A Journey to Our Reflection

Picture this: Dolphins staring into mirrors, studying their reflection.

It’s a fascinating experiment that reveals the surprising depth of their intelligence.

I am instantly drawn to this image, not just for what it reveals about dolphins, but for how it reflects back on us. It raises an intriguing question:

What if our purpose hinges on recognizing our own reflection, not in a handheld mirror, but in nature?

But before we get into that, let me introduce myself.

Words that Weave Worlds

My lifelong fascination with writing took root early on. In my oldest memories, I see words on a page. I remember sounding out stories with my grandmother, sun-drenched beneath our bay window. 

From the moment I met these stories, I was ensnared. To me, they were characters in my life. I wanted to be a part of them, create them, dance with them.

So, I auditioned for musicals, studied ballet, stood boldly on stage, and traveled around the world, collecting lessons and creating characters from each place.

My hunger for seeking new experiences, sharing wisdom, and telling stories has only deepened. 

And here we are. My name is Olivia, and I’ve considered creating a digital space like this for years. I’m glad you’ve found it, and I’m so eager to share it with you.

From Asanas to Reflections

It was yoga that tied the knot between my restless wanderlust and my pursuit of mindfulness. It opened my mind to new ways of thinking and existing.

By becoming a certified yoga instructor, I learned to guide others through asanas that stretch both body and soul. I developed a passion for education that crosses the mental-physical boundary.

This method of teaching awoke a purpose in me. I learned to use movement as an incentive for mindfulness. I found that I could help people embody their stories. Narrative become action! I was captivated.

Yoga, like writing, is a dialogue with the self. It’s kept me curious and its language has carried me around the world.  I’ve used it to challenge myself and travel to new places.

It didn’t take much traveling to discover some fundamental truths about myself. These experiences affirmed what I already knew about my love for storytelling. But they also revealed a fervor for learning language that had been living in me, dormant.

I threw myself into acquiring languages. I began to collect languages like art. I craved to understand the things that made people different. But I wanted even more to uncover how we were alike.

The more I learned, the more I realized that the universal language wasn’t words. It was the dialect of nature. 

Upon further reflection, I found nature was not only my muse but also my mirror.

The Mirror Test: A Profound Revelation

What’s in a reflection? Our likeness, sure. But mirrors have also been used as powerful tools to see what lies behind a reflection.

The human understanding of existence, rich and complex, seems almost too grand to grasp. In typical human fashion, we instead ache to comprehend how other lifeforms make sense of all this.

So, to gauge the depth of other creatures’ existential experiences, the mirror test was born. 

The mirror test is an intriguing experiment introduced by psychologist Gordon Gallup in 1970. It assesses an animal’s capacity for self-recognition, and therefore, how intelligent they are by human standards.

Dolphins, for example, pass this test – they recognize themselves in the mirror. It’s a testament to their awareness and intelligence. 

While I find this test fascinating, I am also amused by its irony.

I chuckle at the image of us holding mirrors in front of dolphins, longing for them to prove their intelligence. While marveling at their self-awareness, are we missing our reflection in Earth’s mirror?

Of course we pass the test we designed for self-recognition, intelligence, and awareness. But what if we’re failing the test that nature offers?

What if we’re overlooking the mirror right before us? 

Crafting Spaces of Meaning

When I study my reflection in the world around me, I am motivated to change it. Seeing myself in the destruction of our natural world is a powerful catalyst for self-improvement.

The image staring back at me invokes a feeling of responsibility for our collective devastation. I ask myself, “What do I want to see in my reflection?”

A reflection has two parts: reality and imitation. By imitating the natural world, we will create a more purposeful reality.

So, welcome. This is a place to explore our reflections, creating the image we want to see. We can investigate ways to nurture ourselves and craft meaningful spaces. 

We will examine myriad topics from mindfulness to intentional design; from yoga to sustainable fashion; from gardening to clean beauty and self care.

Pioneering a Purposeful Narrative

If you are looking to develop a conscious lifestyle, then let’s do it together! This is a craft I practice every day, and I am far from perfect. I will gladly and openly share the many ways I can be better about practicing what I preach.

No matter where you are in your wellness journey, I hope that coming here has brought you one step closer to your goals. 

I have so many questions that I would love to explore with you. Follow along, subscribe, or comment below to keep the conversation going.

With an extensive background in research, I will strive to uncover unbiased, research-backed answers that we can ponder in this space. 

All the while, I will keep my driving question at the forefront:

How can we be inspired by what’s right in front of us and make something meaningful from it?