Well, after a short hiatus we’re back (and hopefully better than ever). For the week that I wasn’t writing on Break the Twitch, I was busy turning 30! Amy and I celebrated my birthday last Saturday in our backyard with a great group of friends. It really has seemed like time is flying faster than ever. I do want to sit back and take some time to reflect on everything that has happened even in the last few months, and I will soon. Right now, I want to tell you a bit more about how we’re celebrating my 30th birthday.

Break the Twitch evolved out of the frustration I felt when I wasn’t able have experiences along with people I care about. All those times that family members wanted to go somewhere for a vacation together and I wasn’t really quite able to pull it off. It always seemed like I just didn’t have enough money to make those big purchases like plane tickets or hotel stays. It turned out, that I was trading lots of small impulse purchases for those meaningful travel experiences I so desperately wanted. Brown boxes would arrive at my office almost every day. Maybe fifteen dollars spent on a cable, or a gadget, forty dollars on something else. It didn’t seem like much because they were all low-priced items. Unfortunately, it was the collective total that was preventing me from doing the things that truly mattered to me. Those experiences I desperately wanted to have were always just slightly out of reach.

In December of 2014, everything changed. Amy and I started the great purge. We started selling off everything we could and donating the rest. We played minsgame at first, and then just continued on our own. Most importantly, I stopped wasting money on things I didn’t truly need. Through embracing minimalism I quickly realized that I already have everything I need to live a happy life. Nothing that comes in a box from an online shopping website was going to make me any happier than I already chose to be. Do you know what would make me happier? Finding a way to give back.

All of this excitement came to a thrilling peak when I was presented with an incredible opportunity. In late 2014 I had learned about the beginnings of a new nonprofit called The Hope Effect, started by a friend of mine, with a mission to change the way the world cares for orphans. I said that I wanted to help, and in May that opportunity literally took flight. Due to our lifestyle changes, I was able to buy a flight to Honduras to volunteer my time taking photos, videos and learn about La Providencia – an orphanage in Siguatepeque, Honduras that is on the leading edge of orphan care. I spent three days meeting teachers, staff, house parents and the amazing children that lived there. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of education the children were given, the love that I saw in their parents eyes, and the quality of facilities there.

For my 30th birthday, I’m holding a fundraiser to help The Hope Effect build another home at La Providencia. That means more house parents and more orphans moving into this wonderful place. I made the below video to help explain why this is so important to me – it’s short, please give it a watch.

We’re already almost halfway to my goal of $3,000 now – so we don’t have far to go. The best part of this, is that every single dollar contributed will go directly towards orphan care. If you feel inspired to join me in this endeavor, I encourage you to do so. Whether it’s five dollars or five hundred, it makes a huge difference when we all come together towards a cause as important as this one. Whether it’s a donation, a share on social media, or telling a friend – it all helps.

If you’re interested, you can support my fundraiser here. As always, I appreciate your time, attention, and care.

-Anthony