Hau‘oli la hanau to Tim Milburn!

Please join me today in wishing a Happy Birthday to Aloha spirit spiller Tim Milburn.

“Tim Milburn is one of my heroes. Has been ever since I’ve known him. Tim inspires me.”
—Add Value to People, Talking Story, March 2007

Tim is the artistic and creative soul who gives his talented eye for design to Joyful Jubilant Learning for us with images like these, and the learning templates and banners you have seen there over the past two years;

You can see more of what Tim does at his own two blogs,studentlinc and College Students Rule. You can buy the brilliant resources he produces and download some value adds for free.

It will not take long for you to realize that though Tim's graphic art is what can pull you in, what makes you fall in love with him is his writing.

As he says so succinctly on his Twitter profile, Tim is a leadership junkie.
[Tim, I gave you my first Twitter nudge just now--- have no idea how that works yet!]

“When I want nothing but complete happiness, I read Tim. Tim is infectious joy gone wild, and he is incredibly smart! His optimistic and enthusiastic writing is a kind of leadership food for me. Tim Milburn is a man on a mission, and he will not be held back; he is focused on student leaders, however he sees potential in everyone and everything, and he inspires me to be a better person than I am.”
—Sunday Mālama: Spirit Spilling, August 2007

I first met Tim when he had left a comment for me at my first blog Talking Story. It was July 3rd 2005 (take that link and you will take a walk down our Ho‘ohana Community memory lane!) When I followed the link he left behind, I arrived at a site that was nothing like the studentlinc we see today; there was no art or graphics at all, not even pictures within his posts. However I was in love with Tim instantly, for his warm and witty writing reached out and grabbed me. It still does. Me and so many others: On Joyful Jubilant Learning, we bow down to Tim as our artistic director and graphics guy (and with good reason), but we start throwing kisses (and reading in entirely new ways) when he writes for us.

“Early on, I began to understand that people want to be a certain way, but they often act in ways that go against their desires.  It's the difference between actual values and desired values.  A person may have a desired value of honesty, but in reality, they may cheat a little, lie a little, and act in a way counter to the value that they speak so highly of.  It is a subtle issue of character.  A person can begin to live with a perceived self (fantasy) that is actually different than one's real self.  A leader is one who can enter a situation and point out the differences between hoping to act with certain values and actually implementing those values.”
—Tim Milburn

On Joyful Jubilant Learning, Tim really personifies each word of that name we have chosen for the site. I marvel when I look back over the time I have known him, and realize what a learner Tim really is. I am in awe and profound gratitude for his giving nature, and am continually astounded by what he does for me within pure heart. I dedicate today, this Sunday Mālama to Tim, fully realizing just how much Tim is the one who Mālamas me.

On this, his birthday, Tim Milburn is a gift to all of us.

Hau‘oli la hanau Tim :)

Know you are loved today. You are admired for your work as student leadership mentor, and as the learner, artist and author that you are for us, but you are loved because of the good soul and man you are.
Me ke aloha kaua pumehana ~ Rosa

• About celebrating birthdays: Keith is right, and lucky me, you know it too.

Comments

[Chris Bailey]

Wow...hard to top what Rosa has written so I'll merely humbly add: Tim, the inspiration you spark in those of us who follow and listen to you is an amazing thing. I can't imagine the world being what it is without your voice in it. May your days be bright and exciting and your wisdom continue to grow. Happy Birthday!

[Angela Maiers]

Tim,
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday from Iowa! I hope you are having a fantabulous day! Your work continues to inspire me! Happy Birthday!

[Terry Starbucker]

Happy Birthday Tim! And many thanks for all you do for the JJL (and the greater blogging community). Rosa, thanks too for such a wonderful birthday salute!

All the best,
Terry

[Maria Palma]

Happy, Happy Birthday, Tim! Keep up the phenomenal work that you do ;)

[Joanna Young]

Happy birthday Tim! When I think of you I think not just full contact reading but full contact learning, leading, mentoring, going for it! Thanks for keeping our spirits high.

Joanna

Thanks to you too Rosa for another wonderful burst of generosity, friendship and love

[Steve Sherlock]

Have a most happy birthday Tim! I'm off to see if there is a limerick somewhere...

[phil gerbyshak]

Happy birthday Tim! I echo everyone's comments! I also appreciate how freely you share your talents with all of us. Your visual way of teaching us is amazing and inspiring! Thanks for all you do to build our community!

[Karen Wallace]

Happy Birthday Tim! I have learned so much from you recently - things like highlighting the world orange, how to write in books (and how this isn't desecration!), travelling with ziplocks in the US;), that worksheets (beautifully designed) aid my learning, and the final impetus to try twittering... that's quite a hefty lot of learning from one person! Thanks Tim, you've blessed my life too.

Thanks Rosa for your ever-growing generosity and love.

[Chris Owen]

Happy Birthday Tim
You are a STAR!

[tim]

I'm speechless...so I'll just type this.

You all have no idea how powerful this post and comments are to me. I am humbled beyond words by all of your generous encouragement surrounding my birthday.

Rosa...I have made a commitment to go paperless as much as I can, but this is one post that I'm printing off. It is energy to my soul!