The Hope Chronicles (2021)
We share a collection of feel good stories and videos that renew our energy, remind us of our humanity, and keep us grounded in hope. It is our wish that they do the same for you and if you come across any inspiring content, please don’t hesitate to send it our way!
With hope,
The Yeske Buie Team
Posted December 10, 2021
A core value at Yeske Buie, our team believes in giving our time and talent to our Clients and our local communities as an appreciation for all we’ve received individually and as a company. While we are intentional about Giving Big all year round, we find ourselves particularly inspired to give during the holiday season. For the past few years, Yeske Buie’s leaders have generously invited the team to select a handful of toys to be donated to local charities. We hope you enjoy these holiday inspired photos and updates from the Yeske Buie team.
The San Francisco team held a toast before they dropped off their toys in the Mills Building donation box.
The team in Virginia smiles with the nostalgic toys they’ll be donating to a local charity.
Posted September 17, 2021
We didn’t have to go far to find inspiration for this week’s edition of The Hope Chronicles. The Yeske Buie community has been growing in more ways than one recently, and today we’re celebrating our newest addition, Lauren Stansell’s baby daughter, Nora Layne! Lauren and her husband, Daniel, welcomed Nora on September 1, and we can’t get enough of her adorable outfits and tiny toes. We hope these photos of Lauren and her family boost your spirits and make you smile.
Posted September 3, 2021
We came across the following story, and were touched by its meaning, relevancy, and sense of empowerment.
Sometimes I just want it to stop. Talk of COVID, looting, brutality. I lose my way. I become convinced that this “new normal” is real life. Then I meet an 87-year-old who talks of living through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam protests and yet is still enchanted with life.
He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him. “No,” he said slowly, looking me straight in the eyes. “I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines, I see the world through the people that surround me. I see the world with the realization that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines: “Husband loves wife today.” “Family drops everything to come to Grandma’s bedside.” He patted my hand. “Old man makes new friend.”
His words collide with my worries, freeing them from the tether I had been holding tight. They float away. I am left with a renewed spirit and a new way to write my own headlines.
Feeling inspired, we challenged ourselves to embrace this spirit and write our own headlines, and we’re honored to them with you in this space. We’d also love to hear from you! How would you pen your own headlines?
Posted August 20, 2021
One Person Can Make a Difference
Kind, deep, inspiring, and compassionate, 10-year-old Orion Jean’s mission to share the gift of reading by organizing a donation of 500,000 books by the end of August is the epitome of Give Big.
Celebrating A Special Teacher
First grade teacher Mrs. Smith pushed herself to grow from janitor to teacher and persevered through a number of obstacles along the way. She is a true inspiration to never give up on Live Big dreams.
Posted August 6, 2021
Never Give Up
After Sifan Hassan fell in the final lap of her 1500m race, she called on her strength, resilience, and discipline to get back into the race. You’ve got to see her unbelievable finish…
“Can We Have Two Golds?”
These two high jumpers, who both overcame near career-ending injuries, exhibit the most beautiful display of sportsmanship, respect, and compassion when their event ended in a tie.
Posted July 9, 2021
Featured Artist
This homeless artist who lost everything in a fire is now getting attention from some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. It’s an incredible story proving how one act of kindness can change someone’s life.
Back to the Future
Flying cars are just for science-fiction films, right? Not anymore! Last week, a flying car completed the first ever inter-city flight underscoring our belief that human beings are fundamentally growth-seeking, ingenious, and resilient.
Posted May 7, 2021
What Brings You Hope?
What gives Mila hope is her best friend and partner in life, Casee Jones. This pup has seen her fair share of struggles, and despite it all, she continues smiling and wagging her tail each and every day of her life. This pure and unconditional joy for life has been Mila’s shining light while going through the pandemic. What brings you hope?
What Brings You Hope?
What brings Karen hope? In short, her beliefs, her loved ones, and nature. At her core, Karen believes that we all have an ability to persevere and bear hardship, and can tap into a source of hope from our hearts and minds. Being with loved ones or out in nature can bring peace and quiet to allow you to channel into these sources of hope.
Posted April 9, 2021
For all pieces posted April 9, 2021, we take inspiration from the classic line “in a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Specifically, we use the beginning of this phrase as a base to highlight six values and attitudes that have kept our spirits aflame over the past year.
