I started my journey of resilience when I discovered Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin. It led to a steady downsizing and an organizing business called Space for Grace. Our simpler living included several house shares with dear friends, a stint in the Peace Corps in Suriname in my early 60’s and a master’s degree in Culture & Creation Spirituality from Holy Names University. A yearlong program to study Nonviolent Communication helped me hone my practice of empathy. Later, I was part of a group that started a cohousing community in Iowa City, where we lived in a 500-sq-ft studio in the Common House. I learned from powerful teachers like Matthew Fox, Joanna Macy, Michael Dowd, Starhawk and Brian Swimme. My discovery of Jem Bendell’s Deep Adaptation: Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos brought me back to Joanna Macy’s Great Turning. I feel my contribution is to be a weaver of community. As a former journalist, I call on curiosity and an open mind to experience new things and to share what I learn with others.
