Written by Lovisa Engstrand, Nervous System & Stress Specialist Lovisa Engstrand is a Nervous System & Stress Specialist and breathwork practitioner who helps high-functioning women shift out of chronic stress and survival mode so they can sleep deeply, feel calm, and show up fully - without burning out or pushing harder. Chronic stress doesn't just exhaust you, it quietly dismantles your digestion. If you're bloated, constipated, and have already tried every elimination diet and fiber supplement with nothing to show for it, this article is for you. I'll explain exactly why your nervous system is the missing piece and walk you through what to do instead, including a simple breath practice you can use anywhere, even in that public restroom with the wide gap under the door. You’re doing everything right. You’re careful with your food choices, working out consistently, and your supplement cupboard is filling up quickly, especially with that latest de-bloat pill a famous actress swears changed her life and made her 2kg lighter overnight. Perhaps you’re sleeping a bit poorly, but you are at least trying. When you've tried everything for bloating and constipation, and nothing works You've tried everything the internet suggests, elimination diets, cutting dairy and eggs, and adding beans and legumes, which only made things worse. The safe foods list has shrunk to almost nothing, and you still feel puffy, foggy, and ashamed. Ashamed for having to skip or feeling ‘picky’ at social dinners, for your 7-month pregnant, bloated belly. Ashamed because you have to alter travel plans around bathrooms, and God forbid you have to empty your bowels in a public restroom, with a wide open gap under the bathroom door. And lastly, ashamed that almost all of your brainpower during your waking hours goes to thinking about your constipation. What most people get wrong about chronic constipation That constant hypervigilance, that worry of "When am I going to be able to ‘go’ next?" and "How will it make me feel?", isn’t a failing, it's your nervous system stuck in survival mode, prioritizing survival over digestion. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it is designed to do: responding to perceived signals of threat or safety. This stress and anxiety you feel over when and where your next bowel movement is going to happen is exactly the same stress our ancestors experienced when being chased by a predator on the Savannah. Not necessarily bad, but absolutely the wrong timing and context. What is the gut-brain axis, and why is it making you bloated? First things first, awareness is always where healing begins. So let’s begin at the root, with the miscommunication that’s occurring inside of you. The gut and brain communicate via the vagus nerve and enteric nervous system, something we call the gut-brain axis. Put simply, the gut-brain axis is the two-way communication highway between your digestive system and your nervous system. The gut sends signals about fullness, irritation, and microbes to the brain, and the brain sends signals that control movement, blood flow, and immune activity in the gut, among other things. Think of it like a Los Angeles freeway, seven lanes each way, efficient when traffic flows. But as anyone who's driven it knows, it never really goes that smoothly. When stress signals hit, the gut-brain axis reacts the same way, it slows, obstructs, and grinds to a halt. It’s getting ready to fight, flee, or freeze, and prioritizes survival over digestion. When your nervous system is chronically activated (in what we commonly call chronic stress from modern life), the conversation between your gut and the brain becomes noisy, and your digestion is among the first to pay the price. The result? A hefty sum of irregular bowel movements, constipation, food reactivity, bloating, and shame. How chronic stress disrupts gut motility, causes bloating, and makes you constipated Research published in Frontiers in Psychiatry confirms a bidirectional link between constipation and anxiety, each worsening the other in a reinforcing cycle. Chronic stress reduces gut motility (how food moves through your body) by activating your sympathetic nervous system and suppressing your parasympathetic system, rest and digest. To eliminate properly, your body needs to feel safe enough to rest. When your body believes it is fighting for survival, it slows transit time, the journey from eating to elimination, because digestion is not a survival priority. This is why stress causes constipation. But it can also do the opposite, sometimes the nervous system speeds everything up, producing loose stools or diarrhea. Very often, these alternate, which leads many people to wrongly believe they have food intolerances. How stress creates leaky gut and food sensitivity Over time, chronically elevated stress hormones cause local inflammation in the gut lining, making it more permeable. This is what is commonly called leaky gut, where small particles and bacterial fragments cross into the tissue, triggering immune responses that produce bloating, puffiness, and food sensitivity. Meanwhile, chronic stress also lodges itself in the body as muscle tension, particularly in the pelvic floor, which reduces effective evacuation and traps gas. So even when food is moving, it cannot exit properly. And when stool gets backed up in the colon, water is absorbed from it, making it hard, dry, and difficult to pass. Then another meal arrives, adding to the traffic jam, and the cycle deepens. One car after another joins a highway that has no exit ramp in sight. Why fiber, elimination diets, and supplements haven't fixed your constipation At this point, you and your bloated, distended belly are feeling rather defeated. But before you throw in the towel and stop eating completely, you do one more thing. You call your mum and ask her for advice. And your mum, lovely as she is, gives you the wonderful advice to perhaps make a hearty stew with lentils and beans. You cook it despite the fear of a reaction to the legumes, because we should listen to our mothers. Plus, a quick Google search confirms that yes, fiber makes you go. You also throw out that white processed bread in your cupboard that never seems to get moldy, and you stock up on all the things you know are rich in fiber, more beans, legumes, sweet potatoes, quinoa, and leafy greens. Another good crack at the fiber-rich meals. And to increase your chances, you also buy some psyllium husk to make it a little easier to hit that 15g of fiber per day recommendation you read about somewhere. But what happens next baffles you, and kind of pisses you off. Because instead of waking up the next morning and having the kind of easy, satisfying bowel movement you’ve been dreaming of, there is nothing but crickets. The truth is, adding more fiber to an already backed-up gut actually just makes your constipation worse. So now you’re left feeling not only bloated but also overwhelmed, because you clearly can’t trust your mum or Dr. Google, and that causes you even more stress and frustration. It’s time to end this spiral, once and for all. The moment something finally clicks So, what do you do? You remember someone once telling you about breathwork, nervous system regulation, and how, by stressing less, their gut healed. When you first heard it, you frowned and thought, "Good for you, but that won't work for me, I’m not even that stressed." But the next morning, after having had a delicious meal for dinner, filled with all the fiber you know is going to feed your gut microbes and make your colon happy, you look at yourself in the mirror, and think you’re 7 months pregnant. And somewhere in between you thinking, "Maybe I am pregnant?!" and "I am so fed up with this!!", your brain brings back that memory of that one friend who managed to heal. You text her. The nervous system: The missing link in your constipation and bloating Your friend responds almost immediately with an audio note covering every step she took, every trap she fell into, and exactly how to avoid them. Listening to it on your way to work, stuck in the same traffic jam, something clicks. It lands. You feel seen. You copy the transcript, record one back, and as you arrive home that day, you get to work. You've done everything right. Except for one thing. You have not addressed the main thing that is going to enable proper digestion and full elimination, something fiber alone can’t fix. You suddenly realize that the poor sleep, the constant anxiety about your next bowel movement, the negative self-talk as you look at yourself in the mirror, and the feeling of always being in ‘go-mode’, reacting emotionally to things out of your control, are all connected. You have, not by active will, but by behaviors and patterns ingrained in your system from the day you were born, kept your nervous system stuck in survival mode. This, in turn, is keeping all these digestive symptoms active. If you didn’t realize already, I am her. Your friend. 7 steps to break the stress-constipation cycle Treat your nervous system as the root cause: Before making another food rule, test the working hypothesis, chronic stress, and dysregulation are driving symptoms. This reframes the work from self-blame to repair. Regulate first, then change your diet: Research shows that if your system is chronically aroused, strict diets often increase anxiety and reduce dietary variety and good bacteria, which negatively impacts the microbiome. Start with small regulation tools so dietary changes have a chance to stick. Small daily practices shift baseline nervous system tone over weeks. Breathwork, Yoga Nidra, Mindfulness, Meditation, Journaling, you pick (ideally 2–3). Clear the backlog with a one-time gentle osmotic clear-out: This step can be uncomfortable, but it needs to happen before your gut can repair and start tolerating foods again. Use Liquid Magnesium Citrate, and work with a trusted doctor or practitioner. Prioritize sleep like it is medicine, because it is: Sleep is the foundation of nervous system regulation, and it's when your gut does most of its repair. 7–9 hours, consistent bed and wake times, and a protected sleep environment. Take it as seriously as any other intervention here. Use gentle movement to move gas and reset motility: Short walks, gentle hip releases, and abdominal mobility help move gas and reset motility, prioritize slow strength work like Pilates or yoga over intense sessions while your system is rebuilding. Track patterns for 2 weeks, not foods to fear, but signals to understand: Keep a simple log for 2–3 weeks, meal, stress level (1–5), bowel pattern, hydration. Look for signals (stress + certain contexts) rather than proof that a specific food is the enemy. This is data collection, not restriction. Rebuild, reintroduce, and get support as needed: As your nervous system regulates, slowly reintroduce vegetables, grains, and fermented foods, variety rebuilds microbiome resilience. If symptoms are severe or persistent, work with a practitioner who understands the nervous system's role in digestion. Short-term osmotic laxative support can help keep bowels in rhythm while the deeper work happens. A simple 3-minute breathwork practice for digestive calm and bloating relief Use this breath practice before meals, during flares, or before eating out. This is the practice I mentioned at the start, and it works because it speaks directly to your nervous system, not just your gut. Why it helps: Slow diaphragmatic breathing increases vagal tone, signals “safe enough to rest” to your gut, improves motility, and reduces visceral amplification. Practice (3 minutes): Sit with feet grounded. Place one hand on your belly, one on your chest. Inhale through the nose for 4 counts, sending the breath into your belly (hand rises). Keep chest quiet and still. Exhale for 6 counts through a relaxed mouth or soft nose, feeling the belly fall. Optional 2-count pause after exhale if comfortable. Repeat 6–10 cycles (~3 minutes). Use before meals, after meals, when you notice pre-meal anxiety, before a dinner out, or as you lay in bed at night. Use the guided practice here, a free guided digestive breath practice Safety note: If you feel lightheaded, shorten to 3 counts in and 4 out. If breathwork triggers dissociation or trauma responses, place both feet on the floor, breathe naturally, and seek trauma-informed support. Your transformation After that, quite unpleasant but wonderfully freeing, clear-out, you follow the steps. It doesn't happen overnight. But over the next few weeks, you're going to the bathroom daily. It's not perfect, but it's working. The hope is back. You sleep better, think more clearly, and stop reacting to everything as if it's a crisis. Your relationship with your partner improves because instead of reacting, you're responding. You're no longer muttering at other drivers in traffic. You're just driving. And one day, you realize you don’t feel bloated anymore. You no longer look or feel 7 months pregnant after every meal, and foods that would previously cause a reaction, you can enjoy with no fear. Eating out with friends is fun again. Because you trust yourself and your body, and you know that tomorrow morning, you’ll be able to eliminate, and then go on living your life, focusing on that which truly matters. Start your journey today Your body isn’t failing you, it’s responding intelligently to prolonged stress, and you’re left with the result of that. The most courageous thing you can do is stop fighting yourself and start retraining the conversation between your gut and brain. If you want a structured starting point, download my free guide Constipation Reset: A Nervous-System-First Guide to Restoring Bowel Rhythm. If you're ready for faster, measurable change with a personalized plan behind you, book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore whether 1:1 coaching is the right next step. Please note: Digestive symptoms can have many causes, including illness, infection, medications, digestive breakdown (bile, acid & enzymes), and other medical conditions. This article is for informational purposes only. If you are unsure what is driving your symptoms, please consult a doctor or qualified practitioner, your situation is your own. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lovisa Engstrand Lovisa Engstrand, Nervous System & Stress Specialist Lovisa Engstrand is a Nervous System & Stress Specialist and breathwork practitioner working at the intersection of psychology, physiology, and behaviour change. She specialises in helping high-functioning women who feel exhausted, overstimulated, anxious, or stuck in survival mode. Her work is grounded in her own lived experience of training, eating well, and still waking up anxious, bloated, and depleted - until she understood her nervous system. Through her Regulate & Restore Framework, Lovisa addresses stress regulation, sleep, movement, nutrition, and identity to help women rebuild capacity from the body up. She lives between Australia, Sweden, Canada, and the USA and works with clients globally through 1:1 containers & online programs.

Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview Candice Bar is an internationally recognized PR expert, entrepreneur, and author, dedicated to helping high-level entrepreneurs step into their power and gain meaningful recognition. As the author of Believing Before Seeing, she teaches the transformative principle that belief must come before results—empowering individuals to create success from the inside out. With a background in media and high-level public relations, Candice has built a reputation for connecting influential entrepreneurs and celebrities with the right audiences, creating real visibility and impact. Her purpose is to help others "Start at the top" and stop hiding behind the business/company. To REALLY be recognized and connect to their ideal audience on a big scale. Candice Bar You run a top-level PR and luxury media company. What first drew you to the world of high-level connections and networking? I have always been an excellent listener and observant. People seem to want to tell me EVERYTHING—from Uber drivers to CEOs of major corporations to celebrities, the list goes on. Listening seems to have become a lost art. I have always firmly believed connecting people IS my soul's purpose. I knew that at a young age. I listened, connected the dots, and executed. I didn't pick PR/connecting people, it chose me, and it grew and up-leveled rapidly and quickly over the years. What have you learned about building real, meaningful connections? You have to have skin in the game and actually give a shit about how connections are going to play out. The goal should always be a win-win for everyone involved. You need to take a lot of things into consideration before connecting people, such as personality, business, and energy. They all need to connect and make sense. If not, it will be a waste of everyone's time. I can't stand messy, thoughtless connections. Once someone is connected, you can't disconnect them; that is why I am so protective of my network. They trust me, my judgment, and my intuitiveness because it has served. Trust is incredibly important in high-level networking. “The goal should always be a win-win for everyone involved.” Many people talk about networking as a strategy. In your view, what makes networking genuine rather than just transactional? Well, having a personality helps, and vibes don't lie. If you're going into some things with an agenda, people can feel it; they can smell it. You can't go into something desperate or feel like you don't belong there. You need to own your power, be confident in who you are, and the right people will come to you. You do attract what you are. Know who YOU are and not who others tell you to be. Candice Bar What is one thing most people misunderstand about high-level networking? High-level networking is a totally different game from mid-range networking. People don't seem to understand that. You can't come at it with the same mindset or skill set. This is a totally different animal altogether. All I will say is your attitude, and the rooms you decide to be in can be game changers. Focus on a real, deep connection, not selling. Many entrepreneurs want to connect with influential people. What mindset do they need to succeed in those spaces? They need to consider what they are bringing to the table. What sets them apart? Why are they interesting? How do they stand out? Influential people are being asked all the time for things. What can you do for them, not what they can do for you. In luxury industries, trust and reputation matter a lot. How important are these when building long-term relationships? Trust and reputation are extremely important. This is a relationship and hopefully a long-term one. I build for a long game, not a short one. With anything, if trust isn't there, it dies. High-level circles are very small, they are all connected, and they do talk. What is one piece of advice you would give someone who wants to build a strong and valuable network? Start at the top. Invest in a big opportunity. Get uncomfortable. Positioning is everything. Stop doing mediocre shit. You can thank me later ;) Through your work in PR and media, you’ve seen how visibility can open doors. How does being seen in the right places shape opportunities? Yes, I have. I help create those experiences for clients through my long-term relationships. When you can go to an event or be on a well-known podcast or connect with people who are respected, you position yourself as someone of influence with other people of influence. Do that over and over again, and you have put yourself in a different world completely. This can take years of struggle off you and your business. What do you think makes a personal brand truly strong? The person, the story/journey of the person. We buy the story. I have countless clients who wanted to hide behind their product, but I wouldn't allow it. The second we turned the conversation to the client, sales increased, visibility increased, bigger shows reach out, and bigger opportunities come when you share the real you. “Human connection is key.” Looking ahead, how do you think networking and influence will change in the coming years? Well, everything is digital, AI, and whatever else they create. Most people are so disconnected, not present or engaged. Human face-to-face connection and energy can't be replicated, though I'm sure they will try. I'm hoping the pendulum will swing back to using less technology. Face-to-face, eye-to-eye is how I built my business. I work very old school. I personally know my clients, my connections, my network. I have cultivated my network with phone calls and lunches, not just texts or emails. Personal touch. Meaningful gestures. I have never had a website and still don't. It's just not how I operate, and I run a multi-media/PR company! My clients aren't looking for a website; they are meeting me and have seen the results for my other clients. Human connection is key. Authenticity, energy, intention, and results are how I built what we have built...and it works. It's important to remember, especially in these times, you want to be seen as a person of influence, not an Influencer, huge difference. In a business landscape increasingly shaped by automation and digital visibility, this PR and luxury media leader makes a compelling case for something far more timeless: authentic human connection. With over two decades of experience connecting professionals—and historic achievements in the U.S. media industry—her approach to networking centers on trust, intuition, and intentionality. Whether guiding entrepreneurs into influential rooms or helping clients step into greater visibility, her philosophy remains clear: relationships built on authenticity, energy, and mutual value are the foundation of lasting influence. To learn more about Candice, follow her on Instagram, explore bio link page, and discover her book Believing Before Seeing.

