Nature's Healing Embrace

04/22/2026

Today I would have turned 31.

I would have celebrated with friends and family.

I would have had a cake with 31 candles on it and would have blown out all the candles.

My mom would have given me flowers and balloons that said happy birthday.

I would have eaten at a favorite restaurant and open presents.

I would have laughed and had fun as I spent the day with the ones I loved.

But not today.

Instead my family and friends are gathered around a roadside marker.

They have brought me balloons and flowers.

There are no smiling and happy faces signing me Happy Birthday.

Instead they are holding back the tears as they place the flowers by the roadside cross.

I can hear them whisper Happy Birthday and as they tell me how much they love and miss me.

I lay a hand upon their back and whisper back to them, how I love and miss you too as silent tears run down my cheek.

Today I would have turned 31, but someone choice to drive impaired ended my life way to early and caused a lifetime of heartache and pain to my family and friends.

In loving memory of Anna-Marie Dalton.
Forever “23”
4/22/95-2/19/19

03/18/2026

Losing Anna has been the worst thing that could happen to me, yet it propelled me onto a path I never thought I could imagine.

The grief over Anna’s death has been unbearable, yet here I am. The day I lost her will forever be etched into my memory. The days that followed were ones I would wish on no parent.

I didn’t think I could survive her death—or the days that came after—but here I am.

As time passed, I slowly became aware of the life I would now be leading—a life filled with pain, heartache, and unbearable sorrow. Yet within this pain, there is also joy.

I find joy in the little moments of life that often go unnoticed: sunrises, birds singing, children laughing, and the warmth of the sun on my face.

I find comfort in my family, friends, and even strangers. I see the life force in all of them, and I know that Anna lives on through them—and through me.

Anna is in everything I do and see, and even in the things I cannot see. She is the light breeze that caresses my cheek on a hard day. She is the sunshine that warms my soul, the wind that blows through my hair, and the light in my deepest sorrow.

She is my reason. For everything I do now. I know life can be unbearably hard. There are days I just want to stay in bed, days I want to give up. But then I remember Anna. For her, I allow myself to rest, but I would never give up or give in.

For Anna is life—my life—and the reason I do what I do. In a strange way, it was her death that led me to my purpose. And for that reason alone, I move forward with intention.

I love and miss you every day, Anna. But I know you are here with me, and will be with me every step of the way. Thank you for being my light.

03/13/2026

A **sit spot** is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to reconnect with nature. The idea is easy: find a place outside that you can return to regularly, sit quietly, and just observe what’s around you. Over time, that one small place starts to reveal so much more than you’d ever notice while walking by.

There’s a quote I really like about making time for it:
“If you have enough time, sit for 10 minutes. If you don’t have enough time, sit for an hour.”

It sounds backwards, but it makes sense. When life feels busy, that’s usually when we need the quiet the most.

I really enjoy my sit spots. Almost all of the regular parks I go to have at least one, and sometimes even two. Having familiar places like that makes the park feel different. You start noticing small changes—the birds that show up, how the light moves through the trees, the sounds of wind, or even just how the seasons slowly shift.

Some of the benefits of a sit spot are simple but powerful:
• It helps slow your mind down
• You start noticing details in nature you normally miss
• It’s a great way to reduce stress
• You build a deeper connection with the places you visit
• It encourages mindfulness without needing anything except time

The best part is that there’s no special skill needed. Just find a comfortable place, sit quietly, and observe. The more often you return to the same spot, the more alive it becomes.

Nature has a lot to show us when we actually stop long enough to look.

03/04/2026

🌿✨ Ready to Unplug? ✨🌿

March 6–7, 2026 marks the annual Global Day of Unplugging! From 6PM Friday to 6PM Saturday (or longer if you choose!), people around the world will step away from their screens and reconnect with what truly matters.

Imagine a day filled with real conversations, laughter without notifications, outdoor adventures, board games, journaling, music, reflection, and meaningful face-to-face moments. Whether you unplug for one hour or the full 24, every moment counts.

Schools, businesses, families, and individuals everywhere are joining the movement. Will you?

Let’s make this March unforgettable — one unplugged moment at a time. 🌎💛

03/02/2026

Grief isn’t just about losing a person. 💭

We grieve relationships, unmet expectations, childhood wounds, lost time, health changes, and versions of ourselves we had to outgrow.

It can also come from transitions, setting boundaries, estrangement, or letting go of what we hoped would change. Naming these losses is a powerful step toward emotional healing and personal growth. 🌱

You’re allowed to honor all your losses—big and small. Healing begins when we see and name them. 💛

ProcessingLoss PersonalGrowth

03/02/2026

Grief isn’t just about losing a person. 💭

We grieve relationships, unmet expectations, childhood wounds, lost time, health changes, and versions of ourselves we had to outgrow.

It can also come from transitions, setting boundaries, estrangement, or letting go of what we hoped would change. Naming these losses is a powerful step toward emotional healing and personal growth. 🌱

You’re allowed to honor all your losses—big and small. Healing begins when we see and name them. 💛

03/01/2026

🌲 Welcome to 31 Days of Forest Bathing

You are invited into a month of slowing down.

Forest bathing — inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku from Japan — is not about hiking farther or exercising harder. It is about softening. Noticing. Remembering that you belong to the living world.

Each day, you will receive a simple invitation.
Nothing to achieve. Nothing to complete.
Just a gentle prompt to help you reconnect with your senses, your breath, and the quiet wisdom of the trees.

You don’t need a deep forest.
A park, a garden, a single tree, or even the sky outside your window is enough.

Move slowly.
Stay curious.
Let nature set the pace.

This is your permission to pause. 🌿

02/28/2026

Grief isn’t just about losing people. 💭

We grieve what we hoped for, what we outgrew, and the versions of ourselves we had to leave behind.

Naming these losses is the first step toward healing. 🌱💛

02/28/2026

02/28/2026

sits & waits.

02/25/2026

Healing from grief doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning how to carry love without being crushed by loss.

Send a message to learn more

02/25/2026

Understanding Traumatic Grief- Why Your Loss Feels Different and What You Can Do About It

Why Your Loss Feels Different and What You Can Do About It A Free Live Event with David Kessler