CURRENT MISSION

I love to travel and meet new people. I am a Dolphin Ambassador where I help people awaken to their true potential and raise their consciousness by taking them to swim with wild dolphins, among other things.

2018 UPDATE: After living and working at a retreat center outside Portland, OR (Ananda Laurelwood) for the last 4 years (2014-2018), I heard the call from Yogananda to leave and take my light, spiritual teachings and love back on the road. I left July 7, 2018 and drove 4,300 miles to upstate NY where I am helping my aging parents, among other things.

As of this writing, (October 10, 2018) I am living with them until I find my own housing. Therefore, I am unable to host you but I can definitely meet up with you if you're in the upstate NY area (Albany/Latham/Schenectady, etc).

For those of you who are wondering why I have never hosted, it's because when I began my cross country journey in 2014, no one had requested to stay with me during the short time I was a new member of CS. I wasn't able to host anyone at the retreat center in OR and for now I am a wandering sadhu - I do intend to settle down somewhere and write a second book but I have NO idea where that will be. :)

ABOUT ME

Deaf since birth, I grew up learning how to speak and read-lips. I didn't learn sign language until I got to college in the early 80's. Even as a young kid, I've always had a sense of determination to achieve my dreams and managed to do just that, to the shock and surprise of many people, throughout my life.

My like has been characterized by sheer determination whenever I set my mind to something. When I was a teen, I told my Dad I wanted a job at a gas station (down the block from my house). His response was "Steve, they're not going to hire you. Remember, you're deaf!"

I promptly turned around and marched right to the gas station and got myself a job. A few weeks later I got fired b/c I was caught playing marbles with the boss' son. During the day while I was supposedly at work, I hid in the woods by my house for a whole week cuz I didn't want my proud papa to know about it.

One night he asked how the job was going and I fessed up. That night a lesson was instilled in me - having integrity and owning up to your responsibilities will get you further in life than otherwise. It was a hard lesson but I never forgot it.

I'm considered by many to be articulate, warm, funny and a great listener. Ironically, I have harnessed the power of listening to the point where people feel like they're really being "heard." I am a very open minded person and accept people from all walks of life. I'm openly gay but don't necessarily "wave the flag." It took me years to accept myself for being deaf and gay so there you have it.

Let's see - oh I LOVE spirituality. I've been on a spiritual journey since God knows when. But if you wanted to pinpoint a time when my journey inward began, I'd say it happened around February 2, 1996.

When not speaking, writing or mentoring others, I can be found enjoying the company of like-minded spiritual people, looking up at the stars and smiling, walking barefoot through nature or doing something on my long bucket list.

PHILOSOPHY

Everything happens for a reason. We are all here to help uplift humanity in some way, form or shape. Seems like I have my work cut out for me. :)

Spiritual growth can only be accomplished when the voice of the soul can be heard. The soul can guide and direct the human toward change and growth. In order to evolve, the soul must have some level of control of the human personality/ego.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

2014-2018 UPDATE: I WAS living at Yoga and Meditation Retreat Center near Portland, OR. Therefore was unable to accept guests (unless you wished to come here as a paying guest - sorry about that!) I've lived here for the last 4 years where I used to lead spiritual retreats in addition to running the guest services department with a team of fabulous staff. Check us out at www.anandalaurelwood.org

Each and every host I've had so far has been so generous, loving, trusting and wise. I've learned numerous lessons, all of which I am keeping a journal on. One day this will be turned into a another book.

And like I said in the "About Me" section, I am now back to the East Coast, in my boyhood town helping my aging parents. I've been posting on FB (shopson) my experiences of this road trip on a continuing basis even though I've made it to NY - I'd love to make friends with you on there - just be sure to tell me you saw this profile on CS cuz I don't always accept random friend requests!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My FIRST couchsurfing experience was in Arkansas (June 2012) and it was awesome! My 2nd and 3rd CS experiences was later the same year both of which occurred in Sedona, AZ and they were even better!

In 2014, while on my book and "Inner Awakening" speaking tour, I've gained even MORE experience and it's all been amazingly awesome. Great people, great food, great furry animals, great sceneries, comfortable and clean beds/bathrooms, etc.

As I mentioned above, I have gained a new perspective of the incredible CS community and cannot wait until I am in a position to host, especially those who have hosted me in each city I've visited thus far! One day the universe will guide me to a place where I can settle and write another book be it someone's house I am housesitting or whatever. I am open to how this may unfold!

Interests

Aviation, reading, writing, working out, eating raw foods, mentoring others, speaking in front of people, engaging in deep spiritual conversations, meditating, surfing the net, meeting new people, spending time in nature (especially barefooted), swimming, traveling to foreign destinations and much, much more!

• animals
• writing
• books
• dining
• raw food
• yoga
• working out
• meditation
• walking
• flying
• aviation
• reading
• traveling
• surfing
• swimming
• sign language
• tourism
• nature
• dolphins
• nature walks
• awakening
• retreats
• animal communication
• swimming in the sea

Music, Movies, and Books

All kinds of self-help and spiritually related books. Love uplifting movies and well written books. I enjoy music but not in the same way hearing people do. I feel the sounds through vibrations that travel through the air.

The latest books that I absolutely recommend are:

1) Earth: Pleiadian Keys to the Living Library by Barbara Marciniak
2) "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed
3) The Surrender Experiment and The Untethered Sul by Michael A. Singer

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In 2006, I defied so-called "experts" in the world of aviation and became the FIRST DEAF PILOT in the world to become instrument rated. You can google my name and see for yourself.

Skydived twice.

Became an award winning Wall Street stockbroker before switching gears to become a professional speaker/author.

Hosted my very first dolphin retreat on the big island in Kona - see www.globalspiritualhealer.com I aim to hold more retreats in other locations around the world like Costa Rica, Bahamas and even Egypt (Red Sea). Hope you will join me on this very sacred experience.

Heard the call from spirit to sell everything I own except a few things, give up my apartment in Iowa and drive over 10,000 miles to give "Inner Awakening" lectures often not knowing where I would sleep or eat. Due to my faith in the unknown, the universe only required I stay in a hotel 3 times - the rest of the time I was provided shelter from loving beings who found out what I was doing and were inspired to give me the key to their home(s) even after only meeting me a few minutes!

Flew from Michigan to Kansas City (555 mile flight) by myself and back.

Teach, Learn, Share

Well, I have a lot of life experiences. Being deaf and going through 50 plus years of life has taught me so much. I love to help expand people's awareness of themselves. Just by being who I am, I teach people (without really doing anything) how to become better listeners. I freely share my energy and love. I help people raise their consciousness and help them heal just by being there. You could say I am a untraditional healer of sorts - my writing, being in the presence of others, listening to people, sharing insights and doing Reiki sessions are all ways I reach out to touch the human spirit.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Amazing stories of inner awakening, joy-filled presence, sense of humor and blessings of gratitude.

I lead retreats and you can find out more information about the dolphin retreats I currently lead in Hawaii by going to www.globalspiritualhealer.com

Countries I’ve Visited

Italy, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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