You wouldn't think that that's something people would need permission to do, would you? Well, it's true. It's a matter of how inclusive a community is, where you can show up and contribute no matter who you are. Are leaders, business owners, and co-workers cultivating an environment where all feel welcome? "Most people don't take the time to take care of themselves. We need emotional support from our communities," she shared with me. "It requires the humble desire to get to know one another. It also requires the bravery to be seen". It's normal to forget this -- humans evolved to survive at all costs. At Emily's home, she has a garden full of diverse flora that she wild-tends, nurturing most everything that wants to emerge. Walking through her green community, you'll find zinnias, milkweed, holly bushes, sweet gum and an assortment of symbiotic lifeforms. She gives the creatures in her community the opportunity to connect with one another and evolve in tandem. Her hope is that cities can support spaces which serve the social wellbeing of its people.
With Emily's restorative strength, she's working on a curriculum to help spaces be more inclusive and inspire authentic connection between strangers.