I have just returned from an incredible journey abroad. I was reminded of the joy and resiliency of life whether it was in nature, architecture, or human interaction. At every turn, my senses were flourishing.

I follow The Tiny Finch, a particularly lovely and uniquely curated shop in the Hotel Emma in San Antonio. It is a shop for the senses – where travel, collecting, and connecting all come together. Their weekly posts often make me laugh out loud, reflect, or quietly cry, but something is always garnered from the read. This short excerpt struck a deep chord with me.

Richard Chamberlin, the maestro of the verdant Flamingo Estate, wrote that the garden knows nothing about fighting because it knows that the only system that works is one where each accounts for the other. He quoted Robin Walls Kimmerer as saying, “all our flourishing is mutual.”

Ahhh . . . all our flourishing is mutual. Those words have become a part of my daily reflection. The Oxford definition of flourish: (of a person, animal, or other living organism) grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.

Favorable environment, now that is my language. When speaking to our team about the week ahead or explaining the end goal to a client, I do not recall if I have used the word flourish. Although, with every environment we create, the objective is that those who live within the walls will indeed flourish.

As I think about the upcoming holiday season, filled with sweet gatherings, quiet reflection, and a bit of downtime — my wish for you (and for all of mankind) is that we ruminate and connect with the magnitude of these words.

. . . ALL OUR FLOURISHING IS MUTUAL.

A note for you

— Shannon

Gift Ideas

To inspire the light, within and around.