“We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.”

- Jack Gilbert

It’s easy for me to sink into the heaviness of things, especially during moments of collective upheaval. Even when I try to do a few small things each day to care for my body and heart while the “ruthless furnace of this world” roars on, I still find myself feeling the tension of uncertainty. It’s not a lack of hope; it’s the discomfort of wondering if I’m “doing enough”. But what is enough, anyway? I’m learning to believe that small efforts and moments of connections can have lasting, positive impacts.

But this week brought some much-needed grounded perspective. I was invited to be one of just five art vendors at Oregon’s annual Wildlife Society Joint Conference in Seaside, and it was a humbling honor to be welcomed into a space full of incredible scientists, students, and nature artists from across our region. Meeting passionate humans and hearing about their successful conservation efforts and exciting research endeavors really boosted my spirits in a profoundly gratifying way.