Dream Share

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One of my New Year’s resolutions is to “keep in better touch with my old friends by calling them more often.”  I am proud to say that I had two long phone calls with my two BFFs tonight!  Lauren is currently in India for work, and Sarah lives in Virginia.  I wish we were all closer!  Three cheers for technology.  🙂

 

I also parked myself in Starbucks and wrote, wrote, wrote.  It’s crunch time!  At some point, the Husband brought me a coconut water.  Love him.

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And I ate a slice of coffee cake (the baked goods begin calling to me after 5 hours or so) + a hot tea:

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And I didn’t even get to dinner until 10.  My work/sleep/eat schedule is so messed up.  Just two slices of hummus and tabouleh, an apple, and some steamed broccoli.  Fridge to table in 5 minutes.

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Something Fun…

 

Have you heard of the Dream Share Project?  The Dream Share Project is a website / documentary that encourages young people to share and pursue their dreams. 

 

After graduating from college in 2009, Alexis and Chip (boyfriend and girlfriend) began working at 9-5 desk jobs.  They felt unsatisfied in their new work, and knew they needed to do something to change their lives.  They hatched a plan to travel across the country and create a documentary film about learning what it means to chase a dream.  

 

After saving money for a year, Chip and Alexis both quit their jobs and took off from Washington D.C. to California and back, filming their days as they drove, camped, and interviewed people all over the U.S.  They are currently editing a documentary film about their trip and all of the advice and inspiration they learned along the way. 

 

Chip and Alexis interviewed people from a variety of career fields, including an Olympic skier named Megan McJames, non-profit founder Ocean Robbins (heir to Baskin-Robbins empire but chose to walk away from the fortune!), theater director Raelle Myrck-Hodges, a poet named Chinaka Hodge, and a brewery owner in New Orleans named Kirk Coco. 

 

They also came to Charlotte a few months ago!  The pair interviewed me about the Operation Beautiful movement and my career path.  Here’s the video:

Does my voice sound like you expected it to?!  :)   

 

Check out the Dream Share Project to learn more and tell them about your dreams.  Chip and Alexis hope to sell their documentary to a network and fulfill their film-making dreams.

{ 100 comments }

 

  • Camille January 25, 2011, 10:55 pm

    What an awesome program! Good for them!

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) January 25, 2011, 10:57 pm

    Love love LOVE this project!!! That is something I wish I had thought of! 😀 I love that you were able to be a part of it! 😀

  • Jessica January 25, 2011, 11:16 pm

    hahaha yes! Only because i’ve heard you speak on video before. You’re adorable in this video & the passion you have for Operation Beautiful shines through :). Love it!!

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:28 am

      Thanks Jessica 🙂

  • Marissa C January 25, 2011, 11:18 pm

    Nope! I imagined you with a much higher, perkier voice! Not that your voice is bad–really!

  • Errign January 25, 2011, 11:19 pm

    I’ve seen you on video before, but no, your voice doesn’t sound how I imagined it…but I’m not really sure why?

    Great video!

  • Liz January 25, 2011, 11:21 pm

    I NEVER would have pictured your voice like that! SO ODD. (not that your voice is odd, just odd to hear it after reading for so long) I also imagined it much higher, and perkier.

    • Mary (How To Not Be Awkward) January 25, 2011, 11:36 pm

      That is how I felt the first time I heard your voice…I always expected it to be higher. But I like it! I also randomly heard about this project the other day. That’s so cool that you were interviewed! Great job. 🙂

      • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:29 am

        I think its hysterical that everyone expects me to have a really high and perky voice! LOL

        • Amber K January 26, 2011, 1:30 pm

          I remember the first time I heard your voice and I thought the same thing! I have no clue why we all seem to expect you to have this high voice! lol

  • Jen January 25, 2011, 11:32 pm

    I love when bloggers post videos, but I imagined your voice to be “perky”…but I like it! Now I’ll hear your voice as I read your posts…is that weird to say? HA! I hope not

  • Kristina @ spabettie January 25, 2011, 11:33 pm

    it is SO awesome to watch you talk about Operation Beautiful… <3

  • Julie January 25, 2011, 11:44 pm

    Love putting a voice behind a name! I did a vlog once, and I wondered it anyone would think it was weird!

  • Jaclyn January 25, 2011, 11:46 pm

    Wow, I love that story! Talk about chills!

    Glad your book is coming along well – gitttt ittttt :D!

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write January 25, 2011, 11:47 pm

    I love that idea. How inspiring to quit your job and pursue such an awesome dream – go Alexis and Chip!!!

    Lol. I’ve heard your voice before (interviews and such), but I agree with others that your voice didn’t match what I expected. I have no idea how it is that I would develop an idea of your voice, but I did and I remember being surprised when I heard you talk. Funny how that works!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) January 25, 2011, 11:49 pm

    I am SO bad at keeping in touch with friends. It’s horrible! So many of my friends live in different states and I hardly talk to them 🙁

  • Heather January 25, 2011, 11:50 pm

    Too funny, I don’t know why, but I thought your voice would be higher!

  • Melanie @ Jon and Melie January 25, 2011, 11:50 pm

    What an awesome life experience these two had! You are so sweet and so inspirational Caitlin! I can see why they included you in their documentary. 🙂

  • Megan January 25, 2011, 11:50 pm

    I don’t know how you resist the baked goods for 5 hours! Check out your willpower! I’d be good for, oh, maybe 30 minutes. And then an hour after giving in, I’d be eyeing that bakery case again!

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:30 am

      I sit in the back so I cannot actually SEE the display case – out of sight, out of mind. 🙂

  • Brittany January 25, 2011, 11:54 pm

    Yayyy! You’re so cute 🙂

  • annette January 25, 2011, 11:54 pm

    What a cool idea, I love it! 🙂

  • Parita@myinnershakti January 25, 2011, 11:56 pm

    Caitlin, you are one of my favorite bloggers because you write about and educate your readers about unique and inspirational ideas and concepts! I love Operation Beautiful and I now love this!

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:32 am

      Thank you so much Parita, that is a really nice compliment!

  • Haley January 25, 2011, 11:59 pm

    Love it! Totally didn’t know what to expect for your voice, but it’s perfect (of course!).

  • Sarah January 26, 2011, 12:03 am

    Is Zico coconut water good? Ever since I went to Kauai on vacation and drank coconut water from a real coconut I’ve been looking for a substitute! So far I’ve only tried Naked and Sunkist and was very disappointed.

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:33 am

      I love it, so much better than Naked.

  • maria @ Chasing the Now January 26, 2011, 12:04 am

    I remember hearing your voice in the Oprah video and it’s deeper than I thought it would be! 🙂 Haha.

  • Sana January 26, 2011, 12:19 am

    Hahaha I like your voice!! Totally confident 🙂

  • Dynamics January 26, 2011, 12:23 am

    I have heard your voice before. Beautiful interview. Brought me to tears.

  • Kiran January 26, 2011, 12:36 am

    Awesome project! I love how they’ve followed their passion and begin doing something about it. It’s a great lesson for all of us to try and pursuit what makes us happy. The interview was great Caitlin 🙂

  • Kathleen January 26, 2011, 12:56 am

    I have heard your voice before in other interviews/TV… Pure confidence shines through. I love when people talk about projects and things that they are really passionate about. Like I said on Twitter today, I smiled through the entire video…like I wanted to fist pump a “Yes! Go Caitlin Go!” when it ended.

    • Lili January 26, 2011, 2:49 am

      I agree with Kathleen. I have also heard your voice before in another interview and it does sound very confident and so beautiful!

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:34 am

      Thank you so much ladies!!!

  • courtney @ the granola chronicles January 26, 2011, 1:06 am

    What a cool project. Sounds like it’s gonna be an interesting documentary!

