Swap Stories

Hickman, NE - September 8, 2010
JKLivin has been apart of our lives for several years and I bought a belt buckle for our youngest son, Spencer several years ago because he would always say that to me. Spencer died as the result of a motorcycle accident on June 24, 2010. A man turned left in front of Spencer and Spencer went through the side window of the man's van. Our family was able to get to the hospital and Spencer regained consciousness long enough that we were able to tell him "Good-Bye". He was on a ventilator and unable to speak but he knew we were there. Our family used the JKLivin for Spencer's memorial service and it was on the video at the service and we had a memorial thorougbred horse race and our family wore our JKLivin t-shirts and wrist bands. Most of us have never taken ours off in memory of SPencer. No parent should have to outlive their child and everyday is a struggle but as it says: We must JKLivin.
- Vicky SMith

Austin Texas - September 6, 2011
Going to bed tonight wishing I had a million dollars and first the time in my life, I want it for somebod else. For the people of my community who lost their homes and cars to fires. Kids of all ages who lost their clothes, shoes and toys. As I drove back to our neighborhood, I felt relief as I saw my house standing. 25 homes were burned to the ground. 30 more were damaged. Our community has already rallied because we know we have to J.K. Living! But I still wish I had that million bucks to give away.
- Caroline m

Jacksonville, NC (Camp Lejeune) - September 30, 2009
Lost my dog to a backyard theft, lost trust in a person who was suppost to be my best freind, moved to a different state then the rest of family, hubs is deploying soon...But I keep my head up and keep the good vibes flowing. The good outwieghs the bad. I'm alive, got people whom I love and they me love back. My cup is always half full(or overflowing).
- Dallas Shepherd

Shenandoah Valley VA. - September 25, 2009
I have had a wild ride this past 18 months ...Death of my Mother, Lost all "Trust" in someone I love and changed jobs , But I now think about the things I do have..."Life" and feel very content ! Treat people good and it will come back! God Bless you guys and keep on LIVIN!
- Robert Godlove

South America - September 20, 2009
Hello everyone!! Getting ready to head out on an adventure into the jungles of Guyana to visit the WAI WAI tribe! Taking some JKL gear with me and planning on taking some good photos so stand by!! Hope to see yall soon in three weeks my brothers and sista's! Just Keep LIVIN'
- "Dusty"

Florida - September 18, 2009
I live by the just keep livin' lifestyle. right now, it's becoming really hard, though! for the past 8 weeks and one day, my beloved Mom and I have been going through her medical ordeal. In July and August, she fell 8 times. She's had 2 mini strokes, a bad case of encephalitis, a badly broken shoulder, (that needed surgery to replace the shoulder joint). Daily, it's a struggle just to make it through the day. I don't know what to do!
- Lisa Holley

North Carolina, East Coast - September 17, 2009
J.K. Livin' to me means relax, enjoy life, you've only got one, live it to the fullest. Don't worry about the unneccessary things in life. Just Live. Life is good...Just keep livin'
- Dylan Gib.

Stockton, California - October 6, 2010
Well i first discovered J.K. Livin' on MySpace as I was searching for a new profile background. What i really loved was the phrase from Dazed and Confused : "Let me tell you this, the older you get, the more rules they're gonna try to tell you to follow. You just gotta keep livin' man. L-I-V-I-N." Those words gave me a feeling that's undescribable. I got goosebumops,literally. It touched me because it was so genuine. It said so much just by saying so little and I can honestly say that for the five seconds I was reading it, every worry in my mind had become obsolete. Moreover, the foundation couldn't have a more perfect spokesperson. Matthew McConaughey is just so real and it's obvious his heart is really in this & you can add mine to the list also. Keep on keepin' on.
- Alea Freeman

