My name is Joe O’Leary. I’m the father of two great boys. We live in Boulder, CO.

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Hiking with the boys in the Rocky Mountains, 2008

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I was born in Connecticut in 1970, four minutes before my twin brother, John, who is naturally a very big influence in my life. My gem of a sister came along a few years later. We grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana where our father was a professor at Purdue University for 27 years. It was a quality up-bringing for sure, but I think being raised in a conservative, mid-western town leaves you a little bit sheltered and naive about the world. As it is for most people, high school was the best of times and the worst of times. (I’m reminded of that almost on a daily basis through the Facebook phenomenon.)

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It is ironic that I became passionate about the outdoors as an adult because, growing up, the “outdoors” to me consisted of “playing sports outside.” Basketball, soccer, baseball, football… you name it, we played it. I dreamed of being the starting striker for the New York Cosmos or the starting 6′ 8″ power forward for the Chicago Bulls. (Still holding out for that growth spurt.) My athletic interests carried into college where I played football at Purdue. I was the starting placekicker during the ‘91 and ‘92 seasons, which was one of the most emotionally challenging experiences of my life. Second only to my marriage.

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A year before I graduated college, a teammate at Purdue introduced me to whitewater rafting in West Virginia. A pivotal event, to be sure. There was just something about that trip that grabbed hold of my imagination and never let go. When I graduated in May ‘93 with a degree in Kinesiology and three NFL tryout letters in hand, the only thing that interested me was the river in West Virginia. So, with no real clue about what I was doing, that’s where I went.

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After several months of training, where I faced my mortality on a regular basis, I became a professional raft guide. And before long my definition of the “outdoors” completely transformed. Up to that point, I had never backpacked or camped or kayaked or mountain biked or rock climbed or done anything that truly involved experiencing the outdoors. I discovered hills and valleys and rivers and trails, and life was everything but boring. I lived in a tiny cabin with no heat or indoor plumbing and I had few possessions. In the “real world,” my income would have placed me in the “poverty” classification, but I was never without what I needed or wanted. I lived simply and, in return, I was introduced to freedom and adventure.

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Gauley River, West Virginia

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From 1993 to 1999, I explored the nooks and crannies of the lower 48 states (Hawaii and Alaska are the only two left on the list), traveled all over Canada and Mexico, and visited more than 20 countries throughout Central and South America. From kayaking rivers and seas to mountain biking, climbing, skiing, trekking, and general wandering.

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Pushing boundaries in Canyonlands, Utah

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I spent a significant amount of quality time alone, but the real magic was always in the shared experience. In a way, even when I was alone, I was never alone.

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I met my wife in the late 90’s. It was a powerful connection that progressed to marriage and children and a home in Boulder, Colorado, where we’ve been since 2000. Our first son, Kai, was born that year and our second son, Tragar, was born in 2004.

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Boulder, beautiful Boulder

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Professionally, I pursued opportunities in marketing and advertising. I was 30 and got my first “normal” job, selling print advertising. That evolved to a VP position at an ad agency in Denver in 2003, which evolved to me starting my own agency in 2005, which evolved to me merging with another agency in 2007. I’m now back on my own working as a consultant focusing on Internet Marketing Strategy and Web Development.

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I’ve recently experienced several significant changes in my life. These changes have resulted in some serious soul-searching about how I have been choosing to live my life – what I cannot control, and what I can. This blog is essentially about where I go from here. For an introduction to the present, read the page, “Why Enlighten the Load.”

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As for the future, I humbly welcome you to join me.