  • kenzie January 26, 2011, 1:43 am

    Hi Caitlin 🙂 I am a senior in high school who has read your blog for a couple years now, and have followed your Operation Beautiful journey! I thought I would let you know that when I went to school today, I found tiny post-its with handwritten, “smile! you are beautiful :)” in all sorts of places all over the school that somebody must have put up yesterday! Your amazing message has now spread all the way to an all girls high school in California 🙂 you are truly making a difference.

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:34 am

      ohmigod! i love that you found notes at your school 🙂 so exciting and fun!!!

  • Mandy January 26, 2011, 2:18 am

    Great vid! Your voice doesn’t sound how I expected, somehow when I’m reading your blog (and others) I forget you guys have an American accent… so strange to finally put a voice to the words!

  • Allison @ Happy Tales January 26, 2011, 2:25 am

    I should totally be in bed right now but I just got down with some biostats h/w and just had to catch up on some blogs before I hit the hay… but Ahhhhh have to say that I love your little interview!! You ended it so perfectly… such a good job!

    Also, for some reason, your voice doesn’t surprise me like it does so many others… no idea why! I guess I didn’t have any expectations.

  • Flo January 26, 2011, 3:24 am

    For some reason I was surprised how american you sound!!! haha I read your posts in an English accent so its a total contrast!
    Brilliant interview by the way, I hope this film is a success 🙂

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:35 am

      Hahah! I wish I had a British accent like the Husband!

      • Laurie January 26, 2011, 12:52 pm

        I would love to hear the husband’s voice! I love british accents!

  • Gill (snaxandthecity) January 26, 2011, 3:48 am

    you come across really well on camera, caitlin! loved the interview. it’s really inspirational to hear about how someone’s actually gone and done what they feel is right…so many of us are are in the rat race!

  • Little Bookworm January 26, 2011, 4:35 am

    Great video Caitlin!

  • Jacalyn January 26, 2011, 5:30 am

    What a small world. I work with someone who invested his money in Kirk’s brewery. I find everyone is willing to help someone with a dream. Mostly because we would all like to chase a dream, but are too scared to give up the security of a well paying job to do it. Cheers to everyone who has taken that risk!

  • Kristina January 26, 2011, 5:58 am

    great video!! ur voice/accent is so “perfect american!” hehe x

  • Christina January 26, 2011, 6:05 am

    great job, i really liked that story!

  • Kristina @ life as kristina January 26, 2011, 6:45 am

    Brings you coconut water? What a good man!!!
    Great story!!!

  • Lauren January 26, 2011, 6:48 am

    Love the interview! You seem so natural on camera these days. 😉

  • Ali @ Ali on the Run January 26, 2011, 7:22 am

    Your voice sounds totally different from what I expected, actually! For some reason I expected it to be more high pitched. No idea why. Hehe. Great interview!

  • Kelly January 26, 2011, 7:25 am

    I LOVE stories about people who quit the corporate grind and put everything toward their dreams. It’s so inspiring and makes me want to do something big. Great job on your interview!

  • Holly @ couchpotatoathlete January 26, 2011, 7:39 am

    I can’t wait to watch the video — but my speakers aren’t hooked up right now.

    Project Dream Share sounds amazing — I am in a place right now trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life! I am lucky to have a supportive husband and I’m trying to just relax and let things happen (but also work for what I want!) — I just need to figure out what that is!

  • Marie-JourneytoBodyZen January 26, 2011, 7:42 am

    I love the Dream Share Project and hope they are very successful! SO cool!

  • sal January 26, 2011, 7:59 am

    I imagined your voice being higher too! As a northerner, I do hear a little ‘South’ in your accent. I also like how you say genre “John-rah”. I really like your voice though!

    I love the concept of the Dream Share Project – anything that helps young girls like this these days is something worth noting.

    • Jennifer (Mother of All Students) January 26, 2011, 8:08 am

      I am from the South (Dallas, TX), and that is how I pronounce genre, too. How do people in the North say it? haha! I think Caitlin should do a post about accents – perhaps a video post! 😉

      • sal January 26, 2011, 9:11 am

        I guess I hear genre (here in Wisconsin) pronounced with a softer ‘G’ sound, if that makes sense?! I love learning about accents around our country, so fun!

