Back to the Garden: Reconnecting With What Matters

Lately, I've been feeling it—and I know I'm not alone. The energy of the world feels heavy, frantic, chaotic. It's also been a theme at work; many of my clients have been coming in feeling out of sorts—more than usual. Sometimes it's frantic with anxiety or fear, in hyperaroused states, or the opposite, in hypoarousal, experiencing fatigue, defeat, numbness, and depression. It's like our nervous systems are stuck in overdrive or completely tapped out.

And let's be honest: every generation and timeline has had its "what-the-eff-is-happening" moment or 20. Our great-grandparents lived through wars, economic collapse, and uncertainty that reshaped the world. But even without comparing, we can agree that this moment—our present human era—is chaotic in its own right. Loud politics. Divided opinions. Mistrust in institutions. A lingering post-COVID distrust and disorientation. Ongoing conflicts. And it seems like there's also something else happening beneath it all—a mass awakening.

I know that word—awakening—can sound fluffy or "woo-woo." Like something reserved for peaceful retreats or a yoga studio. But if you've actually been through it—or are in the thick of it—you know the truth. Awakening is not all light, love, and namastes. It's uncomfortable. It's confusing, and it's painful. It's grief, it's loss, and it's the heartbreak that accompanies seeing more than you used to. It is growth, yes, but growth often mingles with grief.

You can't unsee what you've seen. You can't unknow what you know. Insert the famous old quote, "ignorance is bliss."

Real awakening means seeing through the veil. Letting go of old beliefs, versions of yourself, relationships, and ways of living that no longer fit. It means holding space for the loss that comes with expansion. Whether you're just beginning to wake up—this could be spiritually, emotionally, or consciously—or you're already chin-deep in it, the process continually moves through stages: realization, grief, anger, surrender, empowerment, and often, back again—breaking open deeper layers each time.

On top of all this, we are taking in more information than any human ever has before. The opinions, energies, and happenings of the entire world are at our fingertips. And while we may not be dodging bombs or lining up for rations, our bodies are still in survival mode—we are collectively humming with overstimulation. I recently read Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, and one of the statements that stood out to me was this:

"The truth is, we are not meant to live in a state of perpetual distraction and stimulation. The human brain is not built to take in everything, all the time."

Yet here we are. I could go on and on about all the factors that contribute to this increasingly anxious generation, to the chaotic energy of the collective, but to really get solution-focused here, the question becomes: How do we return to what matters the most?

I think it starts with remembering what we are, at the core, which is human beings. Whether you believe in God, Spirit, the Universe, or even nothing at all—our biology is the same. Our brains and nervous systems are wired for connection, for presence, and for rhythm. We need rest. We need each other, and we need meaning. We've got to get back to that. One of my favorite little chunks of words ever is a lyric written by Joni Mitchell for her song Woodstock (great song and contextually on point to this message), and it goes:

"We are stardust, we are golden, and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden."

I know this concept sounds all glittery and great, but how do we do that? I think this mass awakening is bringing us closer, slowly but surely, as we see people start to build homesteads, return to God, spirituality, become more community-oriented, more independently educated and aware. It is inspiring and hopeful in the midst of it all. However, if you're feeling the heavies lately—I get it. There are some small, tangible things we can do to really reconnect, regulate, and come home to what matters within ourselves, especially when we get stuck on the hamster wheel of noise and stress. It all starts with us as individuals—so here's some very simple, unsolicited advice that might help you get off the wheel:

You don't need a workout. Just stand up and stretch, walk around the block, or shake out your arms and legs. Movement helps your body process stress. You'll feel more awake, clear-headed, and steady—even after 5 minutes. I personally love to put on some Alexisonfire and jump around like an unhinged teenager.

We breathe all damn day and hardly give it a thought, but put some real effort and attention into it. Try this: inhale slowly through your nose, count to 4, then exhale slowly to the count of 6. Do that a few times. It's not magic—it's biology. Slow breathing helps switch off the fight-or-flight stress mode and helps your brain work better.

Chop veggies. Draw a messy doodle. Fix something. Garden. Clean out a drawer. Hands-on stuff calms the brain and brings you back to the moment, especially when your head is spinning or you're stuck in your thoughts. It also helps keep the compulsive phone-check at bay, which we know is a slippery slope of doom scrolling and the prowl for dopamine.

Step outside—even if it's just your porch or yard. Feel the air, notice the sky, let your eyes take in something natural. A few minutes of daylight and fresh air helps reset your nervous system and clears mental fog. Seems so obvious, but when you're chronically in survival mode and inundated with information, the small, simple treasures of our reality are often overlooked.

Send a voice message. Call someone who gets you. Say something real. We're wired to feel better when we connect. Even a short, honest conversation can remind you that you're not alone. Sending memes is cool, but real connection and conversation is where the gold is.

Before bed, take 30 seconds and think about what stood out today—something small, simple, or meaningful. It helps your brain shift from autopilot to awareness and brings your focus back to what really counts. Bonus points if you write it down. Jotting it down solidifies that shift, giving your brain a clear, tangible reminder of what you value and want to carry forward into tomorrow.

So yeah, the world is a lot. Always has been, always will be. It's beautiful and brutal, enlightening and overwhelming all at once. We can't fix all the chaos, pain and conflict with breathing more or dancing around by any means—but it's truly the simple things that matter. You can always come back to your breath, your body, your people.

So cheers to being human, you beautiful, loving, divine and creative creature!

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If you are looking for support with stress, overwhelm, or nervous system regulation, explore the stress and emotional regulation program or book a free consultation.

With so much love, Kel