Jumping the Picket Fence

What happens when you let go of fear, follow your inner voice and trust in something greater? Lydia Dean is at the top of her game professionally and personally, yet she is also on the verge of an emotional breakdown. She persuades her husband, John, to leave their comfortable life in Florida and take their young family on an inspirational journey around the world. The family initially settles in a quiet village in the South of France where they discover the joys of leading a simpler life. Lydia's childhood dreams of humanitarian work take her further from the comforts of home as she ventures into shelters for children across India; through the jungles of Costa Rica, Southeast Asia, and Venezuela; and to China where the Deansadopt their third child. Motivated by the simple ideal that small, personal actions can make a difference, Lydia and a passionate team launch GoPhilanthropic Foundation, a non-profit devoted to partnering with community-based organizations providing access to education, healthcare, and basic human rights in marginalized communities around the world.Magical and entertaining, painfully raw and unsettling, Lydia Dean's book offers a beautifully balanced mixture of travel memoir, soul searching, and non-profit building. The story ultimately becomes about what each of us can experience if we take a risk and jump our own fences. Lydia Dean-founder of GoPhilanthropic Travel and co-founder of GoPhilanthropic Foundation-currently resides in Provence, France.