Written by Juca Csíkos, Content Creator, Wellbeing & Mobility Coach Juca Csíkos is the founder of ActiveMumLife, an Authentic Real Content Creator, and a Wellbeing & Mobility Coach who is building a strong international community for active women and mothers. Most fitness cultures focus on performance, calorie burning, and muscle building. The “no pain, no gain” approach often overlooks the health of the body and nervous system. In our stressful, overloaded lives, this mindset can easily lead to overexertion, injury, and loss of motivation. But what if true value doesn’t lie in traditional strength or endurance metrics, but in movement quality, nervous system stability, and everyday body use? This article explores how mobility, incorporating breath, core stability, and optimal joint range of motion, can become the foundation of modern fitness, especially for stressed adults and postpartum women. What counts as movement? Movement is not only about intense workouts or long runs. Functional, everyday integrated movement patterns are just as, if not more, important for the nervous system. Any activity that activates the body, supports circulation, strengthens muscles, and improves mobility matters. The focus is not on intensity or calorie burn, but on consistency, sustainability, and integrability. Even just 5 to 10 minutes of mindful, integrated movement blocks can positively impact mental and physical well being, particularly during stressful periods and postpartum recovery. Nervous system perspective Stress and overload continuously activate the HPA axis, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal system, elevating cortisol, reducing recovery capacity, and weakening nervous system stability. Regular, integrated movement increases the production of brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, which supports neuron survival, strengthens neural connections, and enhances brain adaptability. This directly influences mood regulation and stress resilience. Movement, therefore, is not merely physical activity. It is a tool for nervous system stabilization. Internal motivation and sustainability The key to sustainable movement is not external motivation but an identity based approach. When movement becomes part of your daily routine and aligns with your life circumstances, such as the limited energy and time in the postpartum period, it becomes much more sustainable long term. In my experience as a wellbeing and mobility coach, even small, safe movement blocks that respond to the body’s signals can enhance mental state and physical recovery. Breath, mobility, and core stability Integrated movement is built on a combination of mindful breathing, mobility, and core stability. Slow, controlled movements paired with deep breathing activate the parasympathetic nervous system, increase heart rate variability, and enhance the sense of safety. These processes support stress reduction through movement and nervous system stabilization, helping restore balance between body and mind. Mental benefits of strength training Strength training is not only about building muscle but also a crucial tool for nervous system regulation. Controlled, consistent loading increases the body’s sense of safety, stabilizes the nervous system, and improves mental resilience. The focus should be on movement quality and consistency, not maximal performance. Routine and nervous system safety Integrating movement into daily routines reduces the stress spiral. When the body becomes accustomed to regular micro movements, the HPA axis reacts less strongly to daily challenges. A sustainable lifestyle hinges on making movement a natural part of daily life rather than an isolated task. Recovery and overload risks Even small movement blocks offer meaningful benefits without overload. The goal is sustainable, nervous system friendly movement, not maximal calorie burn. Monitoring recovery and listening to the body’s signals are critical to ensuring that movement continues to support the link between mental health and exercise. Frequently asked questions Can micro movements really reduce stress? Yes. Even 5 to 10 minutes of integrated movement blocks daily help stabilize the nervous system, improve mood, and increase stress resilience. How much movement is needed for mental benefits? Regular, moderate intensity movement is sufficient. The key is consistency and integrability. Can movement support postpartum recovery? Yes. Gradual, safe exercises support physical recovery and nervous system stability. 5-10 minute micro-movement patterns (Chunking Philosophy) The “chunking” approach breaks movement into small, integrable blocks. Three simple patterns: Morning Mobilization: 5 minutes of stretching, breathing exercises, and spinal mobility upon waking. Workday Micro Block: 3 to 5 minutes of standing or seated mobility, shoulder and neck movements, combined with deep breathing. Evening Core Stability: 5 minutes of core activation and stretching paired with breathing to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. These short blocks allow for sustainable daily activity without requiring dedicated workout time. Movement as a lifeline out of the stress spiral If you feel stuck in a cycle of stress, exhaustion, and inconsistency, it is not a lack of discipline, it is a mismatch between your current capacity and your approach. As a Wellbeing and Mobility Coach, I help you integrate movement into your daily life in a way that supports nervous system regulation, long term sustainability, and real life demands. If you are interested in stress reduction through movement, nervous system stabilization, or building a sustainable lifestyle, follow for more educational content. If you are open to collaboration or professional partnerships, I am available for content creation, product, and service integration aligned with your brand. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Juca Csíkos Juca Csíkos, Content Creator, Wellbeing & Mobility Coach Juca Csíkos is the founder of ActiveMumLife, an Authentic Real Content Creator, and a certified Wellbeing & Mobility Coach. Her community of nearly one million followers consists primarily of active women and mothers who value movement, mental balance, and harmony between family life and personal wellbeing. Her work has been featured on international platforms such as Cosmopolitan, Shape, Women’s Health, and in the Dove ReImagine campaign, highlighting her commitment to authenticity and self-identity.

Written by Jagroop Sahi, Founder & CEO Founder of KIDDYKIND, a curated marketplace for sustainable baby and kids brands, Jagroop Sahi writes on sustainability, conscious capitalism, and why supporting small businesses is essential to building ethical, future-ready economies. Ninety-seven percent of children tested have forever chemicals in their blood. Not some children. Not children in industrial areas, or children with unusual exposures. Ninety-seven percent. The brands selling clothing treated with those same chemicals have known about the risks for decades. The lawsuits have started. The investigations are live. And the leggings, the sports kits, the school jackets, they are still on the shelves. What you're actually buying when you buy "performance" clothing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in clothing to create water resistant, stain proof, and wrinkle free finishes. That waterproof children's jacket. The "performance" leggings. The sports kit with the moisture wicking guarantee. The technology behind many of these products has a name the brands would rather you didn't search for. They are called forever chemicals because that is precisely what they are. They do not break down in the environment. They do not break down in soil or water. They do not break down in the human body. Once PFAS enter the body, they stay. They have been found in blood, in breast milk, in umbilical cord blood. They are now present in virtually every person on earth. New research published in 2025 revealed something that should stop every parent in their tracks, when skin sweats, absorption of PFAS increases by up to 3,252 times compared to dry contact. Read that again. Not two times. Not ten times. Three thousand, two hundred and fifty-two times. That is the category of clothing your child wears during sport, during play, during the hours their body works hardest. That is precisely the clothing the biggest brands in the world have been treating with these chemicals. A child's body is not a small adult's body The industry's standard response, when one is offered at all, is that chemical levels fall within acceptable limits. What this framing quietly ignores is that those limits were not designed with children in mind. Children absorb chemicals through skin at a significantly higher rate than adults. Their immune and endocrine systems are still developing. Disruption at low doses during critical developmental windows can have lasting effects that take years, sometimes decades, to manifest. The health consequences of PFAS exposure are not theoretical. They are documented. They include certain cancers, thyroid disease, hormone disruption, immune system suppression, elevated cholesterol, reduced birth weight, weakened antibody response to vaccines, and developmental delays. These are not edge cases. The EPA formally regulated PFAS in drinking water for the first time in April 2024, an acknowledgment that the evidence had become impossible to ignore. And yet, children's clothing has remained one of the least scrutinized categories when it comes to chemical content. The brands, the lawsuits, and what they'd prefer you didn't know This is no longer a story about emerging risk. It is a story about documented harm and the legal consequences beginning to follow. In 2025, Greenpeace purchased 56 garments from Shein across eight countries and tested them independently. Thirty-two percent of products exceeded EU safety limits. Seven items exceeded PFAS limits by up to 3,300 times the legal threshold. One children's dress tested at 260mg/kg of formaldehyde, that’s 3.5 times the European limit. These were not edge cases pulled from obscure product lines. These were items sold on one of the world's most visited retail platforms, many of them marketed to children. What makes this worse is that Shein had already been investigated for the same thing. In 2022, Greenpeace found near identical results. Shein pledged to improve. Nothing changed. In February 2026, the Texas Attorney General filed a formal lawsuit against Shein for selling clothing containing toxic chemicals, including items marketed to newborns and pregnant women. The same office launched a formal investigation into Lululemon over PFAS in its activewear, examining the brand's restricted substances lists, testing protocols, and supply chain practices. Lululemon claims to have phased out PFAS in 2023. The investigation is examining whether that claim holds. Nike, Adidas, Fabletics, and Gymshark are currently under active class action investigation for PFAS in leggings in the United States. These are not fringe legal actions. They are part of a wave of litigation moving through the American court system as the evidence base becomes undeniable. The direction of travel is clear. The brands knew. The question now being asked in courts is, what did they do about it? The system was not built to protect your child It would be reassuring to believe regulation is keeping pace. It is not. The EU has been developing some of the world's most ambitious PFAS restrictions in textiles, but implementation is slow and contested. In the UK, post Brexit chemical safety standards have diverged from the EU framework still being built. In that gap, brands continue to operate. Legal compliance does not equal safety. It is compliant with whatever the current standard happens to be, a standard shaped by decades of industry lobbying. The production model makes the problem worse. An industry producing between 80 and 150 billion garments per year, with cost as the primary driver, is not one that voluntarily absorbs the expense of cleaning up its chemistry. It waits until it is forced. In the meantime, it markets performance, protection, and durability, language that functions as cover for a chemical application most parents would reject if it were described plainly on the label. There are no mandatory labels. There is no plain disclosure. There is marketing. 97% is not a statistic to scroll past Ninety seven percent of children tested have PFAS in their blood. That is not a number the industry has responded to with urgency. It has responded with restricted substances lists, voluntary pledges, and PR statements, the same tools it has deployed for years while the evidence mounted. The good news, if you can call it that, is that PFAS free alternatives not only exist, they work. Independent testing in the UK found that six out of seven children's outdoor coats tested were PFAS free, demonstrating clearly that the technology to build safe, high performing children's clothing is available. The issue has never been capability. It has been a choice. Brands built from the ground up on the principle that children's clothing should be genuinely safe, not just legally defensible, are operating and growing. They tend to be smaller. Often parent founded. Always more transparent. This is precisely why at KIDDYKIND, every brand we platform is vetted on material safety, supply chain transparency, and production ethics. Finding PFAS free children's brands should not require a chemistry degree, a Greenpeace report, or a lawsuit to prompt the question. It should be the default. The forever chemicals have been in plain sight for long enough. And now, finally, so has the accountability. Follow me on Instagram, and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Jagroop Sahi Jagroop Sahi, Founder & CEO Jagroop Sahi is the founder of KIDDYKIND, a curated marketplace championing sustainable and ethical baby and kids brands. She is a sustainability entrepreneur and contributing journalist writing on conscious capitalism, corporate responsibility, and the role of small business in building future-ready economies. Known for bridging values-driven purpose with commercial reality, she offers practical insights for leaders navigating impact, scale, and consumer trust. Through her work, she challenges businesses to move beyond performative sustainability toward meaningful, measurable change.

