Category Archives: Everyone Has a Story

Mini-interviews with people like you who share some of their dreams, bucket lists, and advice

Everyone Has a Story: Janet Kronbach

Today’s mini-interview is with Janet Kronbach. Read below as she tells us about some of her dreams, the discipline she’s found to be helpful, and the thing she’ll never cross off her bucket list.

Janet with her husband, Dave, at Kapellbrücke in Switzerland – Photo provided by Janet Kronbach and used with permission

What is one of your dreams for your life?
Colorful, creative, connected living. Showing hospitality to others and inviting them to tell and process their own story, using art, nature, sound and movement. That “ah-ha” moment when someone gains personal insight and perspective, as they are telling their own story, brings me a lot of joy and satisfaction!

What is something on your bucket list?
Hmmm… I feel like I’m living my bucket list. I’ve lived in Africa, Asia and we just moved to Europe, where we are settling into life in Budapest, Hungary. I am drawn to the beauty of water, so I’d love to explore Croatia, the land of 1000 islands! 🙂 Something I will never cross off of my bucket list, but which is always a pursuit for me, is my spiritual journey, understanding my own story in light of God’s story. It seems there are always new perspectives and areas to discover on that spiritual journey! That delights and challenges me!

What is the best advice you ever received?
“I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” This wise advice, from Saint Paul (in Philippians) is right in line with Appreciative Inquiry. Or rather, I guess that Appreciative Inquiry (AI), or the discipline of positive change, is in line with Paul! AI suggests that, rather than trying to “fix” what isn’t working in our lives, that we pay attention to those things which inspire positive and uplifting thoughts… that we focus on the best, on what is working well, and… build on that! I’ve found this discipline helpful, especially when I’m tempted to get mired down in the sorrowful places in my life.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Pretty good advice!

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Thanks for sharing your time and story with us, Janet!

Readers: Do you want to be interviewed, or do you know someone I should ask for an interview? Let me know.

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Everyone Has a Story: Adam Luff

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Today’s mini interview is with Adam Luff, a screenwriter and filmmaker currently living in the UK. Read below as he tells us about some of his dreams and inspirations (and shares a clip from one of his short films!).

Photo provided to The Goal List by Adam Luff – Used with permission

Photo credit: Quentin Brooks
Photo provided by and used with permission from Adam Luff

What is one of your dreams for your life?
To immigrate to the United States. The ambition began when I studied in San Francisco on a Masters program in Motion Pictures and Television. When I came back to England, I kept connected with my classmates and continue to write screenplays for their film projects as well as finding new clients to write for.

What is something on your bucket list?
To attend the Day of the Dead in Mexico. I had this in mind for a while but when I recently saw Spectre it was as a big reminder to get on with it.

Who or what inspires you?
I can be quite a nostalgic person, always looking back. I’d love to make retro films, for example a film that’s far out and colorful like the old spy films of the swinging sixties and a classic movie serial complete with over the top cliffhangers. So far the films I’ve been able to make or contribute to have been things set in modern times but one film I’m proud of is Hat Trick (2012) which is based on the old silent movies of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.

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Thanks for sharing your time and dreams with us, Adam!

Readers: Do you want to be interviewed, or do you know someone I should ask for an interview? Let me know.

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Everyone Has a Story: Blake Johnson

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Today’s mini-interview is with Blake Johnson, who describes himself as a “PhotoSapien and TV Picture Optimizer” on Twitter. Below, Blake shares about making the jump to self-employment, the thing he really wants to photograph, and the conversation that reminded him that he was more capable than he thought he was.

Photo provided by Blake Johnson – Used with permission

What is one of your dreams for your life?
To be working for myself doing things I enjoy. To be more specific, lately I have branched out away from a day job to give myself a real chance. I actually realized today I am finally starting to live this dream that I’ve had for many many moons. I saved up and waited until a good time to jump. I am taking as many jobs as I can which covers a wide variety of things, but I feel like I need to at this point. I am taking photos, fixing computers (and other tech support type things), calibrating TVs, website updates, helping with social media marketing, and loving every minute of it. Coming home as the sun goes down energized instead of worn out and stressed is SUCH a game changer. I highly recommend it.

What is something on your bucket list?
I really want to shoot products like TAG watches at least once. It’s one of those things that I knew I wanted from the day I picked up a camera.

What is the best advice you ever received?
I was a teenager working for my dad’s business. I think it was summer time. I was having a conversation with the lady in charge of the ice-cream parlor where we sold our own homemade goodness. I can’t remember the entire conversation, but somewhere in there she told me… “You’re one of those people that does whatever you set your mind to.” That has always been in the back of my mind. I guess she saw something in me. I don’t think I saw it back then, but others have since said something similar. It wasn’t so much advice as it was guidance or enlightenment. I feel like most people need that outside force to show them a mirror. Otherwise we end up like that mammoth in Ice Age thinking we are just a rat. The truth is we are more capable than that. We can build and create greatness in our lives. It just takes knowing.

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Thanks for sharing your time and dreams with us, Blake!

Readers: Do you want to be interviewed, or do you know someone I should ask for an interview? Let me know.

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