Flourish

About 10 years ago my family hosted a backyard talent show for our neighbors. I love getting to know people through the things they choose to share. People seem softer when they’re sharing something special to them, or funnier, because being vulnerable makes you want to protect yourself with humour. I tend to gravitate towards the humour side when presenting at a talent show. I’d like to think that I’m making it easer for others to step out of their comfort zone by making a fool of myself. Lip syncs are my specialty.

This particular talent show was different for me because the chronic health challenges I was facing were exacerbated. The pain and fatigue I felt limited the way I could participate. My physical energy had tanked and my creative energy used for researching what could be wrong and how I could heal.

Several months before the talent show my daughter had convinced me to purchase an IPhone. Taking pictures with my phone became a way for me to get out of my head, notice the beauty around me, and stay connected to my creative nature. During that time and still, taking pictures and using the imposed stillness (that coincides with chronic pain) to play with the images is a salvation for my spirit that brings me a lot of pleasure.

So instead of dancing for the talent show I chose to showcase recent photos I had taken. I hung them on our back porch and presented them to our neighbors while talking about what it felt like to be stopped in my tracks by debilitating symptoms, my belief in my bodies ability to heal, and that someday I would see the merit in my struggles.

It was scary to share my challenges so publicly, but because of my bravery, friends felt comfortable sharing some of their hardships with me and our relationships deepened. I had broken the ice with my vulnerability and it felt amazing!

You know what else felt great? Holding the images in my hand that had gently coerced me, with their beauty, into preserving them. The thread of light that wove through the images lingered in my imagination. I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be neat to send bright beautiful images through the mail that would light up the day of not only the recipient, but all the people that touched the cards along the way. The catalyst for FLOURISH.

My path to healing involves noticing and responding to connections and exploring the beauty of deep relationships, whether it be with myself, the natural world, or other humans. I feel empowered by other’s stories and in exchange would like to share stories that highlight connectivity, with you.

I will be introducing topics slowly. Giving you access to new ideas, once a month, one at a time, through the mail. Analogue Instagram!

As a subscriber you can expect subject matter to include: original art by me or friends along with text that chronicles: my adventures in eating seasonally, book reviews, music I love, snippets on revitalizing interconnected community, recipes, healing successes and follies, highlights of others work that I find especially intriguing, project ideas, the pondering of life situations, questions for you to ponder, and maybe even cute things my kids say (embodied wisdom).

Content will come with the intention of sharing some magic while introducing you to new ideas that spark your curiosity and enhance our collective connection.

I hope to have you all skipping back from your mailbox to the tune of “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers :)

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