What other values and attitudes have kept your spirit aflame throughout the pandemic?
In a world where you can be anything… Be Kind
We can all learn a lesson or two from #50 who reminds us of the basics of being a good human: patience, compassion, and genuine care for others. Well done, #50.
In a world where you can be anything… Be Grounded
We believe there are serious benefits to mindful breathing exercises and incorporate them into our daily routines. Might Noah be available to lead our next mindfulness webinar?!
In a world where you can be anything… Be Resilient
Our resilience has no doubt been tested over the past year. But as the saying goes, it’s not about how many times you fall down, it’s about how many times you get back up. The 10th time was the charm for this little girl…
In a world where you can be anything… Be Positive
We’ve seen our families, friends, and communities remain hopeful and find light and good even during the darkest days. This mother-daughter duo remind us of the power of positive thinking and recognizing our self-worth.
In a world where you can be anything… Be Grateful
The pandemic has been an opportunity to reflect on all of the special people, places, and things that bring us joy. At the top of that list for many? Long overdue hugs from loved ones like this one.
In a world where you can be anything… Be Creative
We’ve loved seeing all the creative alternatives that people and organizations have come up with to connect, relax, and fill their time during the pandemic. Here’s a few more: newspaper flowers and cardboard toys.
Posted March 26, 2021
An Experiment in Gratitude
At our all-team meeting this month, we spent time reflecting on the past year and all of the things in and outside of Yeske Buie that we are grateful for. It was a special moment – like the experiment in this video, we found that sharing our gratitude lifted our spirits. Give it a try.
The Happiness Advantage
Society tells us that hard work will lead to more success and more happiness. In this fast-paced and entertaining TED Talk, psychologist Shawn Achor explains why he believes this formula is backwards and suggests a few small changes that can create lasting positive change.
Be Sweet to Your Community
We’ve seen creative ways to connect during the pandemic, and now we’re seeing creative ways to connect as work ourselves out of it. Krispy Kreme is was offering free glazed doughnuts every day to anyone who receives the COVID-19 vaccine – sweet!
Can’t Stop the Feeling
This song is inescapable, infectious, and full of joy – we just had to include it as part of this collection! While you’ve likely heard the song before, watching the film crew jam to the pop hit for the first time adds another dimension of soul, cheer, and hope.
Posted February 26, 2021
Listen to My Heart
From their pure talent to their undeniable connection, it’s hard not to fall in love with this incredible brother and sister duo. The humility, originality, and freshness of this catchy tune about the unconditional love of a family gives us a wholesome dose of compassion and joy.
What Is… Passing Along Kindness?
In support of Alex Trebek’s dream for “a gentler, kinder society”, his family donated his Jeopardy! wardrobe – 20 suits, 300 shirts, and +100 ties – to The Doe Fund, a non-profit that helps men struggling with homelessness and incarceration write the next chapter of their lives. Amazing!
Yes, You Can
What happens when you give motivated, underprivileged students an opportunity to participate in an elite college program? An experiment by The Equity Lab found inspiring results – including an 89% pass rate – that make the case for new diversity efforts at elite universities. As the saying goes, education breeds confidence, and confidence breeds hope.
What Brings You Hope?
While Lauren has deferred physical travel during the pandemic, her mind had the privilege of traveling over more than 7,000 pages of novels in 2020, bringing her much needed hope and sanity! Lauren enjoys the escape that reading provides, and the joy of finding a cozy place to unwind, usually next to her dog, Lexi. What brings you hope?
Perseverance: A New Hope
We often talk about resilience at Yeske Buie. A sister to resilience, Perseverance, NASA’s largest and most advanced rover, has made a big splash in the news after successfully landing on Mars. Check out these incredible videos of the rover landing and a panorama of the red planet that bring a new hope for space exploration.
I Want To See You Be Brave
To those who are coping with loss, or are dealing with insecurity, or are having a bad day, week, or year, let this song remind you of your inner strength and power. As Sara Bareilles says, “Let the light in and show me how big your brave is.”
Posted February 12, 2021
An Unsinkable Spirit
This moving ad shines a light on the story of U.S. Paralympic swimmer, Jessica Long, whose unsinkable resilience is nothing short of inspirational. No matter where you are right now, don’t give up – there is hope and strength in all of us.
