Gratitude

“With each breath we invite ourselves to show up with confidence, to the possibilities of what we can create together, and to treasure that we all want connection.” Jessica Dibb, the founder of Inspiration Consciousness School and Community which is dedicated to promoting personal, relational, and planetary wellness.

I met Hannah, co-creator of Vita Collective, through a mutual woman friend in the Spring of 2022. We immediately connected. So, when she invited me to In Bloom, Vita’s first event, I bought a ticket. WELCOME signs ushered me into a magical backyard with bright cushions, fruit trees, delightful charcuterie board and displays of lovely jewelry and natural skin care products.  Vibrant, young women in comfortable, expressive outfits were talking and laughing as they nibbled. Even though I didn’t know anyone except for Hannah, I quickly felt comfortable and included in conversations. Before the eve was turned over to our guest speaker, a functional medicine practitioner to talk about wellness and mindfulness, the trio of women who founded Vita, Natalie, Emilia and Hannah told us more about the vision for their collaboration.

We decided on Vita Collective, vita meaning life and collective, women together in community to describe what we wanted to create and share in the world. A night out of our busy schedules to be with other women can be our time to enjoy one another and learn from guest speakers about how we can renew and take care of ourselves. We strive to create a safe and welcoming space where all women come as they are, where walls come down and genuine friendships are formed. 

For the next ten months or so I attended several more tasty, informative, and often interactive wellness experiences. Artists, photographers, craft-women, and healers were always featured so we could support one another’s ventures, which I loved doing. I also loved that a portion of the proceeds were donated to non-profits with a focus on women and children. Oh, and venues changed from backyard to winery, brewery, or studio that in turn also promoted local businesses.

I am what I would call an elder in the group, yet that works for me because I appreciate being in the presence of a generation of women saying yes to themselves: their passions, pursuits, and purpose. I get to witness women creating collaboration instead of competition and women who are evolving a collective, conscious shift for a healthier and more peaceful world.

 Then in March of this year I received a text message from Hannah.

I have breast cancer. Her words punched me in the stomach. My broken heart raced. How could our Hannah have cancer? I sat at my desk bewildered. Time stopped. I had to remember to breathe.

Through summer and into autumn, Hannah endured hours at the infusion center going through chemotherapy. She is now preparing for a double mastectomy in December.

Last week we gathered at the beach, family and friends, to celebrate her finishing chemo.  I felt her spirit, bathed in her smile, and wanted to know more about how she was doing.

 This is what she told me.

I’ve had to make hard decisions, with each one comes the grief that there is really no good decision.  I am giving myself grace to feel the feels. It’s a crappy situation but what’s the point of feeling sorry for myself? I want to make it the best situation I can for myself and my family, to be positive. I can choose. I am taking the best care of myself that I can. The two words that keep coming up for me are resilience and gratitude. Since my diagnosis, every single day something good has happened because of the outpouring of support from women in the Vita community offering meals, gifts, love.  I’m a thank-you card junky and my list is so long I can’t keep up with it!  The overwhelming generosity has given me a new appreciation for gratitude, one that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I will treasure you, Hannah, for the rest of my life! I am deeply honored and grateful for our friendship. You are an inspiration showing us the promise and possibility for how we can come together for one another, how we can all embrace our humanity as vita collective.

“Together we are stronger! “  ❤  Vita Collective https://vitacollective.squarespace.com/