s pace driving my soul like an angry piston. ?? I had been on FIRE, a rocket ship of positive impact for sustainable events out of Salt Lake’s trade show destination. There were awards for the collective, and for me as an individual. Lives were being improved upon. It mattered. To me and so many others. But in 2020, it all came to a halt at the hands of COVID and my burnout. I was shown some things: ?? I was an unsustainable FIRE heading toward burnt-out ashes. ?? I LOVED spending TIME with my wife and dog. ? It took so much TIME to get ready for work and commuting. ?? I was about to become a Dad (hich I wasn’t quite ready for). ?? I spent more TIME in nature than ever. At the end of the year, I quit my job and started building something that would allow me to live on my terms, not some contract I never signed but had followed for years. During my TIME away, me and some friends @ VIRIDESCENT wrote a hashtag #REGENERATIVEphilosophy. ???? ?????????????????????? More so, WE LIVED IT. This helped me escape the hustle. It’s the best choice I’ve ever made, but the price I’ve paid for it has been steep. The bill always comes due. Today I’m ready to announce, I’m coming back into the ?? machine with MORE desire to make money. I’m grateful to be back and I’m proud to have (re)grown these past few years. I've been working, but oh so slow and creative. Every week I will share some of the lessons I’ve learned, and why I continue to stand against the worst parts of this ?? machine but also, share the best parts of IT. There are some good parts, maybe even some great parts. Together, I hope we can take that great stuff, throw away the bad sh*t (in a zero waste way ??), and find a sustainable system along the way. Let's pull down the wall that lies between our soul and the money pursuit, the wall that is destroying both nature and humanity, and at this point, the wall that divides us from EACH OTHER. signed glad to be back in business, Chance and my soulful Alter~Ego, The Designer ?? P.S. ?? Lesson #1: Money isn't the problem ??... Tune in next Monday. #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Equity #VIRIVERSE ??

It's taken a while to process the news that came in today that the government of #Iceland has granted commercial whalers a quota and #Japan intends to issue one to go and hunt fin #whales, the world's second largest #animal, this summer. Iceland can kill 128. Japan can kill 59. #Norway have quietly got on with their annual slaughter in the background and have killed over 300 minke whales already this year. Logic, science, morality, compassion and sanity have not prevailed, once again, in the world of whales. In 2024 it is astounding and shocking that this is still going on. In fact, it's expanding. The desire of a few men to destroy #nature, not in the name of culture and history, but commercial gain - when there is no market and it's a loss-making industry. One of the whalers in Iceland said recently that because it's harder to find whales to hunt nowadays, it makes it more fun. More. Fun. It's hard to see hope for the existential issues of our time when we can't consign this outdated industry to the dustbin of history. There is hope though when I see in many others the deep feeling of anguish stemming from this madness that I feel in my bones. Bad people win when good people do nothing, so it's a damn good job there's a hell of a lot of good people who will not give up this fight. A huge shout out to every single person who has worked on this in recent months, and over many years - there are too many to thank. Now is the time for the world to unite against this small minority and push to bring #whaling to an end for good. This is core to our mission at Whale and Dolphin Conservation and working alongside long-time heroes around the world, we will win. ? On we go. For the whales.

The seamstress of the bird world. Nature is amazing. Protect it. #ActOnClimate #biodiversity #climate #deforestation #GreenNewDeal

Me and my Sustainability Alter~Ego are speaking at our first #WEC / Meeting Professionals International! ?? My ‘immersive sustainability’ session will help #EventProfs Harness THEIR Hero to Become Sustainability Change~makers… Attendees will get to build their own Change~maker Identity… AKA Your Sustainability Alter~Ego, live during the session, finding: ?? More alignment with nature for yourself and your events.? ?? A more REGENERATIVE way of working and living (so key for event professionals!). ???? Creativity, sustainable flow states, healing burnout, and how to contribute to a sustainable events industry more often. The Alter~Ego takes us into: ?? Animal Personality: How can your most natural self unlock the change~maker within? ? ?? Elemental Philosophy: How can your favorite nature elements strengthen your leadership skills?? ?? Sustainability Beacon: What is your driving force for creating a better world and how can you practice it more often? For attendees, the session deets: ??? Monday, 5/20 @ 2pm Eastern? ?? M105 - M106 ??: https://lnkd.in/ghKaKP-c Who else is going to be there??? For those wishing you were attending: ?? Stay tuned to my LinkedIn for outcomes and insights. ?? Huge thank you to Jessie States, CMP, CMM for the invitation, and the support from Amanda Baghaei and Jessica Stone in the planning process. ?? Looking forward to sharing the stage and learning from the other speakers I know and don’t know! (Zoe Moore, Annette Gregg, CMM MBA, Jody Brandes, HMCC, CMP-Fellow, CMM, Darryll Stinson, and more). signed so stoked, Your Designer ?? VIRIDESCENT #WECLouisville #MeetingProfs #EventProfs #Sustainability #SustainableEvents #REGENERATIVEleadership #Wellness #MentalHealth #ZeroWaste #ClimateAction #FlowState

Happy Deep Day! Let's dive into the mysteries of the abyss and celebrate the incredible biodiversity and vital role the deep sea plays in our planet's health. ?? #DeepSeaDay #OceanExploration Kyle Foster Robyn Young Ismael Sanchez Kirpa Grewal Sustainable Ocean Alliance Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC)

Reflecting on an enriching experience at the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development held from April 22-24, 2024, in St. George's, Grenada. Under the theme of fostering a legacy of sustainability in Caribbean tourism, the event emphasized the importance of the 5 Ps: People ?? Planet ?? Prosperity ?? Purpose ?? Partnership ?? It was inspiring to see industry leaders, stakeholders, and enthusiasts come together to explore innovative approaches towards sustainable tourism practices. Special thanks to my esteemed panelists and moderator who contributed immensely to the insightful discussions on purpose-driven tourism: Alicia Johnson, Destination Editor: South America, Central America, Mexico and The Caribbean, Lonely Planet Dr. Thérèse N. Yarde, Senior Director, Caribbean SIDS, Conservation International? Kitaka Mawuto , Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Media? Magdalena Fielden, Owner, True Blue Bay Resort? Moderator: Michael Carabash, Partner, DMC LLP Highlights: ?? Day 1: GENERAL SESSION I - PLANET: Delving into "Preserving Paradise - Nurturing Nature for a Sustainable Future" with featured speakers Christopher Corbin, Rosana John and Giselle Carr. GENERAL SESSION III - HOST COUNTRY SHOWCASE: DESTINATION GRENADA: Tiffany Geer showcased Destination Grenada, offering valuable insights into the destination's sustainability efforts. ?? Day 2: CONVERGENCE POINT - BRIDGING PERSPECTIVES FOR FUTURE TOURISM: Rodney Payne, CEO of Destination Think, facilitated a discussion on bridging perspectives for future tourism. ?? Day 3: MASTER CLASS - FU-TECH TOURISM: Kyle Maloney, Co-Founder of Tech Beach Retreat, shared expertise on "Fu-Tech Tourism," exploring the intersection of technology and sustainable tourism. As we look ahead, let's continue championing sustainability in Caribbean tourism, ensuring that our actions today create a positive and lasting impact for future generations. #SustainableTourism #CaribbeanTourism #CCSTD2024 ???? Thank you, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) & Grenada Tourism Authority! Petra Roach Tenille Clarke Amanda Charles SOA Caribbean Women in Cleantech and Sustainability VIRIDESCENT