Tag: volunteer

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Community

Unity and Purpose: Di Tran’s Inspiring Encounter with Rip Hatfield at Kentucky’s JusticeFest

On a crisp February afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, a gathering of the city and state’s most compassionate and influential leaders convened for the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation JusticeFest. Among them was Di Tran, a revered figure in the community, invited for the second time as a judge for this impactful event. As he checked in at 2 pm, badge and booklet in hand, he encountered Rip Hatfield, a former chairman of the festival, for the first time.

What struck Di Tran immediately was the profound level of care and dedication Rip Hatfield exhibited. Despite his esteemed status, Hatfield had been volunteering since 7 am, embodying the spirit of selflessness that Di Tran himself so deeply values. Their conversation quickly turned personal, with Di Tran expressing how programs like JusticeFest uplift individuals from humble beginnings, like himself, a third-world country immigrant who now found himself in esteemed company.

Rip Hatfield, with calmness and humility, shared his own story of growing up in a shared three-bedroom home in Portland during the 1950s, before moving to the Southern end near National Turnpike, not far from where Di Tran’s primary residence on Kingston and 3rd St now stands. Their mutual reflections on the miraculous paths their lives had taken were a testament to their belief in a higher purpose.

At 42, Di Tran sought to understand the meaning and purpose of life, a question he posed to the 80-year-old Hatfield. With serene wisdom, Hatfield responded, “I am still trying to figure that out, but that’s not important. You do the small things you can. I am here today, and I enjoy every moment of it.” This simple yet profound advice resonated with Di Tran, affirming his belief in adding value to the world, one small step at a time.

As they parted ways, Di Tran, inspired and reflective, raced to judge his session, eager to learn more from the diverse voices in the room. The encounter with Rip Hatfield was a reminder of the power of humility, service, and the small yet significant contributions that shape a meaningful life.

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Community Corporation Drop the FEAR and Focus on the FAITH Drop the ME and focus on the OTHERS Early Childhood Education Guiding Lights: A Journey of Courage, Compassion and Faith Self-Improve Small Businesses Workforce Development

True Security and Happiness: A Deeper Dive into Creation Over Consumption

“True security and happiness is about creating, not consuming.” This sentiment, expressed by Di Tran in his upcoming book “Drop the FEAR and Focus on the FAITH”, captures a profound truth about human fulfillment.

Definition: At its core, the phrase suggests that genuine contentment and a sense of security cannot be achieved through mere consumption or accumulation of external goods, including material possessions. Instead, it is through acts of creation and contribution that we truly find meaning and satisfaction.

What: This “creation” doesn’t necessarily refer to artistic pursuits alone. It’s about self-progress, small victories, and acts of kindness. Whether it’s tidying up a closet, washing a dish with attention, or noticing the details while washing a sock, it’s the act of creating order, care, and value in our world.

Why: The black hole of emptiness inside each of us isn’t something that can be filled with external goods or validation. It yearns for personal growth, for self-made achievements, and for the satisfaction that comes from contributing to something greater than oneself. Consuming might provide a momentary high, but it’s fleeting. Creating, on the other hand, leaves a lasting impact.

Where: This principle can be applied in every facet of our lives. In our homes, when we opt to fix something rather than throw it away. At work, when we choose to innovate instead of simply maintaining. In our communities, when we decide to volunteer or lend a helping hand. Each act of creation, no matter how small, enriches our environment and ourselves.

When: Every moment presents an opportunity to choose creation over consumption. It’s when you decide to cook a meal from scratch rather than ordering takeout. It’s when you pause to listen to a friend instead of immersing yourself in the next binge-worthy series. It’s in those moments, those choices, that we find true security and happiness.

In conclusion, Di Tran’s perspective reminds us that it’s not in the act of taking but in the act of giving and creating that we find our most profound joys. It’s not about self; it’s about others, about the world around us, and about leaving it a little better than we found it.