Written by DJ Jesse Hudson, AI-Driven Cognitive Health Advocate DJ Jesse Hudson is a cognitive health advocate, media creator, and founder of CTEFight.com. Through TheRabbitHole.ca, he documents lived experience with brain injury while exploring how AI, storytelling, and community can support cognitive awareness, recovery, and resilience. Access to healthcare should be immediate, responsive, and grounded in patient need, yet for many navigating the system, it becomes a prolonged fight to be heard. This piece sheds light on how delays, gaps in care, and systemic priorities can turn manageable conditions into crises, and what it means to finally break through. There is one thing that should never fall into that category, access to healthcare. And yet, for injured workers navigating the Workers’ Compensation Board, it too often does. From advocacy to escalation I did what people are told to do. I reported symptoms, followed up, documented concerns, and asked repeatedly for appropriate diagnostics. I am an injured worker. I contribute to the system. I trusted the process. But when a system does not respond, persistence eventually turns into escalation, not by choice, but by necessity. A question of urgency Last week, I was in the hospital and could not walk for hours. An MRI was booked for July. Read that again. A patient presenting with acute mobility loss, waiting months for imaging. That is not triage. That is delay. Now zoom out. A contractor known to me is injured and cannot access an MRI until 2028. He is expected to keep working, stay injured, and risk making it worse. That is escalation by design. When support is removed I live with PTSD and depression. Continuity of care matters. Support was removed when it was needed most. That does not stabilize people, it destabilizes them. What finally moved the needle I was finally heard, and everything shifted. What changed was not the severity of the condition, but the response to it. The moment attention aligned with urgency, action followed. It raises a critical point, how many cases remain unresolved not because they are complex, but because they are unheard. When the system listens, even briefly, it proves that movement is possible. The real issue is why it takes so long to get there. A 30-second fix that raises a bigger question A shoulder issue was resolved in 30 seconds that had previously been ignored. It raises a bigger question, are we treating patients or managing liability? When systems prioritize risk and budgets over outcomes, the cost compounds in people’s lives. Let’s be clear This is not about the workers. They showed up. They cared. This is about the system, a system where delays turn manageable situations into crises. It is about processes that reward waiting over responding, and structures that unintentionally escalate harm. Accountability does not sit with individuals doing their best within constraints, it sits with the design that shapes those constraints. Where I stand It’s personal. It’s shocking. But I’m calm, because I’m finally being heard. That calm does not come from resolution, it comes from recognition. Being acknowledged should not be the turning point in care, yet too often, it is. I stand in a place where relief and concern exist at the same time, relief that progress is finally happening, and concern for those still waiting in silence. Final thought Healthcare should not be a forever pursuit. It should be accessible, timely, and responsive, especially for those already navigating injury and vulnerability. When care becomes a prolonged struggle, it stops being care and becomes a barrier. The measure of a system is not how it functions at its best, but how it responds when people need it most. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from DJ Jesse Hudson DJ Jesse Hudson, AI-Driven Cognitive Health Advocate DJ Jesse Hudson is a cognitive health advocate, media creator, and founder of CTEFight.com. Living with the long-term effects of brain injury, he uses storytelling and lived experience to raise global awareness around cognitive health and recovery. Through TheRabbitHole.ca, he explores how AI, media, and community can support resilience, continuity, and human dignity. His work bridges advocacy, innovation, and culture to make complex brain health conversations accessible and real.

Written by Beverly K. Johnson, Health and Wellness Coach Certified Health Coach and transformation strategist helping midlife women reinvent their wellness, leadership, and identity with grace and purpose. I teach alignment over hustle and resilience over burnout. She’s the one everyone leans on. The one who holds it together. She’s the one that is usually the first one in the office and the last one to leave each day. Raise your hand if this sounds familiar. You’re the one people call when things go wrong. You figure it out, fix it, and keep everything together, even when your own body wants something else. I know that woman well because I was her for a long time. In my career, I was trusted with big decisions, large portfolios, and in places where staying calm was not just preferred but required. There was little room to feel overwhelmed, and even less to take a break. So, like many high-performing women, I adapted. I became efficient. Dependable. Steady. Strong. That strength helped me succeed, build trust, and become a leader. But it also created a quiet habit I didn’t notice at first. I learned to ignore my body for the sake of getting things done. No one really tells you this, but always being the strong one comes with a cost. Sooner or later, your body will make you pay for it. When strength becomes an identity At first, strength is something you rise into. It’s how you navigate difficult seasons. It’s how you survive transitions, disappointments, and unexpected turns. You learn how to keep moving, even when things feel uncertain. But over time, something changes. Strength is no longer just something you use. It becomes part of who you are. You don’t ask for help, not because you can’t, but because it feels strange. You support everyone else, but rarely make time for yourself. You keep going, even when your body quietly asks you to stop. And because the world rewards this version of you, the one who handles it all, you begin to internalize it as your standard. What once supported you becomes something you feel obligated to maintain. The emotional cost: When stability becomes disconnection From the outside, you seem grounded. Calm. Unshaken. But internally, there can be a subtle distance. If you’ve learned to manage emotions, yours and everyone else’s, you may recognize this. You move on quickly. You compartmentalize. You stay composed in moments that might overwhelm others. But emotional regulation without emotional processing creates space between you and your own experience. Research in mind-body medicine suggests that unprocessed emotional stress doesn’t simply disappear, it remains active within the body, contributing to long-term physiological strain (van der Kolk, 2014). In other words, what isn’t expressed is often stored. Stored in the nervous system. Stored in the body. Stored in the quiet tension you’ve learned to normalize. What often gets praised as emotional strength can sometimes be unexpressed emotion in disguise. And over time, that doesn’t lead to breakdown. It leads to disconnection. The hormonal cost: When the body adapts to survival Over time, the body doesn’t just handle stress. It adapts to it. One way it does that is through your stress response system, including the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. When this system is activated consistently, it leads to sustained production of cortisol, the hormone that helps you respond to stress in the short term. But the body was never designed to live there. According to McEwen (2007), prolonged activation of the stress response contributes to allostatic load, the cumulative wear and tear on the body. For many women, especially in midlife, this can begin to show up as the following: Disrupted sleep patterns Increased abdominal fat storage Mood fluctuations and irritability Brain fog and reduced cognitive clarity Persistent fatigue, even after rest During perimenopause and menopause, hormonal shifts are already influencing mood, metabolism, and energy. When layered with chronic stress, these symptoms can intensify (Santoro & Epperson, 2015). So, what feels like “something being off” is often a body that has been operating in survival mode for far too long. The physiological cost: When high-functioning isn’t the same as well One of the most overlooked aspects of this pattern is that it doesn’t always appear dysfunctional. You’re still performing. Still achieving. Still meeting expectations. But your body is telling a different story. Tight shoulders that never fully relax, even when you finally sit down. Shallow breathing that doesn’t quite reach your lungs. Digestive discomfort that comes and goes without a clear explanation. A constant feeling of being “on,” even in moments meant for rest. This is often described as “wired and tired,” a state in which the nervous system remains activated even when the body is exhausted. From a physiological standpoint, this reflects a dysregulated nervous system, one that hasn’t had consistent opportunities to return to baseline. And while pushing through may be praised externally, it does not create sustainability internally. Why so many women stay in this pattern This isn’t simply about personal choice. It’s also about conditioning. Many women have been taught, explicitly or implicitly, that strength means: Holding everything together Not burdening others Being dependable at all costs Prioritizing performance over personal needs For women in leadership, these expectations can feel even more pronounced. Composure becomes currency. Reliability becomes identity. And when your sense of value becomes tied to how much you can carry, putting something down can feel uncomfortable, even threatening. There’s also a quieter question beneath it. If you are no longer “the strong one,” who are you? So, the pattern continues, not because it’s sustainable, but because it’s familiar. A personal turning point For me, the shift didn’t come from burnout, it came from awareness. There was a moment when I realized I had mastered performance, but had lost connection. I could lead, deliver, and execute at a high level, and still feel strangely absent from myself. I wasn’t always listening to my body until it demanded my attention. And the truth is, the body will always get the final say. That realization didn’t require me to abandon my strength. It required me to redefine it. To create space where there hadn’t been any. To pause without guilt. To recognize that regulation, not just resilience, was essential. A new definition of strength Real strength isn’t just about endurance. It’s about awareness. It’s the ability to recognize when your body is asking for something different and having the courage to respond. It’s setting boundaries before exhaustion sets in. It’s allowing yourself to be supported, not just relied upon. It’s choosing rest not as a reward, but as a requirement. Research continues to show that practices supporting nervous system regulation, such as breathwork, mindfulness, and intentional rest, can significantly improve stress resilience and overall well-being (Porges, 2011). But beyond science, there is a deeper truth. Strength that excludes softness is incomplete. Because the goal isn’t to become someone new. It’s to return to a version of yourself that feels connected, supported, and whole. You don’t have to stop being the strong one. But you do have to stop being the only one holding everything together. Because the next version of your strength isn’t in how much you can carry. It’s in how safely you can finally set some of it down. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Beverly K. Johnson Beverly K. Johnson, Health and Wellness Coach Beverly Johnson is a Certified Health Coach, speaker, and midlife wellness strategist helping women navigate hormonal transitions, workplace burnout, and identity shifts with resilience and clarity. Drawing from her background in wellness, leadership, and personal transformation, she developed the MindBodySoul Reset, a science-informed framework for sustainable wellbeing. Beverly’s work bridges emotional intelligence, hormonal health, and intentional leadership to support high-performing women in thriving personally and professionally. She writes about reinvention, alignment, and the evolving landscape of women’s wellness. References: McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews. Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. Santoro, N., & Epperson, C. N. (2015). Menopausal symptoms and their management. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America. van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

