“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
After another unfathomably bad year for mankind and planet Earth, I find myself searching for hope. As is my usual habit, I turn to nature for wisdom and perspective. The challenge lately is that nature is so clearly out of synch, struggling to right itself against near-impossible odds. Pair that with the barrage of dystopian movies and television series invading my psyche and, well, it’s a lot. My friends have been known to call me Debbie Downer and sing the waa, waa, waaaaah tune from SNL every time I send them the latest, depressing article.
Thankfully, it’s not only doomsday scenarios on the media menu. Nature documentaries like ‘Kiss the Ground’ and ‘My Octopus Teacher’ have been my lifelines, daring me to imagine a brighter future and challenging me to examine my choices. Learning about regenerative farming and biodiversity have me feeling downright optimistic, while gaining insight into the thoughts and feelings of animals fills me with wonder and reverence.
So I’m starting the new year celebrating the blessings of things I used to take for granted. My resolution is to recognize each new day as an opportunity to discover. The theme of renewal is my biggest inspiration for 2022 and it’s aptly timed with designing my spring collection. Get ready for joyful, life-affirming color!
Dana's Suggestions
Watch: ‘Kiss The Ground’ is an inspiring film narrated by Woody Harrelson aimed at fixing the climate crisis through regenerative agricultural practices and particularly healing the earth’s soil.
SAGE HOOPS
Green Quartz, 14k gold fill
Read: ‘Cloud Cuckoo Land’, written by Anthony Doerr, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of ‘All the Light We Cannot See’, is a wildly inventive novel that spans centuries yet manages to be a timely social commentary about environmental sustainability and the profound impact and enduring legacy of books.
ANYA ONYX NECKLACE
Green Onyx, 14k gold fill
Visit: Apricot Lane Farms, in Moorpark California. This biodiverse paradise featured in the film, ‘The Biggest, Little Farm’ spans 214 lush acres that the owners, Molly and John Chester revived from near-desolation back in 2011. Farm tours include a one-hour exploration of the property and a visit with their, “Emmy-winning pig, Emma”.
LITTLE LEAF EARRINGS
Emerald, 14k gold fill
Shop: Nature’s Path was founded in 1985 but the founding family’s roots in farming date back to the 1930s. The Stephens and their company are committed to regenerative, organic practices and stewardship. Read their blog entry about the best organic seed companies.
LUX LABRADORITE EARRINGS
Labradorite, 14k gold fill
Support: World Wildlife Fund supports the preservation of the world’s biodiversity by raising funds and working together with other similar groups to achieve stable financial support for global biodiversity.
Renewal Photo by Getty Images