Why Now?

Someone once said to me that if you hear the same thing from 3 different sources within a few weeks, that is the universe speaking to you. Since then, I have found this to be eerily true and only when I ignore these messages do I end up on an incorrect path.

True North Rising was born from one of those seminal moments…about 7 months ago I was dealing with what I am now referring to as a minor smack down, having experienced a major one in October 2023 when I suffered seizures only to find out I had a benign brain tumor. Although that was successfully removed and I was blessed to return to a “normal” way of life, this past summer taught me that I have not, in fact, gone back to normal but rather have arrived at a new normal. This new normal has been something I have been struggling to navigate, learning that my frenetic, break neck speed of the past is not something my body can sustain.

This realization came to me in what I now understand as a nervous system collapse — a body-level alarm that I could no longer ignore. This was due to a perfect storm of events - my oldest child graduating, an overwhelming week of family, a raging sinus and ear infection and a subsequent C-PTSD response that left me huddled in the fetal position afraid to even leave my bedroom. This was then exacerbated by my well intended primary care doctor prescribing a medication which led to a severe “allergic” reaction that they counteracted with another medication which I subsequently had to wean off of, further enhancing my neurological collapse.

The summer was spent climbing slowly out of that hole, taking small, steady steps daily, trying to be a good patient, although my husband is very much correct when he says being a patient (or just being patient) is not my strong suit. During that time, both my family unit of Dave and my two kids, along with my chosen family lifted me up and it was during this time that 3 of these earth bound angels told me I should write my story.

The first suggestion landed awkwardly in my body and heart…my story, really??? The first word that came to mind was narcissism. How could I possibly have anything to offer or how is my story different from millions of others? The second time I heard it, I actually laughed because frankly now it was just getting weird. Then, only a few days later, a 3rd person said, almost verbatim, “You have so much to offer. You should write your story. You might help someone.” So, with a smile on my face I looked up and said, “Okay universe now I am listening…”

So here I am. What started as a simple suggestion made by a few people has become a new way of life, a calling to find my True North Rising and to inspire others to quiet their minds so that they too can hear that whisper to live their most authentic life. I will not only be sharing my story through this substack; I will also be pursuing my life long dream of living a life of adventure, studying to become a mindfulness hiking guide so that I can help others ground themselves in a life inspired by the natural beauty and rhythms of this beautiful planet we call home.

And to those that know me as the Executive Director…fear not! That will continue! In fact, I find that this work only enhances my ability to lead as it heals my heart and grounds me in the very virtues necessary to help others in my role as director.

As we get underway, I want to note that I write not to instruct but to inspire, to form a community around the central principle that when we unplug, stay present, embrace nature, and ultimately give back, we not only heal our hearts, minds, and bodies, but also become a guiding light for a world desperately in need of love.

So, I invite you to join me on this journey. In the coming weeks, I will share more of my story in a way that I hope sparks your imagination and inspires you to quiet your mind, reacquaint yourself with the natural world, and to hear that whisper that leads us to our True North.