Written by Julie Farnsworth, Trauma-Informed Grief Coach Julie Farnsworth has spent her life helping others to live better lives. After 30 years working as a social worker, she founded "One Free Soul Grief Journey, LLC" in honor of her sister, Erica, who lost her life to cancer at the age of 40. Resilience is rarely taught in theory, it is lived, witnessed, and passed down through the quiet strength of those who endure and keep showing up. This deeply personal reflection traces how generational influence, professional experience, and personal healing converge to reveal the true power of the human spirit. I am 54 years old, perhaps halfway through life if I live longer than my 102-year-old Grandmom. I have been through, and seen, some things. I would not be where I am today without strong women role models who provided me with lessons on the human spirit and resiliency. My grandmothers were amazing examples of strong women. Before I even knew what my career path in social work was, my grandmother Ruth showed me by example. I was young and loved to go with her to visit her “ladies” at the local nursing home. She was a retired social worker at the time, having previously served as the director of a local foster care and adoption agency. In her retirement, she was still serving others. The “ladies” were three women who had no visitors until my grandmother found them by asking to visit with women who had no one. Going with her on these visits, I will never forget the joy I could feel from just being there and observing. My southern grandmother knew that caring for others by cooking and sharing food can bring happiness. Especially carved in my memory is June, who would light up when we delivered her requested tuna fish sandwich, which was her favorite. Such a simple gesture made her life in the nursing home a little brighter. I loved sitting and watching them talk while June said kind things to me. It truly planted seeds in my heart that remain to this day. I ended up volunteering through the Red Cross at a county-run nursing home from 6th through 12th grade. Today, I am back as a volunteer at the same nursing home I went to with my grandmother, and it feels amazing. I feel her spirit and presence with me there. When I was a baby, my other grandmother, Esther, became the caregiver to her husband after he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. Growing up and seeing her care for my grandfather, and knowing that she was by his side while he learned to walk, talk, and feed himself after being in a coma, was so inspirational to me. I don’t remember her complaining much about this. She just did it, and at the time I did not stop to think about how remarkable this was. It wasn’t even a choice for me to dedicate my life to helping others. I just somehow knew this was what I was supposed to do. Over the last 30 years, this has been more than a career for me. As a 23-year-old starting as a caseworker for a foster care agency, I felt that this work was a calling, a way of life for me. It has shaped me into the person that I am today and is a huge part of my identity. I have been amazed at the strength of all the people that I have worked with, people who have experienced very traumatic and unimaginable things. My belief in them, in many instances, was motivation for them to want a better life for themselves. Watching the transformation of lives while providing support and guidance along the way is truly an amazing thing to witness. Fast forward many years later. After working in the field for a while with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, I went back to school to get my master’s degree in human and social services. I continued to work in foster care and adoption, but started supervising others, providing feedback, and imparting my knowledge to them. This eventually led to becoming a home-based mental health clinician and then a therapist in a community mental health practice. So, here I was moving through life helping so many people over the years through this work. I have heard so many tragic, heartbreaking, horrific stories, things that touched my soul, things that disgusted me, things that amazed me. I was the keeper of everyone’s grief, trauma, and loss. I am continuously humbled by the fact that so many people have entrusted me with their stories and thus their lives. I continued to see people truly change and get better when they really worked hard at it. At some point, I started to think about the fact that there was more going on for this group of clients than just my influence in their lives. This observation led me to focus more on the connection between trauma and the impact that traumatic experiences have on the brain and body. The question I had was, “Why did some people overcome very negative, traumatic experiences, while others remained stuck?” I already knew that the source of our bodies’ experiences of suffering or happiness, or negative versus positive, starts with our brains. I have always been fascinated by the mechanics of our brains, so my inquisitive mind needed more answers. From a young age, I was constantly asking questions about everything. Maybe something in my genes, having a physics professor as a grandfather. Anyway, my questions had already led me to a degree in psychology, but I decided I needed to do a deeper dive to try to understand how our brains work a little better to answer my new question. I enrolled in courses that taught me more and ended up becoming a certified Neuro-change, EMDR, and Mind-Body Medicine practitioner. All these experiences have taught me that our brains are literally designed to heal themselves if we have the knowledge and tools to do so. My story starts to get more personal here. After spending all these years helping others with whatever issues they were struggling with, my mental health started to decline. I was 52 years old and dealing with my own life events. I had lost my baby sister to colon cancer at the age of 40 about six years prior, and in my typical fashion, had helped to take care of everyone else. I had never fully dealt with this loss. I had also gone through a divorce after a 25-year marriage that had many unresolved emotional consequences about four years prior, and both of my daughters were in college. I felt totally and utterly alone. My brain and body began to suffer. The years of ignoring my own needs and my unresolved loss and grief started to catch up to me. I had heard about vicarious trauma that happens to people who have been in a helping profession for a long time but was actually experiencing it. My body and brain essentially had layers of this vicarious trauma that accumulated and had nowhere to go. I ended up having to quit my job as a therapist and was admitted to the hospital for severe depression and anxiety. My body basically just broke down, and I completely understood how the term “nervous breakdown” was coined. I wasn’t eating or sleeping. I was extremely anxious and depressed and, for the first time in my life, had to rely on help from others. I was in the hospital for a week and in an outpatient treatment program for a month. So, how does this all get better? I had to take myself back to my knowledge of Neuro-change and the fact that the brain was designed to heal itself. Logically, I knew this but needed to actually do something about it. It was then that I decided to treat myself like one of my clients. I began by playing positive affirmations on loop and recited them over and over again every night for a few months. I kept a gratitude journal and wrote down three things that I was grateful for each day, along with things that made me smile or laugh and ways that I could have made the day better. I practiced self-care, eating healthier, getting physical exercise, taking long, relaxing showers and baths, resting when I felt the need to, and putting my needs first. I joined a pickleball class and a ballet class and made myself go until I started to truly enjoy them. Overall, I treated myself the way I would treat someone that I loved. I talked to myself with care and compassion instead of being critical and negative. This whole process went on for over a year. After a year, I started to feel better and stronger, and it felt like a different version of myself started to emerge. I felt more comfortable in my own skin. I thought about my own needs, in addition to the needs of others, for the first time ever. I began to feel like the person that I was always meant to be. I acknowledged all my losses and traumatic events and the fact that I needed to allow myself the opportunity to grieve them, and I let myself do it. I began to see that all this pain, loss, grief, and suffering I had endured eventually led me to claim some true gifts. The gifts of confidence, strength, resiliency, understanding, appreciation for life, nature, and people, gratitude, joy, celebration of small things, and being able to see glimmers throughout the day like a beautiful sunrise or sunset, no matter how hard the day was. I felt and embraced the beauty of slowing down by reading, writing, talking to myself kindly, and even talking to my dogs and strangers with kindness. I got to a point where I felt healthy enough to venture back into what I have been called to do. I was recently certified as a trauma-informed grief coach and have since started my own grief coaching business. “One Free Soul Grief Journey, LLC” was born from my passion to help others who are suffering and struggling to heal, as well as a desire to honor my sister’s legacy by using “One Free Soul” in the title. My grandmother called her that as she marched to the beat of her own drum. My sister used “One Free Soul” as her jewelry business name before she passed. I am so excited that the next part of my life’s journey will be focused on helping others find their gifts after grief and loss. Life is too short to be unhappy, every one of us has the power to change no matter what has happened to us. No, it’s not easy, and yes, it takes work. But I am here to tell everyone that all the work is so worth it. Grief and loss are sad, complicated, messy, and complex, but our bodies were literally designed to endure pain and have healing properties. We have evolved enough now to know that we do not have to merely endure pain. We have a unique opportunity to find a different outcome if we are willing to look at all the ways that we can become truly better and stronger versions of ourselves, despite everything that we have been through. The future is looking brighter, especially with the knowledge that we have survived hard things and gotten to this point. Life can change in an instant, and nothing is certain, but this should serve as motivation to not only endure and survive hard things, but to thrive despite them. Everything I have done has led me here to bring this message to others. I have walked alongside people who have endured unimaginable pain, grief, and loss and survived it. But not only survived it, they have gone on to do amazing things because of it. I have seen it happen and experienced it firsthand. The ones who have the knowledge, support, and tools and who truly want to live better lives are very capable of it. My goal is to support and guide my clients on their unique grief journeys as a fellow griever. I want to continue to help bring healing, support, guidance, and inspiration to as many people as I can. This is my mission, my calling, my reason for being on this earth, and a huge part of my identity, to help others live better lives. The threads of my life have all intertwined to form “One Free Soul Grief Journey.” Visit my website for more info! Read more from Julie Farnsworth Julie Farnsworth, Trauma-Informed Grief Coach Julie Farnsworth is a Certified Trauma Informed Grief Coach, Neuro-Change and Mind-Body Medicine Practitioner, Social Worker, and Mental Health Therapist. Since the age of 12 as a volunteer with the Red Cross, Julie has been called to help as many people as she can. She is the founder of "One Free Soul Grief Journey," which provided 1:1 healing journeys for anyone who needs help navigating the intricacies of grief and loss. Julie brings her years of experience walking alongside fellow grievers, as well as her own personal experience with grief and loss to ignite her passion to help others to go from surviving to thriving.

