Joe Gerstandt | keynote speaker, freedom fighter, freak-flag flier

I am supposed to be on a social media sabbatical, and this is proof of how incredibly weak I am.  Only a few days into my time off line and I have to put out a blog post and jump on twitter for a bit.  There has just been some cool stuff that has happened…

1. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Holy. Shit.  It really happened. I think this is still sinking in with me, I truly had given up hope that it was going to happen now.  I knew that it was inevitable, but it really started to seem like this was not the time. Wow. Really, really amazing step forward. Will there be any issues with the actual implementation? I am sure that there will.  Just like we do not always hire the right person for the job, the military does not always recruit the right person or support the people that they recruit in the right way, but I know that the vast majority of the military professionals work hard to deliver every single day on the commitments and promises that they have made and this will be no different. Anytime we remove a policy based on avoiding the truth we are making progress.  Amazing.
2. I got some love from The HRD. I came across The HRD earlier this year and quickly became a fan of his blog…his blog is one of the few that I read religiously.  I just have love for the way that he writes and what he writes about…he is one of few bloggers I know of that really cuts to the heart of the matter.  It is always nice to be recognized, but it feels even a bit cooler when it comes from someone that you have grown quite fond of, and I got some love from The HRD in his “the year that was post.”  Very cool, thank you.
3. I got some love from Monster.  I found myself on the “11 for 2011” post from the good people at Monster, which is super cool.  I tied for 5th place with my blog spouse Jason Lauritsen.  I am unworthy of a great many things in life, including being on this list, but I will take it.  I do not always know what in the hell I am doing with my blog or why I am doing it, but it has been an incredibly valuable practice in many ways, and I appreciate the shout-out from Monster.  And there are some pretty cool people on this list. Thank you.

Now I have to return to my social media sabbatical.  I have some writing and reflecting to do, some gifts to wrap and I have to make a decision about my holiday beard, which is completely out of control.

Be good to each other.