Travis Hellstrom's Themes

YEAR OF fatherhood (2024)

I am focusing on being a great husband and father, reading a lot, playing together, taking care of myself and exploring new career opportunities

YEAR OF community (2023)

We moved to a new townhouse, cultivated neighborhood friendships, started pre-k, had family visit from Mongolia, traveled a lot, and released a book on Lincoln.

YEAR OF ADVENTURE (2022)

We traveled a lot, spent the whole summer in Mongolia, I was my brother’s best man, said yes to a new job and focused on fitness with a great new trainer.

YEAR OF WELLNESS (2021)

I said yes to things that helped make me and my family happy and healthy, focusing on sleep, fitness, healthy habits, joy and moving into a bigger home.

YEAR OF HOME (2020)

I explored what home means to me, focusing on our new family, being a first time dad, spending time with family and friends and looking inward.

YEAR OF family (2019)

We found out we were having a baby boy, moved to a new home closer to family, shifted the optimist center to new owners, and welcomed Dalai to the world!

YEAR OF Love (2018)

I was focused on Tunga, my amazing optimists, teaching and advising my graduate students, running the optimist center, traveling and our new puppy!

YEAR OF OPTIMISM (2017)

I built the optimist center, helped Tunga graduate, taught high school, college and four graduate classes, stepped up in leadership, and launched my optimist program.

YEAR OF Happiness (2016)

I wanted my year to be about my top value and really explore what it meant to me, I took on several new jobs, projects with amazing people and released a new book.

YEAR OF focus (2015)

I came into the year with a job loss and helping Tunga get into graduate school. I also focused more on freelancing and started to do more coaching.

Year of Simplicity (2014)

I pared things down, simplified my personal and professional life, and got back to the people and things I loved most. I also finished my thesis and graduate school.

YEAR OF UNITY (2013)

I focused on bringing together all of the various projects, organizations and initiatives I was involved in, unifying them under Advance Humanity.

Year of Awesome (2012)

I focused on launching Advance Humanity, spent the year developing the website, working with New Media Group and starting graduate school.

Year of Reflection (2011)

I focused on getting married, finishing my time with Peace Corps, writing Enough and spent more time meditating, slowing down and experiencing things more deeply.

YEAR OF GREATNESS (2010)

I wanted to define greatness for myself and my life. I wrote in the theme statement: this year I want to live my greatest life in the greatest service to others.

YEAR OF ADVANCE HUMANITY (2009)

I began deciding what the idea of Advance Humanity was all about, how I wanted to share it with others and how they could join in the effort.

Year of Endeavor (2008)

I left for Peace Corps and began living and working in Mongolia as a Health Volunteer. I wanted to see the whole year and every day as an adventure.

Year of Discovery (2007)

I graduated from college, applied to Peace Corps and prepared for discovering new things about the world and myself. Mark Twain's quote really inspired me.