We all have those moments that redefine us. Those moments that push us out of our comfort zone and bring us to an awakening, an epiphany that seems so obvious we can’t believe it didn’t dawn on us before. I’ve had several of these the last 20 years and it is those moments that have gotten me to where I am today.

Where am I? I’m in a sweet little casita overlooking magnificent Banderas Bay. I’ve been talking about restructuring my life to work while I travel and this is the year that I move that dream into reality. This blog post is the manifestation of that dream. So are my online CEU classes that are now approved and soon to be up on my website for sale.  

It is an illusion that we can’t have the life we desire. It is an illusion that kids, work, and bills bind us to a physical location. It is an illusion that we are meant to work to pay bills and then die with regrets.  The truth comes to light when we have the courage to stop running and to just sit with ourselves.  

Ask yourself what you really want out of life. If it is the corporate job, house on the hill and new car, that is awesome. If it is to drift with the wind on a sailboat in the Caribbean, that is awesome, too. I say, there’s no judgement, no remorse.

I was recently thinking why I am writing a book on herbalism, why I write this blog, why I teach classes on herbalism, aromatherapy, and Chinese medicine. The answer is simple. It makes me happy to write. It makes me happy to teach others about our herbal allies. It brings me great joy to be a messenger of the plants. And that is why we are here folks — to be a beacon of inspiration to all those that cross our path. We are not here to tell them “my way is the right way.” We are here to witness others fully live their path and encourage them along the way.

My hope for you is what I hope for myself — that I am able to feel the beauty and grace in all my adversity and come out the other side blissful and content and that I can be a grounding loving force in the chaos that surrounds us and that I can help others see the greatness in themselves and in our communal home we call earth.

I’ll leave you with a tea inspired by the sunrise and sunset over the Pacific. As always, use organic ingredients whenever possible.

Recipe: Tea of Tropical Bliss

Ingredients:
2-3 tbsp hibiscus flowers
1-2 inch piece of fresh ginger
1-3 tbsp fresh lime juice

Instructions:

1. Boil fresh ginger in two cups of water for 15 minutes. Turn heat off and add Hibiscus flowers. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Strain herbs and add lime juice to the tea.
3. Add honey to taste if desired.  

This tea is delicious warm or iced (normally I don’t say drink teas iced unless it’s an extremely warm day, you are in a tropical paradise, or I’m talking about southern sweet tea).

Love yourself enough to fully live this life.  Even if you think you will have another one, that is no reason not to be present with this one.

When energy flows, wellness grows.