“I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.” -Henry David Thoreau
Welcome to Living Intense
Living Intense is about living each day to the fullest and inspiring others to do the same. It is about solving problems, and creating a better world. The best way to learn how to solve problems is to encounter them; to face them head on. Life throws these challenges at us every day. Maybe it’s a flat tire, an upcoming deadline at work, a rift in a relationship, or perhaps it’s an engine failure at 35,000 feet in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. No matter how big or small the problem is, it needs to be solved with a level head and clever thinking. Living Intense is a philosophy; it’s an approach to life. Living Intense is about learning how to thrive in those intense scenarios; when it feels like everything is going wrong. It is about recognizing those situations as opportunities, and adventures to embrace. The famous mountaineer, Yvon Chouinard, once said, “For me, when everything goes wrong – that’s when adventure starts.”
The Goal.
The creators of this platform have two main goals:
1) To share stories that inspire others to think creatively, identify problems and brainstorm unique solutions.
2) To provide a space for a community of like-minded individuals to share ideas and innovate new solutions to the biggest problems our world is facing.
Living intense
solving problems
creating a better world
A play on words
My brother and I coined the mantra “living intense” when we were in high school. We spent a lot of time traveling and literally living “in tents” while chasing intense experiences, and we thought it was a fun play on words (even though it’s grammatically incorrect).
This website chronicles a lot of those experiences, and some lessons learned along the way.
Join us in brainstorming solutions to the worlds problems.
My big brother, Dylan, and I co-author this website. We are honored to have you here.
Derek
Hi. I’m Derek. I’m the creator of this website and one of it’s co-editors. I’m an engineer, a pilot, and many other things. I am currently an active duty military officer.
Dylan
Hi. I’m Dylan. I am a co-editor of this website. I work as a motion graphics designer. I am a rock climber, a husband, and a father to a little girl who is the star of the family.
Legacy
Our father, Mark Demyanek, has devoted his life to creating a better world. He is a life-long environmental scientist and industrial safety engineer. In January of 2021, he retired as the Vice President of Georgia Tech after 32 years of service. He was in charge of environmental health and safety, sustainability, and campus facilities.
At Georgia Tech, he oversaw the implementation of many new campus sustainability projects. Of note, he oversaw construction of the campus’s first “living building”.
“The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design is the first building in Georgia to earn Living Building Challenge certification, the world’s most ambitious and holistic green building achievement. Rather than being less bad than conventional buildings, The Kendeda Building is regenerative. Over the course of a year, it collects and infiltrates into the ground 15 times the amount of water needed for operations. Its photovoltaic system supplies over 200% of the building’s energy needs. It gives back more than it takes from the environment and focuses on the health and happiness of occupants.”
We are happy to continue his legacy of creating a better world.
Space
As you explore this page, you will encounter a common theme. Space. The exploration of space has been a driving passion in my life and has affected most of my professional and educational decisions.