JOSHUA LILLIE

Like a writer well into their first draft, my story is unpolished and far from over. And, while my prose is subject to the limits of my knowledge, biases, and singular perspective, I am empowered by agency and opportunity with each turning page. 

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I am proud of the last year of my story, a chapter of growth, resilience, and connection. Like the buffalo who leads her herd through the impending storm so as to not delay nor prolong their suffering, I faced many daunting questions head-on. While suffering was present, I held onto faith that the perspective from the other side would color my world with newfound clarity and gratitude. When the storm finally broke, it was well worth it. I know my younger self would be stoked. Even still, there are storms on the horizon, some more insidious than conspicuous, yet I will weather them as I did this one, "brick by brick" and with faith that "this too shall pass."

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My story would not have nearly as much joy or triumphs without the unconditional love granted to me by family and friends, even when I felt undeserving of it all. The gratitude I feel for the many blessings of connection, comradery, and mentorship in my life is beyond words. ​

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Thank you for listening!

 

I recently soft launched "Tuff Buff Co.", a passion project that allows me to share content I have created ranging from outdoor objectives to my thoughts on how we can live more connected, fulfilling, and holistically healthy lives! Follow its evolution on Instagram @TuffBuffCo!

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