Falls City, OR - October 3, 2010
My wife and I took a vacation to Thailand when I got back from Iraq, and while we were there we discovered JKLivin through watching Surfer Dude that was playing on TV. The music and the easy going lifestyle that was shown in the movie was something that we were trying to find there and immediately wanted to incorporate into our lives. So if ever we want to get that feeling back that we had while we were in Thailand, we just start up the movie, start listening to the tunes, relax, and Just Keep Livin. Its now our philosophy!!!
- SGT Wesley Jordan

Aptos, CA - October 3, 2009
OK so I am a Varsity Aptos Cheerleader, and I helped put posters up around the area to promote the Monte Fireworks foundation at Seacliff Beach. Cyrus Baragosh who I can't thank enough for everything he did for us, got me and four other friends backstage. Matthew McConaughey was there and i was talking to him and all of a sudden one of my friends had the hat of one of the guys that was there and then she asked Matthew for his hat and he said but you already have that hat. So i asked him how i could get his hat and he said that i had to trade him. So then i said at first I'll give you my favorite lip gloss, and he said but i dont ware lip gloss so then i looked at my right wrist which has all of my friendship bracelets and saw the pink and black one. The one bracelet that when i put it on everything that seemed to be going badly started shaping up and turning around and everything would go according to plan and it was my good luck bracelet. So i took it off and said here you can have this and he said ok lets see if it fits and he put it on his right wrist and gave me the beanie he was wearing. OMG Matthew thank you so much for supporting the schools and the Monte Foundation it means the world to me and im sure to everyone else. and Melissa and Really Doe and Mishka (Teddy Bear in Russian [what i call my best friend Artem Chelovechkov]) omg the experience of you giving me your hat i walked out of backstage and couldnt breath omg. i cant thank you enough. please keep that bracelet because it means the world to me and i know its pink and girly but please keep it on. oh and thank you for shaking my hand.
- Rhiannon Marie Spritzer

Santa Cruz Monte Fireworks - October 3, 2009
I was at the Monte Fireworks and Matthew McConaughey was there with his girlfriend. When he was walking down to leave my friend and I approached him and I asked him if we could swap hats. He traded me his grey j.k. livin hat for my hat!!
- Sarah Banks

Monroe, LA - October 20, 2009
I'm sorry to say that I had never even heard of JK Livin until a few months ago. My son has a connective tissue disease - he's 15 years old and recently had open heart surgery. We've known about his condition since he was 4, and he's had his fair share of challenges. One of those challenges has been ME! I've hovered over him, protected him and sheltered him - partially out of fear. That's what "mom" does, right? Well, I'm realizing now that he needs support and encouragement, as well as a healthy dose of fun and laughter. A few months back, I relocated to LA and found out that my high school sweet heart was still in the area, and we began to talk. What I didn't know was that he was born with the same disorder that my son has...we hadn't talked in 22 years. He told me about this website, and gave my son a JK Living bracelet - he never takes it off. I guess what I want for readers to know is this......life happens, every day and all around us. We intersect with people for a reason, and when someone offers you a little bit of encouragement for your day, like the people here at JK Livin, or like my friend has done - take it, run with it, hold onto it tightly. We may not know what tomorrow looks like, but I say today is looking pretty bright - so I think I'll JUST KEEP LIVIN'.
- Johnna Metz

Camp Lejeune, NC - October 15, 2010
I have always had a JK Livin attitude. I believe it is what got me through my life on such a positive note. I did very well in high school, played sports at UT, and married into a military life. I lost my dad in a very horrific way. Alot of people thought I should have mourned and moped around. Instead my sister and I went to Europe and I learned to surf.(with money that our dad left us). My dad was a very loving guy and never followed the normal. We where raised with a JK Livin attitude and I think in a way he prepared us for life. I sport my gear every where and so does my son. i hope to give to him what my dad left me with.
- Dallas

