LET'S DO THIS!!
Hey steemit community! I’m pumped to start blogging it's been a long time coming. My dad @bitstudio told me about the amazing steemit community and my wife @la-vida already started so make sure to check them out!
WHO THE HECK IS JOSHUA THOMAS GRAY?
How have I never heard of you!?
Reveal spoiler
At The Dead Sea with mud on my face hahah... keep that skin looking fresh yo!
You have never heard of me because I'm a nobody... for now. :D
Currently 28, 10 amazing years married to my wife Christin, and we have two amazing boys (5 & 3 help us!)
I’m a filmmaker/photographer and I want to start sharing my voice/art with a community of people to inspire and give hope. I enjoy sharing my story with young people to help them discover who they are and how they can follow their passions with purpose.
Over the last 10 years as I voyaged my career starting from nothing at 18 years old.. It's actually kind of a crazy story it involves high school pregnancy, running away to Reno to get married, having a miscarriage, becoming a photographer and dropping out of high school. The story ends great.. spoiler! Still married with kids now and own my own business. (another blog for the full crazy story)
As a filmmaker/photographer I have had amazing opportunities traveling the world and meeting some amazing people however all the images have basically sat dormant on hard drives... many.. many had drivers. Thus steemit will you come along the adventure of life with me!?
2015 - 2017
A lot has happened in 2 years.. let me catch you up.
2015 - I started questioning why I do what I do. I was working full time for a software company doing video and it was great for the first 4 years... however the 5th was a long year of not enjoying my job anymore and realizing it’s not what I really wanted for my life. I ended up writing this mission for myself: Telling stories to inspire and give people hope.
I put my notice in at work.
2016 - Got offered a job at a church to heading up the video team (never thought I would work at a church) It was a great job with the goal of: Telling stories to inspire people and point them to Jesus. (that's the mission statement they wrote for this job.. so basically I couldn’t say no)
later in the year we sold our home, threw away, sold, gave away, and packed the rest of our stuff in a 10X10 storage unit. We hit the road in our 1984 Westfalia from Seattle to San Francisco and back for about a month. We got home and bought an airstream and have lived in that since.
Dec. 2016 - I put my notice in at that amazing and safe job to voyage my own path and pursue changing the world.
2017 - I started my own company called Anthro with the goal to change the world through human story. It has been awesome and I can’t wait to see how the future unfolds!
This is a little video about our company.. more about Anthro in another blog post.
2018 HERE WE COME!
Are you ready for this?
Big things are happening in 2018!
Number 1 is a film I have been working on for 2 years. I want to share the process of making this film with you! I am going to share rough edits and private links of the footage we are working on!! YES JUST FOR YOU STEEMIT!
So what the heck why not start with this rough draft of a teaser for the film! DO NOT POST THIS ANYWHERE! (thanks and enjoy)
Again I'm sharing unfinished work with you guys to allow you to be a part of the process! I have not publicly shared this video anywhere! Please DO NOT take the link and post it anywhere, I want this to be on my channel and only for this community.
Let me know what you want to know and see!
Here are some stills from the film (Shot on a red for the camera nerds out there :D )
This is the house that we stayed at. Pretty basic but for the area it's really nice. The family was very welcoming and accommodating. An unforgettable experience for sure.
We stayed at an orphanage in Haiti for a couple nights as well.. here I am filming there:
IN CONCLUSION
Let's Change The World!!!
dang.. if you are still reading this... give me a follow and up vote haha! Just kidding but really thank you.. it means a lot to me to find people who are interested in following what I'm up to.
I hope to find a community of people who share similar values. I hope my art/work/life put out into the world can help others.
I believe people matter. I believe telling stories can change harts, minds, and inspire people into action. Thus I am going to start sharing more of my story and others stories here.
BONUS
Cus why not!
Filming on the Big Island of Hawaii
This was the day that we sold our house and got rid of everything and vagabonded :D
Now we live in an 1989 airstream that we renovated (another day another blog )
Filming in Israel inside a 2,000 year old tomb. We had to slide down two levels deep into the earth. Only to find out 2 tarantulas lived down there!!! Also still some human bones in this bad boy :0
Yosemite... must I say more?
I love Wakeboarding
Me filming a sick video I'll share with you in the next month (yes we flipped a car on its side.. yes i still drive it.)
Las Vegas
NYC
Arizona (I'm going to do a whole blog about this.. its insane)
PNW adventures in the Westfalia
Okay.. for real.. if you are still here.. HIGH FIVE you win! This was probably way to much for my #introduceyourself BUT i don't care! hahah
Leave me a comment! Let me know what you think or if you have any questions!
Follow me if you so fancy!
Tell me a little about yourself! I wanna get to know you wonderful people!
Peace!
-- Joshua Thomas Gray
Hey welcome to SteemIt ... look forward to following your journeys around the world, from on traveler to the next!
Thanks!!
What a beautiful story! Chase your dreams brotha, don't let anybody tell you you can't achieve something. Push when you feel like you can't push anymore and go out there and exceed your goals!
Heck yeah!! Making it happen :D thanks!
