meet True North

Who the heck is this gal, and, is that really her name?

The short answer is, we're still discovering that, and yes!

What? You want more? Oh, I see...there's a lot of white space here, and you feel jipped.

Let's start over. We get to do that, you know. Start over. And that, my friends, is the story of my life. Meet the writer, editor, and leading lady in this adventure. I am going to share what inspires me. You see, if you get that, you'll get me. Here goes...

MY INSPIRATION:

What inspires me? Nature and my romance with her. All things Mama Gaia...the ethereal, the unmanifest: seeds, seedlings, tiny eggs in nests, growing things, green shoots emerging from branches, freshly turned soil. Potential. Always potential.

Tapestries, Gregorian chants, ashrams, monasteries and sanctuaries. The Moola Mantra, Mooji, minimalism and spaciousness; room to breathe, to dance, to create. Open air, sunshine on my face, breeze on my skin, sand on my feet, and water. Always water.

Textures, light, patterns and color. Sometimes in touching certain fabrics or textiles, the nerves in my fingers come alive. In these moments, I can feel that what I am touching holds something within it that wishes to be expressed, if I can free my thoughts enough to listen with my heart and let it reveal itself.

Travel, cultures, stories, the texture of life and living. Tastes, experiences, adventure, spontaneity, saying "yes" to Life. Flow. Trust. Leaning in.

Crystals, women sitting in Circle, Grandmother Moon and the night sky, cycles, spirals, braiding hair, little girls in tutus and rain boots. Birth. Birthing children, birthing love, birthing ideas, birthing courage and strength, sovereignty, conviction and vulnerability.

Love. The real stuff. Friends, late night calls and the cabs to be there, love notes left on kitchen counters and tucked into luggage and lunch bags. Vintage love songs. Cradling infants, holding, deep listening and making love.

Story time, fresh sheets, wildflowers, hikes, bicycling in autumn, swirling leaves, campfire smoke, rivers, the music of crickets, frogs and owls; snowflakes, children's laughter, birdsongs, wind chimes, freshly mowed grass, airport hugs, belly laughs, girlfriends, being behind a camera lens. Excellent espressos.

Having life cave-in and rebuild itself. Saying goodbye. Saying hello. Breathing. Stillness. Life. Always, Life.

MEET TRUE:

I am a veteran, mother of four, nana of two, and founder of several companies through the years. I have a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Journalism), but my life-long career was in health promotion. I was a personal trainer, wellness coach, and nutrition counselor for 18 years. That time overlapped fourteen years in the Army National Guard (a few years of that Active Duty, serving as a Recruiter, Readiness NCO, Journalist, and assisting with unit deployments). My favorite duty, however, was as a High Ropes Instructor, leading soldiers, recruits, and assisting with at-risk youth on building teamwork and trust, while negotiating moving elements and repel towers, 20-35 feet in the air.

My innate gifts began to surface at the age of eight. It was common that I would move rather large furniture pieces, to create balance and flow. I did not understand at eight, that I could feel Fung Shui, sense energy, and could see and reveal beauty. It eventually came to me that I see the raw, intrinsic beauty and potential of what is in front of me, and, have the inborn gifts and the acquired skills to reveal, enhance, and bring forward what I see, whether that beauty/potential is in people, physiques, interiors, garden sanctuaries, textiles, or great ideas.

My name, True North, found me. In 2001, I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. For those who don't know, The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2,160 mile trail that runs from Mexico to Canada, covering the U.S. states of California, Oregon and Washington. I was given the name my first day of hiking, because I couldn't find the trailhead. The folks who dropped me off at the Southern Terminus of the PCT, figured I needed all the help I could get to find my way to Canada, so they gave me the trail name of True North. When I came off the trail 4 1/2 months later, I legally changed my name to True North.

I have been an entrepreneur all my adult life, and have had my hand in several startups and businesses. It was a way I could be home with my four children AND scratch that itch! Some have done great, some have been great learning experiences. I have also had my share of hair-brained ideas, such as working on a crab boat in the middle of the Bering Sea during a brutal winter, to earn cash for college. I would not suggest doing this!

I "retired" from the military and personal training in 2011, reinvented myself (again), and began North Technologies, LLC. I traveled six months and 20,000 road miles to 50 U.S. cities, photographing and curating information for a travel app. I can tell you a thing or two about outsourcing to India. Now, that was a BIG education! Along the way, I have learned my fair share about starting a business, branding, web design, personal transformation, and the like. Today, I spread my time between designing websites (my passion), facilitating mastermind groups, caring for my mother and leading online courses. As care for my mother eases, I will continue to design websites, lead mastermind groups, facilitate Women's Circles, workshops and retreats, and expand the online courses I offer. Until then, I'm having a great time doing what I'm doing, embracing Life, loving my family, friends and this gorgeous planet we call home; saying "Yes," helping launch great ideas, assisting individuals to step into larger versions of themselves, and keeping my entrepreneurial skills sharp.

If you guessed that this is the Voodoo Donut truck I am standing in front of, you either know your donuts, or have camped out waiting for the truck to show up, one too many times. Either way, I like you, already.

In Love, True