Nashville, TN - October 13, 2009
On July 22, 2003 I was stricken with a terrible car accident which nearly took my life, twice; from this accident I broke my jaw in two places. One of those places was never documented and a Vanderbilt first (the hospital that put me back together). I also punctured a lung and lacerated a liver from breaking two vertebrae. I Broke my femur, right tibia, and left tibia which shot out the bottom of my shattered ankle. Another never before seen at Vandy. This accident happened the summer before my junior year of college and in the middle of a transfer from the junior college I played baseball for to a four year institution to play ball on a full scholarship. My injuries needed 23 surgeries and 11 procedures to fix including nearly a pound of metal (and yes i set the airport alarms off). After being somewhat of a star athlete to someone who hurts just to stand is hard to overcome. It is easier with friends and family to help push which has been more then needed, but after watching Surfer, Dude and seeing the j.k. livin segment at the end hit me harder then it should or was intended but is how i lived from there on out. Those words "the J's for just the K's for keep" helped me keep living and finish college with a 3.0 GPA which is nearly impossible with the medication I take for the pain nearly every day numerous times a day but no one has ever heard me complain for the simple reason what's done is done with no changing it so be happy and j.k. livin and I plan on doing that until my story is forgotten in time. j.k.livin
- Caleb Kedigh

Athens, Georgia - November 8, 2009
I work as a server in Athens, Georgia, this afternoon i was given a table with a 10 year old girl that had bone cancer...at the end of the dinner, before the family left I took my J.K Livin bracelet off and gave it too her. The look on her face and her parents faces when i put that bracelet on her was indescribable. Just Keep Livin is a motto that I proudly live by everyday. Not only am I a hugeee fan of Matthew but of his foundation and beliefs as well. Thanks for everything. Keep it Beautiful.
- Travis Carter

ATHENS,GREECE - November 5, 2009
Six years ago, i lost my father in a car accident...We were so close..My whole life has changed.I lost everything: my friends,my girlfriend,my job, and guess what the only thing i've done it was...(jkl)..Six years later, today,i'm waiting my "onelifelove" to born our baby(a girl) and everything seems wright..Isn't amazing??? A life goes a life comes...The only thing you have to do is... "Just Keep Livin" dude!!!!
- Konstantinos

Kirkuk, Iraq - November 3, 2010
I'am a laid back surfer, born and raised in Texas.I am also a soldier deployed in a Iraq right now. They say this war is over but trust me I am here and it is not.I wish all these people would live the J.K. life style. I tell them all the time. I just ordered a bunch of wrist bands to pass out to the people while I'am on patrol to show a little JK love.My children(I have 3 sons) are back home with my new wife. I tell her don't worry Beautiful I'am just doing my best to serve my country then its back to the beaches of Texas and Jamaica.But until then I'll JUST KEEP LIV'IN. God Bless everyone..Take care SPC Charles,John
- John Charles

bowling green KY - November 27, 2010
i found out what j.k.livin was about 3 years ago or so and fell in love with the idea and music i bought a shirt and wrist band and haven't taken it off my wrist since the day i bought it
- cody warren ramsey

Gatesville ,tx - may 9th 2009
Hi.i spent the last 2 years hating the entire world,pushing every person i knew away.And trying to drink myself to death.I had lost my job,due to stroke and other issues.then my marriage.Then the one thing i couldn't take.My daughter had no more use for me.She was the only joy i had in life.Ended up on disability .I had thought trying to end it.Then a couple days ago.I saw surfer,dude.then some music of mishka.it struck a cord in meIm changin my philosphy to j.k. livin.Thanks man.That came around when i needed something badly.i'm movin on now!
- steve brumbalow

Bothell, wa - May 9, 2009
J.K. Livin hits home with me stronger that you could imagine. I am the youngest of 3 brohters. I lost my middle brother when I was less than one and I still have memories of his amazing spirit- I lost my caring, heartfelt grandpa when I was 7- I lost my loving, fearful dad when I was 10- I lost my down to earth, got no cares in the world grandma when I was 16 and I could keep going but it might just seem repetitive. They all died naturally so I really don't have any hatred towards anyone. My point is you gotta just keep livin, and i have always held that philosophy and I always will. Life is a beautiful thing and if we all j.k.l. it will inspire so much more! Thank you for just doing what your doing!!
- Dan Good