It looks like you are gonna have an amazing film there. Your photo's are absolutely beautiful. Keep dreaming and dream big. Welcome to Steemit
Thanks we have been working hard on it! I can't wait to get it done and get it out there!
Your welcome. I can just imagine has been an ongoing project for couple of years for you. The on and off to many others.
Dear Joshua,
You did a great job introducing yourself.
I must say, i am amazed!
Photos are surreal and the story of your last couple years is mind blowing.
Best regards and best of luck
alex
Joshua, Excellent Photo's you posted, Welcome to the Steemit Community
thanks!
Well hay there Joshua!! I must say that this is one of the best introduction posts I have seen since being on Steemit. Your filmography is wonderful, crisp, clear and professional. I love what you stand for and the message you are trying to bring to the world. I look forward to seeing more of your work and hearing about the sick film you are working on :D
You have a beautiful family! Your story of leaving your career and house behind to travel and see the world reminds me of a lot @markwhittam’s story whom I’ve been following since he first arrived here.
Let’s see a little about me...I also have little ones, 4 to be exact ages 1, 4, 6 and 7 and one on the way. You say help you...help me!! 😂 I’m a stay at home that homeschools and loves it. We love the freedom to teach our kids as we please and have the flexibility doing so. I’m an amateur photographer learning the ropes and just did my first two jobs as a photographer. You can check out some of my work here and here. I support @familyprotection and helping spread the truths about CPS and Child Services and how they are destroying children and their families. @markwhittam and @canadian-coconut run the page, you should check it out when you have time. I also share my birthing experiences and mommy stories to empower mothers to be strong and know that they have choices.
Well I think that’s a wrap lol. I love to meet new people as well and I am so glad I checked out your introduction. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around :) Upped and Steemed your post so more people can meet you. God Bless~
Hey @crosheille! Thanks so much for the kind words! 1,4,6, and 7!!! You are a champ!! My wife also just started a steemit blog @la-vida. We are currently talking about what to do about school for our 4 year old.. we currently have him enrolled in an awesome private school for preschool but next year is the real deal for kindergarten and we are starting to really look into homeschooling but have lots of questions.
Funny you mentioned @markwhittam I just discovered his blog the other day and thought... dang they are doing it!! haha
thanks for the introduction nice to met you!
You’re absolutely welcome!! Haaa thanks! Although at times I don’t feel like a champ, I’m just trying to survive the madness lol!!! I just visited, followed, Upped and Steemed @la-vida! I look forward to hearing back from her!! 😃 Well I’m here to help in anyway that I can and would love to answer questions or give tips about homeschooling. It’s totally doable and so amazing watching your kids grow and blossom right before your eyes. No one knows our kids better than we do, no one knows their strengths and weaknesses like we do so we are well capable of teaching them on our own.
Oh yes Mark and his family are really doing their thang!! They are so inspiring! I’m so glad you already discovered him! Looking forward to following your family!! Take care!!!
Thanks for all the help!
My pleasure :)
Amazing post, with an amazing story. Look forward to your future posts. Wish you all the success in business. It's not easy, but the rewards are so much more than money alone can offer.
Thanks! Yes its a voyage for sure but I'm loving it!
Wish you enjoy the process
And eventually enjoy the result!
Wow this post was amazing! Loved all the cool photographs. I'm sure your content will be amazing so I just gave you a follow :)
Thanks Emily! looking forward to post a lot more :D
Yeah!!! Nice :D
oh yeah :D
If your intro is any indication of future content, let me just say welcome!
Excellent pictures. Looking forward to seeing more in the future.
Thanks! I'm working on figure out what my post are all going to look like. I will probably do lots of smaller post but I also want to work on larger post like this for sure!
I really want to start making videos to show what I'm up to/ the film I'm working on.. so keep an eye out for that! Steemit looks like the platform I will use to show sneak peaks of my work!
Haha! Here is a follow & your upvote! I made it to the end & enjoyed! Yes, let's change the world for the better. All the best & welcome to Steemit...and Merry Christmas!
*High Five
Thanks for the follow and upvote! Merry Christmas and soon happy new year! Thanks for checking my stuff out hope you enjoy the future post as well!
A wonderful new year to you as well!
You're living the life! :D Following!
HAHA! Thanks! Life is good :D
Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you gonna get
Remember this one?..
Sold bud! Welcome to Steemit, you'll fit right in. Love you ethos bud amazing. Giving you the trio vote, resteem and coming back for more.
YEAH! thank you! Week one and I'm in love with steemit! So looking forward to the future here!
Great work you'll not regret it !
An amazing intro post. Welcome to steemit! Looking forward to seeing more of your work. Upvoted, following and resteemed.
Dang thank you! I'm looking forward to sharing more! thanks again!
Dude! Totally leave something for your next post :-P
Welcome aboard :-D
HAHA! Just so much to share!! thanks man!
Brilliant and fascinating introduction and post. Looking forward to seeing more.
Kudos to you for dropping everything and following your dream, I am sure that your children will have an enriched childhood and all your lives will not only make a difference to others but also be so much more meaningful.
