Personal Reflections Articles

“The waves are roaring louder than ever — maybe it’s not just the ocean, maybe it’s the times we’re living in.”

This morning, I was walking along the gorgeous Moss Beach coastline with a dear friend. As we walked, we found ourselves talking about love — not the abstract, poetic kind, but the very real, everyday love and mutual fondness that exists between her, her husband, and myself. We paused as the birds around us suddenly began chirping, almost as if they were trying to catch our attention. My friend jokingly said, “Yeah, you’re whistling at me!” and, in that exact moment, a bird gave the perfect cat-call whistle. I bent over in laughter — such good medicine.

In forest therapy, we cultivate awareness—mindfully tuning into the land around us. Indigenous knowledge of plants, animals, and weather helps us live safely with nature’s elements. On walks, I highlight how to recognize healing and harmful plants, respect local wildlife, and navigate varying weather conditions with safety in mind.

Tonight, I stepped out of my comfort zone and into the city, trusting an old friend to guide me on an unexpected adventure. We met at Keys Jazz Bistro in North Beach, a cozy little jazz bar where the air buzzed with warmth and anticipation. The owner, celebrating his wife’s birthday, had invited one of her favorite singers— Kenny Washington Jr. —to perform.

I’ll never forget the man I saw at the Las Vegas airport, red-faced and desperate, wrestling with his bag at the carry-on sizer. It was painfully obvious to everyone watching that this suitcase had no chance of fitting. Bulging at the seams, it practically defied the laws of physics. Yet, he kept shoving, twisting, and grunting, working himself into a full-blown meltdown.