“i create and sell artwork. i design & build regenerative permaculture systems, and i host yoga retreats, workshops, & special events.”

those things are what i do, but those don’t tell you anything about who i am. if you wanted the short story, that was it, here’s the long one…

x x x

i want to share more about myself then what’s on the surface because these are the things i want to know when i meet you. i have no interest in what you do on the surface, i’m intrigued by your inner drive that won’t allow you to stop doing what you do. i don’t care about your being a graphic designer for a restaurant chain, i want to hear the truth about your struggle with depression and alcoholism and where you are in your battle to get back on top of it all. do you feel buried alive? do you feel like you’ve just stepped on the right path with a long and terrifying road ahead? do you conquer your own neurosis daily? i want to know the REAL things. so, when i write, i share the real things.

what you do with your time matters. it matters to me, it matters to the entire planet and it definitely matters to you. so, rather than talk about all my credentials and past experiences that got me here, i’m just going to share with you where i am right now, and how i “do” my life.

my top 10 favorite things, in no particular order, are: writing, creating, moving, learning, connecting, growing, playing, sharing, eating and moming. every single one of these things is necessary to my survival. when all are in balance, i not only survive, i thrive.

—  WRITING  —

before i started writing, i was pretty clueless. i didn’t understand myself because i wasn’t conversing with myself. writing is truly how i get to know myself. it’s how i get underneath the surface and find the buried hidden truth. it’s also how i am able to notice as things bubble up within me. keeping things honest, authentic and open with myself, enables me to be honest, authentic and open with you.

p.s. in case you didn’t notice, i like to write without using capitals until i need to emphasize something. writing is my creation—keep reading to understand me a lil better. pretty much everything i do is art.

—  CREATING  —

the creative, inspired creature that i am cannot help but weave my art into everything i touch. i’m not really an artist, as in, i don’t create art for a living. i do create art for money when i’m commissioned, but the time i spend on my art is very little in comparison to the time i spend on my other favorite things. here are some photos of my latest art creations.

—  MOVING  —

when it comes to moving my body, i’m kind of obsessed. moving feels SO good, it’s SO fun, and i’m intrigued by what my body is capable of.

i believe movement is medicine, prescribed for you, by you. if you never move mindfully, if you don’t move daily, if you’ve never found and indulged in movement that you enjoy, then you’re probably in pain, sick, tired, fat, depressed or poppin pills to deal with one or multiple of those things.

i’m not saying quit the pills, move your body, and all will be well. i’m saying: movement and the self-control, discipline and resilience that come with regular movement, could lead you towards improved health, and in turn, less need for pills as you find you have less problems.

i move often. i use mobility-improving practices, weekly yoga classes, and regular walks with my dogs. i like to dance when i’m alone. aaaaand i want to practice more acro yoga.

my movement goals are endless, just like the possibilities in my yoga practice. movement makes living in my body an experience of love, respect, growth and play. my body and i are besties, and movement is our playground.

—  LEARNING  —

part of what keeps me so busy is that my curiosity knows no bounds. i love learning things, trying things, playing with things. i can’t stop asking questions and when my brain can’t remember the things i’ve previously learned, i become humorously frustrated. i don’t like being bound by my limits, i only like pushing them.

one of the most important things i’m currently learning is how to hunt on my own. i was a tag-a-long hunter for 4 years and now i’m working to claim the title of “hunter” for myself. it has become of the utmost importance to me that i hold myself accountable for gathering more and more food from nature rather than from stores every year. this process will soon lead to an extensive garden where more and more learning will take place. this choice to live off the land will give me something to learn for the rest of my life. it’s a pleasure to connect with nature in this way.

—  CONNECTING  —

my curiosity connects me with many people. connecting with people whether a friend, a lover, a family member, or a stranger, i’m curious what makes you tick, what drives you, and i’m curious about the life-changing experiences that have led you here.

even though connection is of the utmost importance in my life, so are boundaries. i am very selfish and intentional with my time. i spend most of my time with my family or alone moving and creating.

one of the deepest connections i have is with the earth. i must get out into nature often. i must feel the ground beneath my feet. i must touch the ocean at least once a year. i cherish the infinite air i have to breathe. i commune with mother earth daily and am so damn thankful for this solid ground.

—  GROWING  —

it probably sounds a lil weird to say “one of my top ten favorite things is growing” but it’s the truth. i believe the saying “if you aren’t growing, you’re dying” and while i’m alive, I choose to live. life IS experience. one experience after another building on top of the last one. when i keep doing the same things and have similar experiences with little variation, then i don’t learn, i find myself under-stimulated, and stagnant—NOT growing.

so instead of doing the same things, i force myself to switch things up. i poke and prod at my habits. i try to find the places in my life where i’m thinking, speaking and behaving mindlessly, with little to no intention and consider how i could be going about things if i put some thought into it. this process, this little game i play with myself is essential to my growth.

—  PLAYING  —

i can’t stop won’t stop playing. i love games, especially movement games. practicing handstands and inversions is one of my favorite forms of play. i love acro yoga so much, it’s endless play—nothing else makes me giggle more. i love puzzles and problem solving. as i said, i’m a creative creature so play is inherent.

—  SHARING  —

sharing, inspiring and empowering are all the same to me. i feel as if i cannot live the greatest vision i see possible without teaching, sharing, inspiring and empowering. more than anything else, i share my favorite yoga and movement practices, but i also share what i write, practices that help me feel good, and things i’ve learned to overcome my own crazy—basically anything I can share from my own survival guide for being human.

—  EATING  —

eating has become an in-depth exploration of what i eat that makes me feel good and what i eat that tastes good but doesn’t feel good. if you haven’t taken the time to explore what makes your body feel good and what doesn’t, you’re doing yourself a great disservice.

twelve years ago i started switching things up, removing go-to foods and paying closer attention to what exactly IS in the food i’m putting in my mouth. before then, i was again, CLUELESS on the matter. i don’t believe there is right and wrong in this arena, there’s just an honest look into how you feel. if you don’t already, i urge you to wake up and start listening, accepting and nurturing your body with the foods you eat.

i’ve come to the point now that i am aiming for more and more natural sources of food. the least amount of hands before mine (if any) the better. it’s a practice, a process, and a challenge.

—  MOMING  —

i never thought i’d get to be a mom. what an incredible gift it is. because of her, i get to be fully me—and i get to see even more of what i am really capable of. i even get to see the parts of me i was trying to pretend weren’t there 😝 good thing i like to be challenged and grow because i have no choice in the matter! i still don’t know what i’m doing, but i’m enjoying figuring things out together as a family.