A Summer of Reunion & HerbMentor Expands

Greetings all!

I first wanted to thank so many of you for your support and patience while I took a little rest over the last few weeks.

It's been quite an interesting summer. For me it's been less about herbal relationships and more about rekindling human relationships. In July we took a trip to the East Coast. The kids got to have loads of quality time with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Hailey got to meet all those aunts, uncles and cousins for the VERY first time.

There was a 20 year high school gathering my old buddies had in Jersey. Nearly the entire group of guys from that era of my life were there. However, there were more kids there than old friends. It was fun watching all of our kids playing together. While in Jersey, I got to show my family my hometown, eat REAL pizza, and even caught a Springsteen show with a few of my closest friends of nearly 24 years.

Finally, last weekend, Wilderness Awareness School had its 25th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion. Being I have been there for 18 years, there were faces I have not scene in a very long time. It was great not only to see all those wonderful people, but also reconnect with just why the heck I do what I do in the first place.

Sometimes when you look back at where you came from, it can be easier to see where you're going. I guess I lost site of the dozens of people that I call my family. Every one of them are amazing people, all with their own gifts and strengths. I absorbed a little from every friend I spend a part of my life with. So, when you see me, you see a reflection of all the people that touched my life. I guess it would be impossible to reconnect with EVERY person who mentored or influenced me, but I would say this summer I gained a lot of strength by hanging out with those that I did get to spend time with.

I think it was all of this that threw me off a little when I returned home. I spent most of August pretty disoriented, but this last weekend was like hitting the Return Key for me. It sent the message home. And what's pretty cool about that is that we are in Late Summer. In Chinese Medicine, this is the Earth Element. It's all about home, where you came from, and getting grounded.

I am now starting a two month project for Wilderness Awareness School. They wrote a book that is coming out next month. I have the privilege of doing the Internet launch. Though this is a new project with new technology, it connects me to my roots with the school, especially since the book is all about its teachings. So, in a way, this is a project where I get to do what I have done all along... help people connect with nature.

AND... this is of course what I do here on HerbMentor.com as well. So, what's this "expanding" I mention in the title of this entry?

If you take a look on the site today, we have added a new Herbal Column for Rosalee. Not only does she have THE article that everyone has been waiting for on chemistry, she has been learning to make videos! I posted a few today, and there are many more to come. These are GOLD. I am really excited about them.

Though I will be working on this book launch big time this month, I really see this project to be the exact same project as HerbMentor. It's all about helping people connect with nature for the benefit of the future generations.

So, when was the last time you reconnected with your past? How does this connect with your path for the future?