Written by Danielle Van de Velde, Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master, Psychic Medium, and Author Dani Van de Velde is a passionate advocate for living a spiritually aligned life in the modern world. She is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master, psychic medium, and author of Spirited. She is the founder of Spirited Living and Spirited Business online communities, a broadcaster on News for the Soul Radio, and host of The Modern Crone podcast. What if the environmental crisis is not just ecological, but relational, rooted in a quiet forgetting of our place within the living world? This article invites a return to that connection, exploring how falling back in love with nature may be the most essential step toward both personal and planetary healing. "You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of interbeing, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer." – Thich Nhat Hanh The dove on the railing I was sitting on my terrace recently, meditating in the morning. The intention of my meditation was simply to remember what it felt like to be seven years old. There is a particular quality of mind that belongs to childhood, a sense that the world is alive, that it is for you. I wanted to find my way back to that. The girl I was at seven moved through the world with the kind of open, wondering attention that spiritual practitioners spend decades trying to recover. I was sitting there, eyes softly closed, breathing, trying to remember her. Then I heard it. A soft landing on the railing. A pause. And then, unmistakably, that low, rolling coo. I opened my eyes. A spotted-necked dove had settled less than a meter away, staring at me. I held perfectly still, expecting a nervous launch into the sky. But the bird simply stayed, regarding me with one amber eye, and began to coo, unhurried, unbothered, as if we had an appointment. I had not seen a spotted-necked dove on my terrace before, despite meditating there every morning. Yet here was this bird, appearing at the very moment I was reaching back towards wonder. What stopped my breath was what came next, a memory. When I was about seven, a spotted-necked dove nested in the flower box just outside my bedroom window. I would wake to its cooing. It was, in the way only childhood things can be, simply part of the soundscape of my world, natural, intimate, unremarkable in the best sense. The sound meant morning. It meant the world was good. And now, decades later, here was that same species, that same sound, arriving at the precise moment I was trying to return to the consciousness of that girl. It was as if the dove and I shared something, a thread of continuity that had been running all along, beneath all the adult noise, all the years of not noticing. This is what I mean when I say our relationship with nature is not incidental to the spiritual life. It is the spiritual life. The wild world is not waiting for us to save it. It is waiting for us to remember it, that it knows us, has always known us, and that the thread between us was never broken. We simply stopped paying attention. The dove cooed for a while longer. Then it flew away. I sat with a stillness brimming with wonder and innocence, my girlhood returned. The illusion of separation We have spent decades telling people to recycle more, fly less, eat less meat, and buy differently. And yet the ecological crisis deepens. The problem, perhaps, is not that we lack the right information or even the right policies, it is that we have lost the right relationship. Before we can act to protect the living world, we must first remember that we belong to it, and further still, fall back in love with it. The late Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh named the wound precisely. Although we human beings are animals, part of nature, we set ourselves apart from it, thinking of other animals and living beings as "nature" and acting as if we are not part of it. Then we ask ourselves, "How should we deal with nature?" The answer, he said, is that we should deal with it the way we deal with ourselves. We should not harm ourselves or nature. The dominant Western worldview has long framed nature as a resource, something out there, inert, available for human use. This is not merely philosophically mistaken, it is psychologically catastrophic. When we see ourselves as separate from the natural world, protecting it becomes an obligation rather than an instinct, a sacrifice rather than an act of love. We donate to conservation funds yet feel nothing as we walk through a forest. We sign petitions for rivers we have never stood beside. We may act, but without the love that makes action sustainable. Thich Nhat Hanh, and all animistic cultures, offered a different vision. The Earth is not merely the environment we live in, we are the Earth, always carrying her within us. We are a living, breathing manifestation of this beautiful and generous planet. This is not a metaphor. Every molecule of water in our bodies once fell as rain. Every breath we take is made possible by forests exhaling oxygen. We are not visitors to this world. We are the world, briefly conscious of itself. Our bodies already know Here is what is striking. We do not need to take any of this on faith. Science has been quietly confirming what our bodies have always known, that we are not separate from the natural world, and that proximity to it restores us at a biological level. The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, has been extensively studied since the 1980s, when Japan launched a national programme in response to a spike in stress-related illness. The findings are consistent and remarkable. Research across 24 forests in Japan found that even brief time spent among trees, as little as fifteen minutes of walking or simply sitting and looking, produced measurable drops in cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate, while increasing parasympathetic nervous activity, the body's rest and repair state. The nervous system, it turns out, knows exactly where it is. It relaxes in the presence of trees in a way it does not in a laboratory or on a city street. The effects go deeper than stress relief. Studies show that forest environments increase the activity of natural killer cells, part of the immune system's front line, and reduce markers of inflammation. Trees release volatile organic compounds called phytoncides, which appear to directly influence immune function. Our lungs evolved to breathe forest air. Our nervous systems co-evolved with birdsong, running water, and the movement of leaves. We are not merely comforted by nature, we are regulated by it at a cellular level. What science is showing us, in other words, is that the body has never forgotten its belonging. The separation was always a story told by the mind, by culture, by economics, and by centuries of treating the natural world as a backdrop and a resource. But strip away that story, stand barefoot on grass or sit beneath a canopy of trees, and something ancient in us responds immediately. The heart rate drops. The breath deepens. The shoulders fall. The question, then, is not whether we are connected to nature. We are, in every breath, every heartbeat, every strand of DNA. The question is whether we can feel it, whether we can move that knowing from the body into the heart and spirit, where it becomes not just wellness data but wonder, reverence, and love. That is the work. It is not scientific or informational. It is spiritual and relational. Interbeing: A philosophy for our time Thich Nhat Hanh coined the term interbeing to describe this radical mutual dependence. "Interbeing is the implicit order," he wrote. "To practice mindfulness and look deeply into the nature of things is to discover the true nature of interbeing. There, we find peace and develop the strength to be in touch with everything. With this understanding, we can easily sustain the work of loving and caring for the Earth and for each other for a long time." The concept is not uniquely Buddhist. Indigenous cultures worldwide have held this understanding for millennia, rivers as ancestors, mountains as guardians, forests as living sanctuaries of spirit. The Māori concept of mauri, the life force flowing through all living things, the Andean Pachamama, and the Aboriginal sense of country as a living, relational entity, these are not primitive myths. They are sophisticated ecologies of belonging that the modern world is only beginning to rediscover. What is new and remarkable is that this understanding is now finding its way into law. When countries fall in love with nature Something extraordinary has been quietly unfolding in courtrooms and parliaments around the world. More than 150 laws worldwide recognize the rights of rivers, forests, oceans, mountains, and all of nature. This movement marks a profound philosophical shift, from treating nature as property to recognizing it as a rights-holding subject, alive and deserving of protection in its own right. In 2017, after more than a century of Māori advocacy, the Whanganui River in New Zealand became the first river in the modern world to be granted the same legal rights as a human person. The settlement recognizes the river as "an indivisible and living whole comprising the Whanganui River from the mountains to the sea, incorporating its tributaries and its physical and metaphysical elements." Two guardians, one from the Māori community and one from the Crown, now represent the river in all legal matters. Ecuador led the way at the constitutional level. In 2008, it adopted a constitution that explicitly recognized nature's right to "exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution." This has had real consequences. In 2021, the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court revoked mining permits in Los Cedros, a cloud forest of extraordinary biodiversity in the Andes, asserting that the permits violated not only the rights of local residents but also the rights of the forest itself. Colombia's Constitutional Court recognized the Atrato River as a legal subject with rights to "protection, conservation, maintenance, and restoration," and the country's Supreme Court ruled the Colombian Amazon ecosystem a "subject of rights." In 2024, Colombia went further, passing a law that declared the Ranchería River and its tributaries subjects of rights, accompanied by a comprehensive restoration plan involving local communities. In 2022, Panama passed sweeping legislation declaring that the environment and its ecosystems, including rivers, forests, and species across the country, are "subjects of rights" with legal standing. That same year, Spain's Mar Menor saltwater lagoon became the first ecosystem in Europe to be granted legal personhood, following years of toxic algal blooms caused by industrial agriculture. The move was pushed through Parliament by grassroots citizen organizations. The movement is accelerating. In 2024, Peru enshrined the legal rights of stingless bees, the first insects in the world to be granted such rights. Germany's Regional Court recognized the Rights of Nature in a ruling on diesel emissions. Mexico City's Congress recognized the Rights of Nature in its local constitution. At the UN's COP16 biodiversity conference, an Amazon Rights Declaration was formally presented to Colombia's Minister of Environment. These are not merely legal technicalities. Each one marks a society beginning to remember what Indigenous peoples never forgot, that nature is kin. Reenchanting our relationship with the wild Law changes what is permitted, but it cannot, by itself, change how we feel. For that, we need something older and more intimate. We need a re-enchantment, a falling back in love. Thich Nhat Hanh wrote that we can all feel deep admiration and love when we see the Earth's harmony, elegance, and beauty. A simple cherry blossom branch, the shell of a snail, and the wing of a bat all bear witness to the Earth's masterful creativity. This capacity for wonder is not lost in us. It is merely dormant. And it can be awakened today with very small gestures. Practice presence in nature, not just recreation. There is a difference between walking through a forest and being with a forest. Slow down. Take off your headphones. Let your senses lead. Notice the specific, unrepeatable quality of this light, this wind, this smell of wet earth. The Zen tradition calls this shoshin, beginner's mind. It invites us to approach the familiar as if for the first time. This is the consciousness of a seven year old. It is available to all of us, at any age, in any patch of green. Learn the names of things. There is a particular intimacy in knowing the name of the bird singing outside your window, the tree lining your street, and the wild plant growing through the pavement. Naming is a form of acknowledgement. It says, I see you. You are not generic scenery. You are someone. Adopt a place. Rather than relating to "nature" in the abstract, choose a specific place, such as a patch of parkland, a stretch of river, or a single tree, and return to it regularly across seasons. Notice its changes. Feel yourself changed by it. Indigenous cultures have always understood that the relationship with land is built through sustained, attentive presence, not fleeting encounters. Practice reciprocity. The trees, the water, and the air ask nothing of us. They simply give. Reciprocity