The Quiet Work of Becoming The most meaningful creations often begin invisibly. Before there is a garden, there is a seed. Before there is a book, there is a story. Before there is a movement, there is a single person choosing to begin. Building something meaningful requires patience, devotion, and trust.

What is devotion? I ask myself this often, as it is a word I frequently encounter in spiritual practices, books, and even love poems. It is defined as “religious fervor,” as well as “the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal,” and “the act of dedicating something to a cause, enterprise, or activity.”Skipping the first definition, I would say that you do not have to be religious to be devoted.

One of the most powerful ideas in permaculture is simple: nature produces no waste. In forests, gardens, and ecosystems, everything has a purpose. Leaves that fall from trees become nourishment for the soil.

Around 18 years ago, I had the fortune of attending a few coaching and therapy sessions with Cliff Ishigaki. At the time, I was navigating a long and challenging divorce. Those sessions became more than therapy—they were creative spaces where I explored the stories I was telling myself, uncovered patterns in my life, and learned to take responsibility for my own truth. Most importantly, they helped me reclaim my power.

(I Followed Love to London) It wasn’t romance that called me across the ocean. It was something older, purer, fiercer. The kind of love that rewrites everything. I refuse to be a long-distance grandmother. I refuse to love my granddaughter through a phone screen, to know her only through videos: how she sleeps, how she eats, how she takes her first steps, how she grows. I wanted more. I wanted to live her childhood with her, every season, every stage.

Some places hold us the way a prayer does. There is a beach in Marin County called Heart’s Desire. I have walked its shoreline many times—never alone—my young son tagging along, my daughter listening to her music on her iPhone. The beach is often quiet. I am always barefoot, hypnotized by the mountains, the small bay, and the emerald waters, letting the rhythm of the water meet the rhythm of my child walking, laughing, breathing with the wind.

Ayurveda, the “science of life,” offers timeless principles for nurturing health and harmony. Starting the new year with these practices can help you align with nature’s rhythms and cultivate a balanced mind, body, and spirit. Self-care is a cornerstone of Ayurveda, emphasizing small, intentional actions that support your overall well-being. Here are 12 Ayurvedic practices to guide you into the year mindfully: