Without taking the time to reflect and explore, I might have forgotten that memory and missed the connection it holds to one of my deep beliefs about the value of museums (or all encounters with art and artifact, for that matter).

What personal stories do we tell about our connection to the natural world?

“It was such a safe space LPA had created.”

“Five years ago, when at my lowest point, I discovered the true power of storytelling. It not only saved my life but has helped countless others.”

“Those amazing, rewarding and often heartbreaking experiences helped me realize my purpose.”

Compared to the more serious health conditions or life circumstances that many advocates are managing, will my advocacy be viewed as overblown or overwrought?

“I’m speaking out because I care about my community. We can no longer afford to ignore.”

Listening to it nonstop for more than a decade, even in the background of my consciousness, is exhausting. I want the noise to stop.