Sinking my feet into the sand on the expansive beaches, meandering through lush forests, and catching waves all year long are strong pulls that keep me returning year after year to the lands and waters of n̓ačiqs (Tofino).

Visits as of late have instilled the importance of intentionally connecting in a deeper way, which not only makes for a more enriching visit but also contributes to making your time in this ethereal place more reciprocal. Weaved into this story are a handful of field notes from my many journeys and conversations.

Mixed in between conversations, I often hear people using metaphors about nature as a comparison to life experiences, and I’m always very fond of it. Hearing these references has made it clear to me that innately we all know how interconnected we are with the natural world, but truly embracing, understanding and reflecting that in our lives is a different story. What if we were more aware of our interrelatedness with earth...would we be more mindful of the way we treated her? Okay, cozy up in your favourite nook, take a couple of nourishing breaths and let's dive into what I mean when I say you are a mirror of nature.

There are many sweet moments winter gifts us with, we just need to be open to receiving. Warm drinks that seem to taste better, rich conversations with hearty food, longer sleeps and time to just be are a few of the reasons I’ve been cherishing this season so far.

Making space for rest allows us a switch off from stress and is an intentional time of recharging our minds, bodies and hearts. I also should note that when I’m more rested I'm much more of a pleasant human being around family and friends. Stress and burnout kicks us off-centre, deregulates our nervous system and plays with our mood.