Big welcome to you! 😀
Thanks @katdvine! looking forward to posting more! Thanks for the encouragement we believe by stepping into the unknown and chasing our dreams with our kids will lead by example and we can look back and life and not have to say... "I wish we did that." We hope it will instill wanderlust, purpose, and a can do attitude for our kids!
They say it is better to do something and regret, than not do it and regret.
Hope you will do it and ... we’ll see...
Welcome Joshua! Gorgeous shots and fantastic mission. Looks like a beautifully connected life and vision <3 wren
Thanks wren! It has been an awesome 2 years!
Wonderful content!
Breathtaking photography and videography skills. I'm looking forward to future posts!
thank you! I'm looking forward to posting more!
gorgeous photo.. amazing life!
Thanks @nikosnitza! We are having fun!
Wow, outstanding introduction - Believe me, I read a lot of those! Resteemed you via @welcoming, my page where I share promising newcomers like you! Check out the other new ones too!
Greets!
WOW thanks so much that means a lot!
I would love to pick your brain about the steemit community.
What a great introduction!
Man, it’s nice to see you here :)
I wish you all the best. Let’s change the world like you said ^^
@modernpastor
Yeah Buddy!!! Changing the world!!
Make it a better place
God bless You!
Welcome to steemit! and I commend you for taking the leap to pursue a dream. Not many people do that!
Thanks! It's amazing I hope my story can help encourage others to make the leap!
That is true.
Not many people do that.
Dreams are closer than you think, you realise it when you lose them.
Wish all of us strength to overcome fear of losing comfort of everyday life to pursue the uncharted Dreams territory
Best regards,
alex
Heck yeah! thanks Alex!
Wow.. this write up is an adventure itself
HAHAH it sure felt like it!!!
Awesome post. I very much look forward to reading more of your blogs as you release them.
Thanks! just posted my 2nd!
WOOT WOOT!! thanks!
Great adventures and great projects! Welcome to steemit!
Kate
Thanks!!
Yes, Yes, Yes to all of the above!!!
I have a feeling we are going to get along like a tinyhouse on fire :)
Upvoted, resteemed and followed
HAA! WOW Thanks Mark!! DUDE your rig looks amazing!! I need to know more about it! Where are you guys located? Will you ever be around WA state?
You're awesome, @joshuathomasgray! 100% Upvoted and followed you. Good luck and wishing you every success on Steemit!
dang! Thank you!!
Wow, that’s a really powerful intro! From the looks of it, you are really going to thrive here on Steemit. Welcome aboard!!! Upvoted and followed. Looking forward to your future posts! :)
Thank you so much! I'm getting supper encouraged about all of this!
It is gonna get better and better
WOOT!
@joshuathomasgray, welcome to Steemit.
You have a great intro posts (amazing photos), an amazing story, and an even more amazing Lord.
I look forward to hearing more about your adventures. following
Thanks man!!
good stuff . I,ll follow- upvoted
Thank you!
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STOPhello Joshua Thomas Gray! Welcome to the other side! It is very fun here. I wish you all the best so that you can eventually make a living out of writing also :) Currently, I am also living in a caravan with my daughter (4) enjoying a sunny winter! Happy for your decision to sell your house. It is my opposite dream actually - now i want to buy a house :)) Eventually, with the virtual money in a couple of years! Let's keep in touch. We have same visions about life :)
Thanks!! Are you living off just the money you are making on steemit? We will live in a house again some day however for now we are loving the airstream life! We just like changing things up :D
me the opposite, i lived in the airstream life for years and years and now i have this objective - A HOUSE! for a change :)) no, i don't live out of steemit. i just joined the network recently also. but maybe in future we could do it :) good luck to both of us!
Welcome to steemit @Joshuathomasgray , you will do well on here, you sure have lots of interesting experiences and stories to tell. Look forwarrd to hearing about them all.
Thanks!
You're a real renaissance man. Welcome to Steemit!
Thank you!
Steemit's Friends ... Many people have talked about Steemit which is a very unique and excellent platform for work or self-reliance in writing. And it is a privilege for me to be able to use this platform, and because of the help of the application that has been provided by @ good-karma I can be more flexible in using this Steemit.
Many of my Friends have taught me how to use this site and the various functions of the eSteem application. And I need to learn a lot from all the friends who have joined in this steemit, especially to all members of #KSI and friends that we know
Yeah lots to learn but looks very promising!
Welcome to Steemit.. everyday new and exciting are joining... your adventures look like what I envision for the future...
Thanks! We are enjoying the adventure of life for sure! Hope we can be an encouragement to others to follow what they want to do.
Distinguished publication Greetings I wish you happy year
Thanks! So pumped for 2018!
Wow! That trailer gave me goosebumps! I can’t wait to follow your journey! I spent a couple of weeks in a cave in Israel with some spiders too. No human bones, just animal bones. If you ever pass through Tennessee you can camp on our farm a few days.
Thanks! You can check out some more of the film on my last two post 👍!
Also we would love to stay on your farm! We are trying to come up with a way to do somthing like travel the US and stay on people's property all along the way... maybe the steemit community could be our key to finding all the people. It could be cool meeting people/ share stories along the way.
Sounds like a fun trip!
Hello Joshua, welcome to Steem! :-)
Hey gtg Thanks!!