This morning, I found myself sitting among fellow creatives at CreativeMornings Fayetteville, sipping coffee, breathing deeply, and grounding myself in the theme of “Parallel.” Before the speaker took the stage, we were gently invited to pause—feet planted, breath slowed, bodies grounded. That brief moment reminded me: we are more than our thoughts. We are vessels for connection, for calm, and for creativity.
Dana Klisanin, this month’s speaker, guided us on a journey that intertwined personal healing, planetary health, and the role of rewilding in both. Her voice carried stories of anti-fragility—how we not only bounce back from adversity but can become stronger through it, especially when we draw strength from the natural world. Her insights into nature’s role in mental health were powerful. Sunlight, trees, soil—all elements that do more than just support ecosystems; they support us.
Dana’s talk wasn’t just theory. She’s bringing rewilding into practice right here in Northwest Arkansas through the Rewilding Lab—a local hub for exploring the deep intersections of human health, environmental design, and creative resilience. It’s a space where people can learn to re-connect with the more-than-human world, one mindful breath, one soil-stained hand at a time.
She spoke of her own rewilding—living simply, advocating for young people facing climate anxiety, and creating pathways for sustainable change. The message was clear: rewilding is not about retreating from the world, but about re-engaging with it—more fully, more presently, more rooted.
As always, CreativeMornings wove these deeper conversations with community updates and expressions of gratitude. Aubrey handed out espresso shots like joy in a cup, announcements poured in about local cleanups, collage workshops, and spontaneous barbecues. Familiar faces, new energy, and a shared sense of purpose created that unique Fayetteville magic.
Music too, as always, threaded its way into the morning—a parallel language of feeling. Stories were shared of global travels, Vietnam memories, and favorite songs that remind us of home, of hope, of being human.
I left feeling both grounded and lifted, reminded that creativity isn’t just about making things—it’s about making space. Space for nature, for conversation, for healing, and for each other.
If you haven’t been to CreativeMornings Fayetteville, come. Bring a mug, an open heart, and a readiness to explore the wild within and around you.