asks what can I give back. This might mean planting, restoring, cleaning, or advocating. But it begins with the inner gesture of gratitude. Many Indigenous traditions begin and end their interactions with the natural world with thanks. This is not superstition. It is sanity. Let nature speak to you spiritually. Every wisdom tradition, without exception, has turned to the natural world for its deepest teachings. Thich Nhat Hanh wrote that birds' songs reveal our true nature. They express joy, beauty, and purity, and evoke in us vitality and love. When we allow nature to be our teacher, not just our resource, something shifts. The categories of "environment" and "self" begin to dissolve. And sometimes, if we are very still, a dove lands on the railing. The great awakening When you realize the Earth is so much more than simply your environment, wrote Thich Nhat Hanh, you will be moved to protect her as you would yourself. This is the kind of awareness, the kind of awakening, that we need, and the future of the planet depends on whether we are able to cultivate this insight. The ecological crisis is, at its deepest level, a spiritual crisis, a crisis of belonging. We have told ourselves a story of separation for so long that we have forgotten it is only a story. Yet the rivers now have lawyers. The forests have guardians. And if we are willing to be still, the wild world will, as it always has, remind us that it is us too. The invitation is not to save nature but to remember that we are nature. The dove already knows what we are trying to remember. Every May, I dedicate my goodwill donations to Earth loving causes. This month, I will be supporting Women for Bees, The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and the Indonesia Indah Foundation. You can learn more about my impact work here and get in touch to learn more about May events, online and in person, that contribute to our beautiful planet. Further reading, Thich Nhat Hanh, Love Letter to the Earth 2013 and Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet 2021, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass 2013 Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Danielle Van de Velde Danielle Van de Velde, Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master, Psychic Medium, and Author Dani Van de Velde is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master, psychic medium, and author of Spirited. She is the founder of the Spirited Living and Spirited Business communities, supporting spiritually aligned growth and conscious leadership. Dani is a broadcaster on News for the Soul Radio and host of The Modern Crone podcast, exploring modern spirituality and embodied wisdom. Her work bridges intuition and everyday life, offering grounded, accessible pathways to self-trust and inner clarity. She is known for a warm, practical approach that honours both the mystical and the real. Further reading: Thich Nhat Hanh, Love Letter to the Earth (2013) Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet (2021) Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass (2013)

Simeon La Barrie did not follow a traditional path into technology. He built his career by trusting instinct, learning on his own, and acting early on ideas most people did not yet understand. Today, he is known as an inventor and entrepreneur with multiple global patents, but his story starts far from boardrooms and product launches. “I didn’t have a roadmap,” he says. “I had curiosity and a need to figure things out.” Early life and the drive to build La Barrie grew up in Adelaide, Australia. His early years were shaped by both independence and responsibility. After his mother passed away, he left school at 15 to help his father. That decision changed the direction of his life. “There wasn’t time to wait,” he explains. “I had to learn by doing.” He spent his early years working, observing, and absorbing lessons from his father and grandfather, both of whom influenced how he viewed business. At the same time, he stayed active, playing football and surfing, building discipline that would carry into his work later. Discovering technology before it was mainstream A turning point came during a visit to California around the year 2000. It was his first real exposure to the internet at scale. What he saw stayed with him. “I remember thinking this would change everything,” he says. “Most people were just using it. I was thinking about what it could become.” By 2010, La Barrie was already working on ideas that would later align with artificial intelligence and real-time digital interaction. At the time, these concepts were not widely understood or adopted. “There wasn’t a name for what we were doing,” he explains. “We were just building something that made sense.” Creating “I Am There” technology La Barrie’s most notable work centers around what he calls “I Am There” technology. The idea combines live video, remote interaction, and real-time purchasing into one experience. It blends elements of video calling, online shopping, and in-store engagement. “It’s about removing distance,” he says. “Letting people feel like they are physically present, even when they’re not.” The concept is similar to combining features from platforms like FaceTime, Amazon, and WeChat into one seamless system. The goal is not just convenience, but connection. “People don’t just want to buy,” he explains. “They want to experience something.” Over time, this work led to multiple patents issued across the United States, Singapore, Australia, and China. These patents reflect years of iteration and belief in an idea that started long before the market was ready. Building without formal structure La Barrie often describes himself as self-taught. His approach to business and technology has always been hands-on. “I learned by listening to people who had already done it,” he says. “Then I tested everything myself.” He did not rely on formal education or traditional career steps. Instead, he built knowledge through experience, conversations, and constant experimentation. “There’s no substitute for trying,” he adds. “You learn faster when something is on the line.” This mindset helped him stay flexible. When ideas did not work, he adjusted quickly. When opportunities appeared, he moved. A global approach to innovation One of the defining aspects of La Barrie’s work is its global scope. His technology has been developed and protected across multiple countries, reflecting a broader vision beyond local markets. “Technology doesn’t stop at borders,” he says. “If it works, it works everywhere.” He has spent time in the United States, Asia, and Australia, building relationships and refining his approach. This international perspective shaped how he thinks about scale and adoption. “You have to understand how people behave in different places,” he explains. “That changes how you build.” Life outside of technology Despite his focus on innovation, La Barrie maintains a routine that balances work with physical activity and personal interests. He spends time surfing, going to the gym, and playing tennis. He also mentors younger individuals interested in business and technology. “I like building things, but I also like helping people build,” he says. His philanthropic work includes time spent supporting children’s charities, including Make-A-Wish and cancer hospitals. These experiences influenced how he thinks about impact. “It puts things in perspective,” he says. “What you build should matter to someone.” A career defined by acting early Looking back, La Barrie sees his career as a series of decisions made before outcomes were certain. He did not wait for validation. He moved when ideas felt right. “I’ve always believed you have to act before it’s obvious,” he says. “By the time it’s obvious, it’s usually too late.” His work today continues to focus on bringing his technology to market through his platform. The goal remains consistent: create experiences that feel immediate, human, and connected. “I’m still building what I believed in years ago,” he says. “Now the world is starting to catch up.” Simeon La Barrie’s career is not defined by a single moment or breakthrough. It is defined by persistence, early thinking, and the willingness to build something before others fully see it.

Most careers follow a straight line. Ty Ross did not. And that is part of what makes his story worth paying attention to. From law to local government and back again, Ross has built a career around one consistent idea. Focus on what works. Then make it better. “I have always believed the work should be about the community, not the position,” Ross says. “If you stay focused on that, the path takes care of itself.” Early career lessons: What failure taught him Ross grew up in Dalton, Georgia. Like many from small communities, he saw education as a way forward. But his path did not start smoothly. After college, he applied to law school and was not accepted. “I did not get into law school the first time,” he says. “So I spent a year teaching high school civics.” That year changed how he saw things. Teaching forced him to simplify complex ideas and connect with people. It also reinforced his interest in public service. When he was accepted to law school the following year, he approached it with a different mindset. “I had a clearer sense of purpose,” he says. “It was not just about a career. It was about what I could do with it.” From real estate law to public leadership Ross began his career in real estate law. He worked on zoning, development, and land use issues. That experience gave him a ground-level view of how cities grow. But over time, he saw a bigger opportunity. “Working in law showed me how decisions get made,” he says. “Working in government showed me how those decisions affect people.” That shift led him into city administration. As City Administrator in Dalton, Georgia, Ross managed operations for a city of about 33,000 people. His role required balancing budgets, managing departments, and making decisions during a difficult economic period. During the Great Recession, he helped reduce taxes by 15 percent while maintaining services. “That was about discipline,” he says. “You have to focus on what matters and make tough calls.” Managing growth and big operations Ross later moved into a larger leadership role as City Manager and General Manager in Loudon, Tennessee. There, he oversaw 150 employees and a $90 million budget. His responsibilities covered everything from utilities to infrastructure to economic development. One of his biggest strengths was turning ideas into practical outcomes. He led development projects, including a resort marina and golf course. At the same time, he focused on cost control and efficiency. One example stands out. Instead of building a new city hall, Ross led an effort to repurpose existing buildings. That decision saved taxpayers $1.5 million. “Sometimes the best idea is not the biggest one,” he says. “It is the one that makes the most sense.” He also renegotiated a long-term water contract, increasing cost recovery by more than 90 percent. “That was about understanding the details and staying patient,” he says. “You do not rush those decisions.” How he approaches decision making Ross’s background in law shaped how he approaches problems. He focuses on structure, risk, and long-term impact. “You have to think through what could happen, not just what you want to happen,” he says. That mindset helped him manage complex decisions in local government, where trade-offs are constant. “There is no perfect decision,” Ross says. “You are balancing different needs and trying to do what is right for the community.” He also emphasizes values in decision-making. “Every decision should align with your values, your family’s needs, and the community’s needs,” he says. A short chapter and a shift back to law Ty Ross City Manager later returned to the legal field in a more direct service role. Today, he works as a Staff Attorney with Georgia Legal Services, focusing on housing and civil matters. “It is still public service,” he says. “Just from a different angle.” His work involves helping individuals and families navigate legal challenges that affect their stability and daily lives. From housing disputes to protection matters, the focus is on practical outcomes. “It brings you closer to the people you are serving,” he says. What his career says about leadership Looking at Ross’s career, a pattern emerges. He is not driven by titles or quick wins. He is focused on outcomes that last. “I measure success by the long-term benefits,” he says. “Not just what you see right away.” He also believes leadership is about building others. “One goal is to replace yourself with people better than you,” he says. That idea reflects a long-term mindset. It is not about control. It is about continuity. Why his approach still matters In a time when many decisions are driven by short-term thinking, Ross’s approach stands out for its consistency. He focuses on discipline, practicality, and service. “I stay updated through publications and conferences,” he says. “You have to keep learning if you want to stay effective.” But at the core, his philosophy is simple. “Spend each work day supporting the community,” Ross says. “And the rest of your time supporting your family.” It is not a complicated formula. But it is one that has shaped a career built on turning ideas into results that last.