Love Lesson
These kids aren’t just cute as a button, they also have a sweet, wise, and innocent view on what love is – friendship, appreciation, happiness… and lots of eye contact. Wishing you a very Happy Valentine’s Day!
Chorus of the Captains
Amanda Gorman’s way with words inspires us again! Her latest performance on Super Bowl Sunday honored three community heroes – coaches, educators, and nurses – who have risen above the challenges of the pandemic. Poised and eloquent as always, Amanda reminds us that “even in tragedy, hope is possible”.
What Brings You Hope?
What gives Cristin hope is love – her love for her (now) fiancé has made quarantining during the pandemic more bearable, and they don’t mind staying at home as long as they’re together. She’s also found an extra surge in hope this year as she plans for their wedding celebration in June. What brings you hope?
The Great Outdoors
Feeling a little cooped up? “The great outdoors are wide open!” Ever wonder why you always feel better after spending a few minutes in nature? According to this HBR article, “exposure to nature helps us switch from voluntary attention, which draws on our reserves of focus and energy, to involuntary attention, which requires less focus and energy. This allows us to recover from mental fatigue.” Give yourself the gift of a walk today.
The Ultimate Zoom Faux ‘Paws’
Okay, this video isn’t necessarily rooted in hope, but it’s almost guaranteed to bring you a big, genuine belly laugh. This lawyer’s faux pas with Zoom’s video filters is as relatable as it is funny – who hasn’t experienced a silly Zoom moment since our lives were moved to the virtual platform?! Have a fun story? Share it with us!
Posted January 29, 2021
The Hill We Climb
The epitome of grounded resilience and radiant hope, Amanda Gorman and her Inauguration Day speech “The Hill We Climb” are stunningly beautiful in every way.
There Will Be Light After Dark
A song that is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, Luke Combs’ words pierce through the thoughts and feelings we’re all experiencing. Don’t lose hope, there will be light…
Man in the Mirror
This classic tune dishes out a powerful dose of positivity and re-energizes our motivation to continue rising to the difficult societal and pandemic related challenges we’re all facing. It’s a wonder we’ve yet to highlight it as a beacon of hope!
What Brings You Hope?
The return of sports is a source of hope for Jack, who finds that games provide a getaway from the “noise” of the world and are best enjoyed with friends and loved ones. Jack looks forward to visiting stadiums once again – what brings you hope?
Born to Be Wild
This viral Twitter thread brought us a big ‘ole smile that we just had to share! Photographer Joaquim Campa shares photos of curious animals interrupting wildlife photographers. Nature is so full of hope and peace.
Scenic Relaxation
Missing travel? Feeling anxious? These scenic relaxation videos may be the antidote for both of these sentiments. Their beauty, perspective, and music are instantly calming, and give us hope for resuming our Live Big adventures in the not so distant future.
Posted January 15, 2021
Lead with Love
Joy. Sadness. Fear. Excitement. Disgust. Surprise. Love. Of all the emotions we’ll feel today, and this month, and this year, let’s agree to lead with love.
New Year Blessing
At the turn of the New Year, a dear friend of ours shared with us this poem by Rachelle Lamb called ‘New Year Blessing’. May 2021 be a magnificent year for all of us.
Let It Happen
These three talented sisters share a love for dance, and their energy, enthusiasm, and synergy are an instant dose of hope and cheer for those who watch. This video is their first of the new year, and the others on their channel are just as infectious – be sure to check them out!
What Brings You Hope?
Ryan Kelly dreams of the day he can travel again. Until then, odes to travel, like those in the New York Times’s weekly Travel Dispatch, imbue him with hope. He’s also begun visualizing future journeys to the country’s National Parks with the help of a Parks Project Gift Box. What brings you hope?
A Good Reminder
Have you heard this story yet? Stefan Thomas lost the password for an old Bitcoin account that’s now worth $220M, and has just two guesses left before it’s permanently encrypted. What a great reminder of the importance of healthy technology habits and diversification. We’re hoping for your success, Stefan!
Strings for Hope
A few years ago, local string ensemble Bay Area Strings performed at Yeske Buie’s in-person client event. Missing the ability to host live performances in 2020, the group recorded several jam sessions for music-lovers to enjoy at home.