Allie: What’s your favorite thing about living in DC?
Bryan: There’s always something new to discover and explore. I really enjoy trying new restaurants, and taking in as much culture as I can, whether it be a show, museum, or monument. DC has become such a world class city. I also live near the zoo so I go to the zoo all the time. Every morning around 5, I begin to hear the noises from the animals waking up. It’s an inspiring way to start the day.
Allie: Describe your perfect day in the city from start to finish.
Bryan: I travel a fair amount, so a day off in DC with no agenda is a great luxury. I’d get up early and go for a swim. I was a competitive swimmer growing up, and have tried to recapture a bit of that recently. I’d get some reading in (fiction on the weekends) and would definitely want try to catch up on any news I may have missed during the week. Then, I’d go out to dinner with friends. I love having no agenda on my days off and just seeing how the day unfolds.
Allie: What kind of swimming do you like to do?
Bryan: I was a sprinter- I actually raced Michael Phelps when I was younger. The mental and physical toughness you need to be a great swimmer is something I’ve always respected and been humbled by. My grandfather was a swimmer up until he passed away, and he inspired me to find a sport I could have for life. These days, I try to go as far as I can. In June, I did an open-water swim in Cape May, New Jersey. The race began by jumping fifteen feet off of a ferry into the Delaware bay, and when I hit the water, I promptly lost my goggles. Not the greatest experience, but I finished.
Allie: Other than swimming, what’s your favorite thing to do after the work day?
Bryan: I recently started playing tennis regularly. A few of my coworkers and I actually started a tennis club at work. We have a group that gets together each week to play, and we don’t talk business. It really is fun. I like being active and being outside.
Allie: Do you have any resolutions for the Jewish New Year?
Bryan: I don’t like New Year’s resolutions, but I make pretty solid resolutions throughout the year. I make goals for myself each quarter. I’m always trying to take everything I do to the next level. And frankly, I’ll often fail. Sometimes, that’s the most important part: failure. My failures often lend greater insight into how I can improve my performance as a human. My resolutions are often based around self-improvement. It’s a never-ending pursuit, but it yields great results.
Allie: You recently participated in GatherDC’s Beyond the Tent. How did you decide to go on that retreat?
Bryan: My first experience with GatherDC was the Giving Circle. I was looking for a way to give back in a meaningful way and found GatherDC online. I didn’t know what to expect, but the Giving Circle experience led me to realize there are multiple ways to make an impact in the surrounding community and in my own life. Mollie (one of the Giving Circle facilitators) brought up Beyond the Tent at the last Giving Circle meeting and I was hooked. It was something I’d never done before. At this stage of my life I’m trying to challenge myself in every way I possibly can.
Allie: What was your experience like on Beyond the Tent?
Bryan: It was a transformative experience. We discussed a wide variety of important topics, we shared our experiences, but the real reflection happened afterwards and continues to happen as we move forward on this journey. I came away with a bunch of new friends and some really difficult ideas to grapple with. Rabbi Aaron has a unique ability to be thought-provoking and bring up ideas that while sometimes uncomfortable at first, engage the mind and take you out of your comfort zone.
Allie: When Jews of DC Gather…
Bryan: Jewish moms are happy.
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