A Man of Inspiration - Jesse Brisendine

Jesse Brisendine

The people who know me, also know that my celebrity crush since I was like 12 and he appeared in the Young and the Restless –lol – is who else?? Paul Walker..:)We got older, years passed and internet became a daily necessity. Facebook and Twitter became the means for communication all over the world and celebrities finally found a way to reach out to their fans. Push the Like button in your favorite’s fan page and you have him/her nearby 24/7.

That’s how in a Paul’s wall post, I read about his friend, Jesse Brisendine.

You see you never know when or where will inspiration hit you.. Maybe it’s a song, a book, a movie, something a stranger tells you on the road.. Sometimes is a person who decided to take a step just a little further..someone who decided to make a difference..And that someone is Jesse.

I’ll be honest with you. I started reading his blog just out of pure curiosity of what could a celebrity’s – my favorite celebrity’s - friend write about. And then..I just remained speechless.. Because reading the blog, I discovered a man totally worth talking about. Jesse dared to do what many of us just think. Make his dreams come true. 1 Year 1.000 Challenges. And that’s how the story begins…

At that time, I was in a very difficult and strange phase of my life. My mom had fought breast cancer and thankfully won. My dad had an open heart surgery. And I was supposed to be the rock for everyone else but myself. Everyone was counting on me, and I couldn’t let them down. I had to be strong, so that everyone else could show their weakness. Until, I started collapsing. Dizziness, stress attacks, sadness started to make an appearance. I didn’t want to get out of my house. I wasn’t laughing. I just wanted to sleep all day. I didn’t enjoy going to work. Aaaand I gained almost 20 pounds. Everyone was telling me I had gained weight, like I couldn’t see it…Helllooo people… I Do know how much I weigh…STOP TELLING me all the time… On top of all of that, my boyfriend started pressuring  me to lose weight and go to the gym. He claimed that I had to be fit and nice, so that he could be attracted to me and bla bla bla….I just wanted to be liked for who I am and not for the size of my b@tt... :/

And then I read Jesse’s blog and I realized I WANTED to make a change. I WANTED to get fit. But for myself. Because I wanted it. Because it would make ME feel better.

As Jesse suggests I started with the small ones. I tried to eat healthier at first and started taking small walks. Then bigger walks with a little jogging. I also started playing tennis. Now, I feel good. I haven’t lost every pound I want yet, but I’m going there. J I want to do as many things as possible. Cease the years and the days and the minutes. Travel to every place I’ve ever dreamed of. Help as many people as I can. I’ve become a volunteer for Athens Special Olympics 2011 and an active volunteer for Amnesty International. The most important thing is that I’m beginning to find my appetite for life again…and I owe a huuuuge part of that to Jesse Brisendine. J He was a friend – even a distant – when I most needed one..and his posts made me laugh and made my day, whenever I had the blues. But most importantly he made me get out of my bed and DO!!

Try to do a small thing each day. If a man can accomplish 1.000, you sure can accomplish even 100. J

“Be the change you wish to see in the world. My goal with this challenge is to show people that the only thing that can hold us back in life is ourselves. “

To learn more about Jesse and his 1.000 Things Challenge visit his blog at http://jessebrisendine.blogspot.com/ . Also find him in facebook at http://www.facebook.com/1Year1000Challenge/ . Don’t forget to click “like” on his page. ;) Spread the word and let’s get him some followers!!

As Jesse says, Carpe Diem!!

Take care!

Sunny Greetings from Greece!!!

It smells like summer here and the beaches are calling like sirens….;)

Xoxo

B.

P.S. Photos are from Jesse's FB page. Loved the one with the ladies...;)