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Brandon Harmony Bryant

@shinewithbrandon

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Life through my eyes.
Host🎙️ @lightmeuppodcast
📍NYC
"Keep Shining Your Light!"

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June, you've been good to me. [long post]

I'm filled with boundless gratitude for all the wonderful things I was able to enjoy after going through a bit of depression months prior to this. To the many people who reached out to check in on me, I thank you for your generosity, kindness, support, and vulnerability toward me. It's been priceless.

There aren't enough words to describe how full my heart is. What I will say is that I'm constantly reminded of the importance of surrounding myself with great friends and chosen family.

To all the many faces I was able to see this month and share space with (pictured and not pictured), thank you for letting this little bi/queer kid from Geneva, NY be part of your world. Thank you for seeing me and for being one of the many stars that make up the constellation of my universe.

As I move into the next year of my life, I do so with more liberty and tenacity to chase my dreams and live my life now more than I've ever felt before.

June 2026: From NYC to Provincetown and points in between, you have surprised and delighted me. More core memories uploaded and locked in.
Also... KNICKS IN FIVE! 🧡💙 by @shinewithbrandon

Today's message: You need to know how important you are. The world needs you.

Too often we face challenges in our lives that might make us think twice about why we're here. Is it all worth it? I can tell you, as long as you have breath in your lungs, and a beating heart, you matter. You matter now more than ever. Don't give up. You got this, my friend.

It's time for you to take the limits off of yourself and LIVE.

Someone is grateful you woke up today. The days may sometimes be grey. Boy, don't I know it. But you can and you will make it. Believe it. Through one small gesture, you have the capacity to change the world.

Keep Shining Your Light. ✨

Love,
Brandon🌻

Share this with someone who needs the reminder. by @shinewithbrandon

This dude just ran his first 5k. Yes. An 11 minute mile for pace? It happened. I survived. It was way too much fun! Thank you to our fearless leader @lanina_p for organizing the squad. Thanks to @diplosrunclub you might have just made a runner out of me. I wanna do this again next year! ❤️‍🔥 🏃🏿 by @shinewithbrandon

I'm still a bit of a recovering perfectionist...

"If you start from the position that there is no right or wrong, no good or bad, and creativity is just free play with no rules, it's easier to submerge yourself joyfully in the process of making things." - Rick Rubin

A creative's journey. There is joy to be found in the process.

-Brandon
"Keep Shining Your Light!"

Day 5: 30 Day Creative Sprint by @shinewithbrandon

Day 4: 30 Day Creative Sprint

Recapping last night.

When I moved to NYC in 2019, I told myself that I was going to go to so many talks and things at @92ndstreety. Well, after nearly seven and a half years here, I finally made it to my first event! Better late than never.

I've always been a bit of a politics nerd. Though, I don't consume nearly as much as once did. But I've found a community of pro-democracy seekers to align with in the form of the team at @bulwarkonline.

How fitting that my first time at 92NY was to celebrate Sarah Longwell's book, "How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time." Moderated by best friend, Jonathan V. Last.

I have the physical copy and the audio version as well. I'll be diving into this book too! (am I becoming a reader now?!)

The takeaway for me from the talk? America, don't give up. There's much work to be done. Surround yourself with people doing good and do good with them.

I left motivated and inspired. Thanks to everyone at The Bulwark for keeping me pointed toward hope.

This creative journey and exposure beyond the algorithm is super enriching. I don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going to day to day but that's part of the point.

Forward.

-Brandon
"Keep Shining Your Light!"

Also... Go buy the book! by @shinewithbrandon

Day 3: 30 Day Creative Sprint

The privilege of seeing Mother Nature's artistry on display as we visited New York Botanical Garden @nybg this morning. What a treat to see her regale us with a resplendent spectacle. You showed out today, ma'am. And we're grateful. Love you, queen. 🌍

Rick Rubin writes, "The natural world is unfathomably more rich, interwoven, and complicated than we are taught, and so much more mysterious and beautiful.

Deepening our connection to nature will serve our spirit, and what serves our spirit invariably serves our artistic output."

Lastly, kudos to the United Nations General Assembly for passing the resolution to adopt the Equal Earth Map. If you're unfamiliar with what I'm saying, search it up. For many I'm sure their perspective will be very surprised. This is wonderful and long overdue. Once we're able, I encourage adopting this in curriculum moving forward.

With deep gratitude,
-Brandon
"Keep Shining Your Light!" by @shinewithbrandon

Day 2:

Wow. Folks. I've been scribbling all over this book. And I almost NEVER do that. Didn't realize how much I was gonna enjoy this book.

Many awesome quotes so far but something I'll be folding into my daily routine after reading the chapter on Practice, in Rick Rubin's, "The Creative Act: A Way of Being", is thinking, I am grateful for abundance, in life, liberty, love, community, nature, and I hope to add money.

I got up and had some tea, watched as a pigeon rested, and I wrote the next pod episode.

I'll have more to share on this and more in the next episode of Light Me Up! with Brandon Bryant, this week. Stay tuned... by @shinewithbrandon

30 Day Creativity Sprint. [Long Post]

Day 1.

I've been bad at completing books I pick up. Read a little here, touch a page or two there. Then POOF! You gotta brush off the dust and cobwebs the next time!

I'm challenging myself to be better and actually finish.

Been feeling pulled back into opening up my creativity more earnestly than ever before. So, for at least the next 30 days, I'm going to challenge myself to read for a solid hour (or more) or do something creative, sharing my progress along the way. To expand my mind beyond the algorithm and see where it takes me.

If there is a pearl of wisdom or insight to share, I'll come back and share a reflection on my story or in a post. If an idea resonates more deeply with me, I may make it a podcast episode. Who knows? 🤷🏿

The point is, it's time to move into a new gear. Trust the process. Time to tap in and bet on myself.

I'm starting with Rick Rubin's, "The Creative Act: A Way of Being". I'm ready to be inspired again. To dream anew.

Who's with me? Join me!

What ya creating? Tell me in the comments. Let's chat.

With deep gratitude,
-Brandon
On a creative's journey.

"Keep Shining Your Light!" ☀️ by @shinewithbrandon

The best thing about this summer. Sláinte! by @shinewithbrandon

One more brilliant rotation around the sun on this, our first wedding anniversary. What I can say is, life wouldn't be nearly as happy and joyous without you @jakefromthefuture.

Thank you for your kindness, your laugh, your willingness to extend a helpful hand to those who may be in need, your dedication to planning, and a panoply of other reasons, I'm so glad you came into my life.

You make me a better person.

Thank you for being my lighthouse; a beacon to which I can be guided safely home.

To my favorite adventure buddy,

Happy anniversary. 💗✨ by @shinewithbrandon

This was too fun not to post this full clip! Congratulations @museumdocent and @david.a.kersey on your wedding! 💐
And thanks for letting me steal your sister away for a few moments! 🪩

Thanks for filming this @jakefromthefuture! I didn't realize you were until we were well underway! 🤭 by @shinewithbrandon

Today is a great day to remind yourself of this.

Love,
Brandon
"Keep Shining Your Light!" by @shinewithbrandon