“What are three things that you love to do so much that when you’re doing them, you could do them all day, every day?
When a friend recently asked me this, the answers came easily: writing, time in nature, human connection. Then I asked myself: “Am I LIVING them?”
Three years ago at this time, I was running a raw-vegan retreat center on an organic farm in the mountains of Brazil. After a 20-year career in public policy and education reform, the decision was a sharp departure from the world I’d been living. It was a bold act to claim a life I craved. Between preparing farm-fresh dishes, swimming in waterfalls, and dodging venomous snakes, I kept a blog that connected me to thousands of people in over 100 countries. It was a crazy-delicious adventure that perfectly incorporated the things I love most.
At its peak, it was magic.
Then cancer happened. Paradise was laid to rest under a tsunami of chaos and grief. There’s just no way to sugarcoat that kind of loss. Then and now, it was an urgent reminder of the vital necessity of living in the present. Hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment, through conscious rededication to the things I love, I have tenderly, achingly found my way back.
Today – when I’m not running my business, eating, or sleeping, I am WRITING. I’m working on a novel, and I wake each morning like a woman possessed: driven, excited, and endlessly thrilled to see what happens next. (Even as I write this first post, it’s 3 am on a Sunday, and I just couldn’t help it: the words woke me up.)
Today – I resume my place in the wacky world of bloggers. It’s so good to be back.
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LEIGH HOPKINS 
Lucky me you’re back!! Happy to “hear” from you! Xxx
Muita obrigada e beijos, querida Dani!
So Awesome Leigh! 🙂 I am happy to have virtually crossed paths with yours.
What I like to do is make DreamCatchers… In fact, it’s what I am doing with my life right now… waiting on some materials and pushing past my fears… I will come out shining! I also love to write, which I am doing too. LIfe is beautiful!
I love this response, Natasza – life really IS beautiful! What is it that you love most about making DreamCatchers?
My day just got a little brighter. I’ve been following you for a while now. It seems like I was part of your ups and downs, smiles and tears and you have no idea how much what you had been through taught me. So happy to see you back.
Thanks for the warm welcome – your response just brightened MY day. If you were following, you were definitely part of my ups and downs. I think we all learned together…let’s hope it continues. We’re in this together, all of us. xo
And better than ever. You look amazing. Wishing you nothing but the best for 2015 and beyond.
Thanks so much for the happy wishes, Anne. Wishing you a phenomenal new year and beyond, your own self. It’s great to be back!
Beautiful!
Thank you, Heather!
Sharing is caring. Share away. I love reading, creating something out of nothing, and being outdoors (city or woods).
“Creating something out of nothing.” What a brilliant way of putting it, Jason. What IS it about that process that’s so damn addictive? But for we “starters,” it’s an incredible pull. Thanks for reading – here or elsewhere. See you in the woods!
Welcome back, Leigh! Already craving for your next post.
Obrigada, Eliane! It feels so good to be back. Abraços!
Love hearing the passion in your tone♡♡♡
Yo tengo mucho, Amelia-san! Tu tambien, amor. Besos!
I’m loving this already, you amazing woman, and I can’t wait to tag along for this next journey. ❤
No tagging along this time, Deb. You’re on it with me! Love you!
(Y) !!!!
Love you for “Living Your Bliss” as well as your endearmant and compassion for the world. You inspire me in so many ways Leigh. Can’t wait to travel with you on this journey!
Thank you, Gillian! I’m so grateful for your amazing force on this planet. Let’s do this!
As I’ve told you before Leigh, I can’t wait for the next chapter! Thanks for returning to the blogosphere!
It’s on the way! Thanks for continuing the adventure, Paula. xo
Leigh, you are amazing. Thank you for sharing your grace, brilliance and light. You have inspired me to write more and connect with my light in a greater way. Thank you
Courtney, YOU are amazing. Your writer’s voice is really moving…have you ever thought about blogging?
Courtney, YOU are amazing. I look forward to reading your book one day. When are you starting your blog?
Welcome back to one of your favourite things to do – writing – I am so happy to ‘meet’ you! We share the same loves in life 🙂 Good luck with your novel – exciting times! Lovely to meet a fellow traveling curios sister of life and especially one who is following her bliss!!! That’s what it’s all about – you are making the whole world a better place just by living out your dreams! Yay! Viva la VIDA 🙂 Look forward to reading your posts on this new chapter of your journey.
Blessings from South Africa xx
Leigh, it was nice to meet you over at Project Light Year! I’m a writer as well, and I know the thrill and the high of writing nonstop. I wrote about 30,000 words to a novel last summer, and am aching to pick it up again. But I’m also in love with something new, cranking out the personal essays. I love the feeling of words pouring down my arms.
As for doing the things I love all day, every day, I’ll respectfully bow out of that one. After my own health crash a few years ago, I’ve learned that even passion can be overdone. Perhaps especially passion. So the thing I would do all day, every day would be to pay attention to my needs for rest and play — when I need to rest, I rest (when I can convince myself to; not always easy) and when I want to play, I write, paint, draw, hang out with animals, and spy into a few nonphysical worlds where I’ve traveled in the past.
This life is love.
Harmony, thanks so much for introducing yourself. 30,000 words! That has to feel amazing. I hear you on the personal essays…there’s something so satisfying about the immediacy of creating something that feels concrete and complete. Pouring down your arms, out and through. Gorgeous!
I look forward to hearing more from you. Here’s to picking up your passion, in whatever form it chooses to reveal itself.