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Information Technology Leadership Development Self-Improve Small Businesses

Follow Your Interest, Follow Your Passion: Adding Value to Others and the World

The idea of following your passion and doing what you love is often touted as the key to success and happiness. However, the reality is that passion alone may not be enough to sustain a fulfilling career or life. It is important to consider how your interests and passions can add value to others and the world around you. This is the philosophy behind Di Tran’s book “Drop the ME and focus on the OTHERS,” in which he shares his journey from a successful computer engineer to a small business owner dedicated to serving others.

Di Tran followed the conventional path of going to school, attending college, and becoming a computer engineer. He quickly rose to the top of his field and worked for a Fortune 50 company. However, despite his success, Di Tran began to feel bored and unfulfilled in his work. He realized that he had hit a ceiling in his career and that the work had become repetitive and uninteresting.

On the other hand, Di Tran had always been interested in entrepreneurship and had run small businesses on the side. He realized that his passion for serving others through his small businesses was what truly drove him. He decided to leave his career in IT and devote himself to entrepreneurship full-time.

Di Tran’s journey highlights the importance of following your interests and passions while also considering how they can add value to others and the world. Simply doing what you love may not be enough if it does not benefit others or contribute to society. By framing his passion for entrepreneurship in terms of serving others, Di Tran found a fulfilling and meaningful path.

The key takeaway from Di Tran’s story is that it is important to think about how your interests and passions can contribute to the greater good. This does not necessarily mean that you have to pursue a career in a specific field, but rather that you should consider how your skills and talents can be used to make a positive impact.

For example, if you love art, you could consider volunteering at a local community center or school to teach art to children. If you are passionate about the environment, you could look for ways to reduce your carbon footprint or volunteer with an environmental organization. The possibilities are endless, and the important thing is to think beyond yourself and consider how you can make a difference.

Following your interest and passion is important, but it is equally important to consider how your passions can add value to others and the world. Di Tran’s story shows that by framing his passion for entrepreneurship in terms of serving others, he found a fulfilling and meaningful path. So, whether you are just starting out or looking to make a change, take some time to think about how your interests and passions can make a positive impact on the world.

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Self-Improve

Finding Happiness through Helping Others: 10 Simple Acts of Kindness

Unhappiness is a common issue that affects many people. It’s easy to become consumed by our own problems and struggles, and in doing so, we can forget the power of helping others. When we focus solely on self-reward, self-shopping, and self-treating, we may temporarily feel good, but the effects often do not last. However, when we make a conscious effort to help others, we can experience long-lasting happiness and fulfillment.

Here are ten simple things you can do to help others and improve your own happiness:

  1. Volunteer your time: Helping others through volunteering is a great way to feel good about yourself and make a positive impact. Whether it’s at a local shelter, food bank, or community center, your time and effort will be appreciated.
  2. Offer a helping hand: If someone close to you is struggling, offer to help in any way you can. This could be anything from running errands to cooking a meal.
  3. Make a donation: Make a financial donation to a cause that is important to you, or donate items to a local charity.
  4. Write a letter of appreciation: Take the time to write a letter or send a card to someone who has made a positive impact on your life.
  5. Compliment someone: A kind word can go a long way. Take the time to compliment someone and brighten their day.
  6. Listen to someone: Sometimes all someone needs is a listening ear. Take the time to listen to someone and show them that you care.
  7. Pay it forward: Do something kind for someone and encourage them to pay it forward to someone else.
  8. Give a hug: A hug can be a powerful gesture that can instantly make someone feel better.
  9. Help with household chores: Offer to help with household chores for a friend, family member, or neighbor.
  10. Visit someone who is lonely: Spend time with someone who is feeling lonely, and bring a smile to their face.

Helping others is a powerful way to improve your own happiness. By focusing on the needs of others, you can forget about your own problems and experience a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. So, if you’re feeling unhappy, try doing one of these simple acts of kindness and see the difference it can make in your life.

Taking the first steps towards helping others can often be fearful. We may feel uncertain about how we will be received or if we will be able to make a positive impact. However, it’s important to remember that fear should not hold us back. As Di Tran reminds us in her book “Drop the FEAR and Focus on the FAITH,” it’s important to focus on our faith and trust in ourselves and the impact we can make, rather than giving into fear. By taking small, intentional steps towards helping others, we can overcome our fears and experience the joy and happiness that comes from making a positive difference in the lives of those around us.