Celebrating Life, Community, and Resilience: Looking Back at an Incredible October

October is always such a powerhouse month… a vibrant stretch of time packed with deep reflection, personal milestones, cultural heritage, and community awareness. Between all the work happening behind the scenes at the office of elections, addressing Congressional surveys, and advocating to eradicate online cyberbullying and digital negativity, it’s been a busy and inspiring few days.

As we reach October 31, today carries so many layers of meaning. Before diving into tonight’s festivities, let’s take a look back at everything that made this month so incredible.

1. Honoring Heritage and History: Indigenous Peoples: for my family we participated in The Lakota Traditions 

October gives us a vital opportunity to honor rich cultural foundations through Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Heritage observances, celebrating the wisdom, history, and enduring contributions of Native communities. Tribal nations like the Lakota have maintained sacred traditions and seasonal observances for generations, from coming of age ceremonies to vision quests, that emphasize living in harmony with nature, community stewardship, and honoring life’s natural cycles long before modern calendars existed.

2. Standing Up for Causes That Matter

Beyond celebrations, October unites us around crucial health and social causes that demand our voice and action:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Dedicated to early detection, education, research, and standing in solidarity with survivors and families affected by breast cancer.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Bringing light and support to survivors, raising awareness, and advocating for safe, loving, and abuse free environments for everyone.
3. Personal Milestones, Visionary Birthdays, and a Monumental Loss

This month was also full of personal joy, major celebrations, and profound moments of reflection:

Wishing a very happy birthday to my daughter!
Celebrating my great friend, Marquis!
Recognizing the birthday of Bill Gates (October 28), one of the most brilliant tech innovators of our time and co founder of Microsoft. Alongside his ex wife Melinda French Gates (co founder of the original Gates Foundation, who now leads Pivotal Ventures), he continues to partner with global leaders to eradicate devastating diseases and address the world’s toughest challenges through philanthropy.
Ironically, on that exact same day, we lost one of the greatest classical and theatrical actors of our time: Sir Patrick Stewart. Hailing from Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England, Sir Patrick built a legendary career spanning over six decades across stage and screen. From his masterclass work with the Royal Shakespeare Company playing monumental roles like Henry IV, Macbeth, and Antony, to commanding the starship Enterprise as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and anchoring cinematic universes as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, he brought unmatched dignity, sharp intellect, gravitas, and exquisite polish to every single space he occupied.

Losing titans like him highlights a sobering reality: we are down to a very few of those true classically trained theatrical actors who carry that level of profound discipline. Much of this shift in our cultural landscape ties back to broader systemic changes, including how the digital age and online environments have altered media consumption, alongside massive industry shifts like the 2017 pullback of billions in foreign capital and funding from overseas markets that once flooded Hollywood blockbusters. It is a stark reminder that our society, our art, and our media ecosystem are changing rapidly. For many of us, the passing of an icon like Sir Patrick Stewart isn’t just the end of an era; it’s a wake up call to take notice of how true craftsmanship is fading in a digitized world.

4. Where Does Halloween Come From? (And Our Dojo Adventures)

That brings us to tonight: Halloween!

Have you ever wondered where Halloween actually comes from? Its roots trace back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the start of a new year on November 1. Ancient Celtic tradition held that on the night of October 31, the veil between the physical world and the spirit world grew thin, allowing spirits to cross over. Over time, as Christian traditions like All Hallows’ Eve merged with local customs, it transformed into the beloved holiday of costumes, treats, and community fun we enjoy today.

Speaking of costumes, if I wear one tonight, I’m going as Wednesday Addams! I actually already channeled Wednesday a couple of days ago when I took one of my kids to a super cool, spooky haunted house setup over at the dojo.

Reader’s Circle & What’s Next for November

Right now in our Reader’s Circle, we are finishing up Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams, which we will be reading until November 6.

Starting November 7, we’ll be kicking off our next official selection! We’re currently deciding between a few incredible titles:

Source Code by Bill Gates
The 6 Phase Meditation by Vishen Lakhiani
Or possibly a book by Anna Willheit!
Stay tuned. I will formally announce which book won by November 3 or November 4 so everyone has plenty of time to order their copy with us or grab it on Amazon before we jump in together on November 7!

We had so many great promotions last month, and I’m excited to bring even more to you throughout November. That’s all for now. Stay tuned tomorrow for more updates!

Wishing you a safe, happy Halloween and a peaceful transition into November. Thank you for being here, staying grounded, and keeping digital spaces positive and peaceful!