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As 2023 nears and with the winter solstice behind us, our days become longer and brighter. I am reflecting on one of the most challenging years of my own life.

This year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer which altered my life and put me on a new journey. While my cancer story is personal, it is very much connected to the bigger story of the times we are in.

When I think of the cancer in my body, I reflect on the cancer that is impacting Mother Earth - fossil fuel extraction, racism, discrimination, and environmental exploitation - all of these have grown and spread throughout this planet, making the earth, the animals and the people sick.

Since the diagnosis, I’ve spent considerable time in ceremony, in prayer, in reflection, and resting and reading. I read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Braiding Sweetgrass,” which is a book on the profound relationship between humans and Mother Earth, and I was reminded of the sacred relationship between us and the environment, particularly appreciating this quote:

“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.”

Spending time to heal by doing the things I love is a little harder right now, but I appreciate it no less. I still love the sparkling of the first glints of sunrise on Bellingham Bay, the sound of the wind and its brush against my face, and watching the majestic Bald Eagle glide overhead. Healing takes time – for me and for our planet. But time is only a reminder of healing's importance.

At WCV we’ve spent the last year working on a brand project to unify WCV and WEC into a single brand in order to leverage the equity and power of both organizations as we head into this next chapter of transformative policy and political work. We believe this will help us achieve greater success in advancing critical environmental wins.

On January 4, 2023, I’ll send you a note announcing our new name, our new logo, our new tagline, and information about where we go from here. As a preview, our tagline is one of my favorite parts of the whole brand project. While I can’t share it just yet, another quote from Kimmerer really resonates.

“Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.”

I hope this season is restful for you and yours. I’ll talk to you again in the new year.

With peace and joy,

-Alyssa

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