        • sal January 26, 2011, 9:13 am

          Or I mean a softer ‘J’ in the first syllable of the word. Whatever floats your boat. :}

    • Michelle January 26, 2011, 8:48 am

      I’m in the Northeast and didn’t hear much of a southern accent at all!

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:36 am

      I’m going to do an accent video soon, maybe tomorrow!

  • Allie @ Healthy Balance, Healthy Life January 26, 2011, 8:08 am

    Not surprised by your voice this time but I was when I met you! Didn’t realize you had that southern twang 😉 But I like it!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat January 26, 2011, 8:15 am

    This project sounds really cool! I plan to park myself at Starbucks for a ton of writing this weekend too… it’s where my creative juices flow best! 🙂

  • Maddie (Healthy Maddie) January 26, 2011, 8:18 am

    What a great project! I hope they sell their documentary.

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape January 26, 2011, 8:35 am

    Good luck on the rest of your writing!! Starbucks is a great place to get work done. Have you tried their banana-chocolate-chip cake? If not, you definitely should! I think it’s their best coffee cake 😀

  • Jessica January 26, 2011, 8:40 am

    I absolutely LOVE hearing people’s voices after I’ve read them for so long. This wasn’t the first time hearing your voice, but I love how confident you are when you talk!

  • Lisa C. January 26, 2011, 8:41 am

    That video was amazing! The story about the young girl trying to overcome anorexia truly gave me chills. Keep up the good work, Caitlin 🙂

  • Jess January 26, 2011, 8:43 am

    That’s so funny that you ask that question at the end because as soon as I watched the video that was the first thing I thought of. I wasn’t expecting an accent ( I don’t know why). Too funny! Great interview too–you came off as super confident and fun 🙂

  • Kelly January 26, 2011, 8:43 am

    Definitely not what I expected, but seeing your video and hearing you speak made me like you even more (in a non-creepy way)! Congratulations on being at a point in your life where you’ve achieved enough to be able to talk about “chasing your dream.” Most people just watch sadly as it runs by…

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 10:37 am

      <3 thank you so much!

    • Bridget January 26, 2011, 1:23 pm

      I agree– hearing you speak made me like you more (also in a non-creepy way!) I think it is because I expected much higher and perkier, but you sound totally normal. 🙂 What a nice video!

  • Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} January 26, 2011, 8:52 am

    Great interview. I love your story.

  • Sara (Miles and Manhattan) January 26, 2011, 9:06 am

    All of this press for OB is SO exciting and so well deserved 🙂
    Sara

  • Ashley January 26, 2011, 9:11 am

    That’s so cool. I love coming here and reading about so many inspiring organizations, thanks Caitlin for sharing.

  • Katie January 26, 2011, 9:17 am

    i think you are not alone in your new years resolutions! i know plenty of people who created the same resolution and are doing a pretty good job keeping up with it. GO YOU!

    i scheduled monthly skype dates with my bff’s and we all really look forward to it 🙂

  • Kara January 26, 2011, 10:05 am

    Even though I’ve heard your voice before, I still always expect it to be higher pitched and perky…probably because your blog is so upbeat. Your actual voice sounds like you’d be a great singer, maybe some jazz? 🙂

  • Ashley January 26, 2011, 10:05 am

    What a cute & fun interview! Great job – love your voice! : )

  • Ali @ Ali Runs January 26, 2011, 10:34 am

    Aww I almost teared up listening to that story about the Operation Beautiful note that changed that girl’s life. What an inspiration!!!

  • Marta January 26, 2011, 10:42 am

    This is so funny that everyone thought your voice would be higher-pitched and perky. I definitely thought the same thing – like, softer, liltier (if that’s a word). I love putting the voice behind the written voice. Your story is inspiring and I think it’s very cool they chose to include you. This project sounds great!

  • Jessi January 26, 2011, 10:49 am

    This video is so inspirational! I’ve been a long-time reader but have never commented before. I just had to say how wonderful your mission and dream is, and how great of a job you’re doing!