Lee Lorenzen spent decades asking questions that mainstream science hadn't thought to answer. What began as a young researcher's quiet frustration grew into a lifelong pursuit – one that a personal crisis would ultimately transform into a breakthrough technology. Some careers begin with a clear plan. Others begin with questions that refuse to go away. For Lee Lorenzen, the path that led to clustered water technology started with a simple frustration during his early research years. As a young scientist studying biology and pharmacology, he began noticing something that did not sit right with him. “I remember saying to myself over and over,” Lorenzen recalls, “something is missing with this model.” That question would eventually shape the direction of his entire career. Today, Lorenzen is the founder and CEO of Cluster Solutions, a company he started in 1989 to research and develop clustered water technology. His work sits at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and hydration science. But the journey toward that work began decades earlier. Growing up curious about science Lee Lorenzen grew up in Northern California as one of eight children. Like many scientists, his interest in the natural world started early. He enjoyed being outdoors and asking questions about how things worked. He later attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts. After Berkeley, he continued graduate studies in biology at California State University, Fullerton, and pursued advanced work under physician and researcher Hoang Van Duc, M.D. Those years built the scientific foundation that would guide the rest of his career. But Lorenzen was not only interested in theory. He wanted to see how science worked in real-world situations. Early work in biology and pharmacology In 1974, Lorenzen began working as a Graduate Instructor in Biology at Chapman College in Orange, California. Later that same year, he joined the University of California, Irvine as a Research Associate in the Department of Pharmacology. The work placed him inside a traditional research environment. He was involved in studies related to medications and biological systems. But the experience also raised new questions. “As I looked at the research models we were using,” Lorenzen says, “I started to wonder whether we were overlooking something important.” That curiosity stayed with him. From 1976 to 1989, Lorenzen worked in biomedical consulting. During those years he studied a wide range of biological and health-related systems. The work helped him understand both scientific research and practical applications. But the most important turning point in his career came from a deeply personal event. How a personal crisis sparked new research In 1976, Lorenzen married Stephanie Smith. Less than a decade later, she began experiencing a series of severe health challenges. Her illness became a major turning point in Lorenzen’s life. “When my wife became sick,” he says, “it forced me to start looking for answers that went beyond what I had already studied.” He began exploring new areas of research. One topic that caught his attention was the role water plays inside living cells. While reading scientific literature, he came across the work of Nobel Prize – winning scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi, who had written about the structure of cellular water. “That was a moment when things started to connect,” Lorenzen says. He began studying the concept of water clusters – small groups of water molecules that behave differently from larger clusters commonly found in ordinary water. The search for natural water clusters Lorenzen’s research eventually took him beyond the laboratory. He studied reports about natural springs around the world where people claimed unusual health benefits from the water. One well-known example was the spring at Lourdes, France. According to Lorenzen, he noticed geological similarities between several springs known for their reputation. “As I continued researching,” he explains, “I began to see patterns in the water chemistry and the environment where those springs were located.” The goal became clear: find a way to reproduce similar water structures in a controlled way. Founding cluster solutions in 1989 By the late 1980s, Lorenzen had developed ideas about stabilizing water clusters through a controlled process. In 1989, he founded Cluster Solutions to focus on research and product development based on those ideas. Over the years, Lorenzen received several patents related to the technology, including U.S. Patent 5,711,950 and U.S. Patent 6,033,678. The patents cover methods related to producing and stabilizing clustered water structures. “Patents are important because they protect the process,” Lorenzen says. “But they also document the work that went into developing it.” Continuing research and industry recognition Lorenzen has remained closely involved in research throughout his career. He regularly works with physicians, scientists, and collaborators who study hydration and cellular biology. His work has also received recognition in the natural products community. In 2011, Lorenzen was recognized by the Microsoft Alumni Foundation for research related to AIDS and diabetes. Despite the attention, Lorenzen says the real focus has always been the work itself. “Research is not a one-time discovery,” he explains. “It is a process of constant testing and refinement.” A career built on persistence Today, Lorenzen continues to lead Cluster Solutions while staying directly involved in research and development. He credits perseverance and family support for helping him stay committed to his work over the decades. “My wife’s illness was a huge challenge,” he says. “But without that experience, this technology probably would never have been developed.” Outside the lab, Lorenzen enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and hiking in nature. Those quiet moments help him step away from the scientific questions that have defined much of his career. Looking back, Lorenzen sees his work as part of a long process of asking questions and following the answers. “In science,” he says, “you keep learning. The work is never really finished.”

In a time when many outdoor businesses rely on social media, branding, and constant promotion, Tyler Andersen built his career differently. Quietly. Based in Sheldon, Vermont, Andersen has spent the past 10 to 15 years building a steady hunting-and-fishing guide business across Franklin County. He did it without chasing visibility or trying to turn himself into a personality. Instead, he focused on consistency, local knowledge, and a simple idea that shaped almost every part of his career: experience matters more than hype. “I never tried to make it bigger than what it was,” Andersen says. “I just focused on doing the work right.” That approach helped turn years of outdoor experience into a long-term business built mostly through repeat clients and referrals. Growing up outdoors in Franklin County Andersen grew up just outside St. Albans, Vermont, where hunting and fishing were part of regular life. Weekends were spent in the woods with family or along the Missisquoi River learning how to read water, track deer, and move quietly through the backcountry. “That’s where most of it came from,” he says. “Being outside all the time when I was younger.” Those early years shaped more than just outdoor skills. They shaped how he approached work itself. Patience. Observation. Consistency. “You learn pretty quick that forcing things usually doesn’t work in the woods,” Andersen says. “That applies to a lot of things outside the woods too.” How Tyler Andersen Sheldon Vermont became a hunting guide Before guiding full-time, Andersen worked construction, farm jobs, and operated heavy equipment. The work was physical, practical, and steady. But outdoor guiding slowly became something more serious. In his early 30s, he started taking people out on informal hunting trips. Mostly friends of friends. Over time, those trips turned into repeat clients. “Word spread naturally,” he says. “One person would come back, then they’d bring somebody else.” Instead of growing quickly, Tyler Andersen Sheldon Vermont focused on reliability. He learned that many clients were not looking for flashy experiences. They wanted someone who knew the land, understood deer movement, and stayed calm under changing conditions. That became his edge. “A lot of guiding is just paying attention,” he says. “Timing, weather, movement. Small details matter.” The big idea that shaped his career The biggest idea behind Andersen’s success is surprisingly simple. Keep things uncomplicated. While much of the outdoor industry leaned heavily into gear, technology, and online visibility, Andersen stayed focused on fundamentals. He still believes patience matters more than expensive equipment. He still prefers phone calls over constant messaging. He still spends more time scouting than posting online. “You don’t need to overcomplicate things to do them well,” he says. That mindset influenced not only how he hunts, but how he runs his business. Most of his bookings come through referrals instead of advertising. Clients return because they trust his consistency. “There’s value in being dependable,” Andersen says. “People remember that.” Why local knowledge still matters One reason Andersen’s approach works is because it is deeply tied to place. He guides throughout Franklin County using a mix of private land and lesser-known public areas. Over decades, he has watched weather patterns shift, deer movement change, and fishing conditions evolve across the region. That long-term observation became one of his biggest advantages. “You start noticing patterns after enough years,” he says. “Not just season to season, but year to year.” That applies heavily to fishing on Lake Champlain as well. Andersen specializes in bass and pike fishing, along with winter ice fishing. He pays close attention to weather, water conditions, and timing rather than relying only on technology. “Conditions matter more than people think,” he says. “Fish and deer both react to weather before most people notice it.” Building stability through seasonal work Like many rural business owners, Andersen built stability by staying flexible. Guiding work changes with the seasons. During winter, he runs a snowplowing route for local homes and small commercial properties. In slower periods, he picks up equipment work and local jobs around town. “You stay busy however you can,” he says. Instead of treating those jobs separately, Andersen sees them as part of the same lifestyle. Everything stays connected to the local community and the seasonal rhythm of Vermont life. That consistency helped him avoid the pressure of chasing rapid growth. “I never wanted to turn it into something completely different,” he says. Why Tyler Andersen Sheldon Vermont stands out Many careers today are built around visibility. Andersen built his reputation. He drives an older pickup. Keeps his gear practical. Spends evenings checking weather patterns, working in the garage, or scouting quietly on his own time. Friends and clients describe him as steady and low-key. Not someone trying to impress people. That authenticity became part of the business itself. “I think people can tell when somebody’s forcing it,” Andersen says. “I’ve always tried to keep things honest.” In many ways, Andersen’s career reflects a larger lesson that applies far beyond the outdoor industry. Big ideas do not always look flashy. Sometimes they are simple principles followed consistently over time. For Andersen, that meant trusting experience, staying patient, and building slowly instead of loudly. And after more than a decade guiding in Vermont, that approach continues to work.