And so I’ll leave off this introduction with some little notes of things that make me come alive!

• • Nature is literally our life source. In modern city life it seems like this is often forgotten, but for me, there is nothing more satisfying than spending time with nature. Not just being in the countryside, but also recognizing the nature of everything around us; remembering that humans are part of nature, and using natural substances wherever possible, whether it be in crafting or cleaning, health or style. Working with nature, rather than against it, engenders a more balanced sense of the self, as connected to the whole. It fosters an understanding of energy as the basis of a natural system, rather than something that powers electronics.

• • Creativity is what occurs when we allow the flow that exists to run through us. It tends to be over-mythologized in our culture – seen as a gift only few possess, but we see it as an almost inevitable outcome of an open and honest connection to one’s self. Whatever we may be feeling, going inwards and then bringing something out is a beautifully restorative act which results in something that can be shared. A simultaneous connection to ourselves and the outside world.

• • Self-reliance is something to me that doesn’t just mean being independent, it involves self-awareness, self-responsibility, self-care, and self-honesty, all of which form a grounding that enables the sharing of ourselves in ways that are healthy and respectful of ourselves and others.

• • Connections exist at a basic energetic level between everything; not just people or living things, but with our environment as well. Viewing ourselves as existing independently of the whole is one of the most widespread forms of cognitive dissonance; it leaves us with an incomplete sense of self that can be felt in a very palpable but often not cognitively accessible way. When we notice how intricately everything is connected, it connects us to life, allowing these connections to exist; feeling them, fostering and enriching them, is the most powerful and life-affirming thing we can do.

Wishing each one of you peace of mind, joy of heart, and success in noticing what makes you come alive!my