by johnnoltner
I’m good at looking forward. I like to set goals and strategize. I enjoy dreaming and planning and striving. Every time I reach a goal, three more goals take its place. Every time I climb to the top of a hill, I see a bigger hill and wonder what the view would be like from there. The hills become mountains and I’m beginning to think I just like climbing mountains. I’m not so good at looking back. Karen and I […]
Categories: Uncategorized
by johnnoltner
At ECU, we asked, “What do you want your campus to know about sexual assault prevention and education?”
Categories: Blog • Tags: black and white, education, photography, pledge purple, portraits, prevention, sexual assault, sexual assault prevention, stories
by johnnoltner
To get our new video, click here…but keep reading for a special discount. Happy new year! I learned a lot of things in 2018. Top of the list? I can’t be everywhere. I know it’s true, because I tried. Last year, A Peace of My Mind led programming in 20 states. I drove 40,000 miles and flew even more. I crossed the entire country three times in one week and learned that scheduling will always be messy for this project. […]
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by johnnoltner
We visited Rutgers University for their Leadership Week and asked, “What do you want to be remembered for?”
Categories: Blog • Tags: a peace of my mind, black and white, leadership, leadership development, peace, photography, portrait photography, stories
by johnnoltner
Life has seasons, and so does this work. Fall was a busy season on the road, hauling the exhibits and leading programming at colleges and conferences across the country. It was an exciting and robust schedule, but the last run was 30 days and 5,000 miles long. By the time it was over, I was ready for a break. I returned home November 16 and went straight into harvest mode. For those of you who don’t know, Karen and I […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: home, plan, reflect, seasons, travel, vision, writing
by johnnoltner
It continues to amaze me how a small gesture can change someone’s day, or their life. We’ve all had it happen to us. We all have the power to offer it to others. A Peace of My Mind visited Tennessee Tech and asked, “When has someone reached out to lift you up?”
Categories: Blog • Tags: care, caring, encouragement, friendship, kindness, love, service, support
by johnnoltner
We’ve been talking about how we care for one another this fall…how we lift one another up…how we build relationships that allow all people to thrive. In this season of gratitude, think about how you got where you are today. Who has helped you? Who has encouraged? Are there ways you can do the same for others? At West Virginia University at Parkersburg, we asked, “What is the greatest sacrifice anyone has made for you?” It might be an interesting […]
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by johnnoltner
“I think you have to think life…right ’til the end…and then you think eternal life.” I met Tony and Jenny Potts at a Bruderhof community in New York’s Hudson River Valley. The Bruderhof are Christians, living in community…they share resources, faith, and a life-long commitment to care for one another. Tony: We are here to serve others. It’s not a life of getting. It’s a life of trying to see where you can support others, show love and do also […]
Categories: Uncategorized
by johnnoltner
Yesterday was a driving day. From Parkersburg, West Virginia to Richmond, Virginia to pack up an exhibit at University of Richmond. We stopped at a rest area just across the border into Virginia and I looked at the map. “We’ll go right past Charlottesville,” I said. “We should stop and see if we can find the place.” It was just about dusk when we rolled in. 60 degrees and clear skies, which feels pretty good to a Minnesotan in November. […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: Confederate, counter protest, heyer, kind, Life, love, memorial, noh8, peace, protest, robert e lee, together
by johnnoltner
“You do all these inspiring things,” she said. “I’m just a planner.” I thought for a minute. One of the things I love about A Peace of My Mind is that it lets me drop into different communities and spark interesting conversations. I meet new people and I see the creative ways that people work toward positive change in the world. One of the challenges is that I don’t get to stay. Before we get too far into the conversation, […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: APA, community, community development, effective, justice, planning, urban planning