  • Kathie @ Frugal Fit and Fabulous January 26, 2011, 11:28 am

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this project!!!

  • Nikka January 26, 2011, 11:30 am

    I love it! So happy your message is spreading even further 🙂
    Love the Arcade Fire music in the background, it makes your segment even better.

    I think your use of exclamation points is the culprit to your voice debacle, they make people think of a high-pitched voice, but don’t stop using them!!! They are great!!!

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 12:04 pm

      I do really love !!! and 🙂 🙂 🙂

  • Jenna@frombostonwithlove.com January 26, 2011, 11:56 am

    Such a neat concept! It is so important for peoples’ dreams to be celebrated by others. It helps us all to keep on dreaming!

  • Jamie January 26, 2011, 11:59 am

    I just wanted to tell you that you inspire me to find my niche somewhere. I am so unhappy with my desk job and am starting to think of what else I could do. I have also been inspired to live a healthier lifestyle. Thanks Caitlyn!

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 12:04 pm

      Thank you so much Jamie!

  • Jennifer (keepitsimplefoods) January 26, 2011, 12:34 pm

    I had never heard of Dream Share. What an amazing idea!

    It’s a sad fact that so many of us work and study hard so that we can be be successful in life, only to later realize that sitting in a cubicle and earning a steady paycheck isn’t exactly what we had in mind. I love to see people chase their dreams, especially when those dreams come true!

  • Shari January 26, 2011, 1:44 pm

    What a great concept and website! How better to find inspiration than by reading about all the amazing things other people are doing?! 🙂

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin January 26, 2011, 3:26 pm

    That’s such a cool project! That must have been so much fun for them to road trip all around the country and meet so many people. I would love to do something like that. 😀

  • G January 26, 2011, 4:12 pm

    I teared up at the end of the video… I put operation beautiful notes in all of my library books when I return them. As I’m currently completing my masters, that equals A LOT of books. Really hope that someone finds at least one of them and smiles because of it!
    Thanks for everything you do, you are truly inspirational and have really helped me change the way I look at myself. I really think I am a better person/friend/girlfriend/daughter because of it. Thank you.

    • Caitlin January 26, 2011, 4:13 pm

      Thank you so much G!!

  • Sara January 26, 2011, 8:29 pm

    I think I subconsciously give all of the bloggers I read a ‘voice’ (and it’s different for each now that I think about it) yet just like when you meet a person you’ve only spoken on the phone with, you didn’t sound like I imagined. Amazing what body language, inflection, and a voice can change than just a written word 😛 But as always, it’s great to put a face to a voice 😉 Such an amazing interview and program though! It’s role models like you we need more of in this world.

  • Kath January 26, 2011, 8:38 pm

    Your voice sounds like I thought it would!

    But I swear you are getting more southern… 🙂

  • AB January 26, 2011, 9:32 pm

    Not really. I did imagine you with a higher voice, but I like your voice! haha, although I don’t know what voice isn’t to like. 🙂

  • mary (what's cookin' with mary) January 26, 2011, 10:41 pm

    Yes! It does 😉 I guess I imgined it would be higher.. not sure why.. hehe You seem so SWEET 😀

    I liked your clip!

  • Shayla January 27, 2011, 7:51 pm

    I had heard your voice before and had imagined it higher too like everyone else….I think it’s because you’re so positive and upbeat on your blog that we just imagined you with a “perky” voice, which is a good thing! Although I love your voice…very professional, strong, and confident sounding 🙂

  • suzy pepper January 28, 2011, 5:09 pm

    I agree with the above – I totally imagined your voice higher and perkier. I suppose it speaks to your writing style, which, in an “inspirational” type of blog, is a good thing!

  • d January 29, 2011, 12:44 am

    lovely interview. what is the song playing at the beginning and end?? it sounds so familiar and good!

  • d January 29, 2011, 12:48 am

    Ooh, found it! Arcade Fire.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH_7_XRfTMs

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