If you follow me on social media, you know I promised daily reflections this week about why I’ve chosen to be a researcher, why I've chosen the types of research I've chosen, and why I am embarking upon the Rose Hip Road Trip.

These reflections are important to me because I believe researchers must name why they do what they do on a personal level. I want you to know that my research isn’t just a job—it is one of the most personal and spiritual practices of my life. Given the public nature of this project, I want to be as clear as possible about my underlying motivations and intentions. I question the legitimacy of researchers who can’t do this, who don’t do this. It’s called a bias—everyone has one because there’s no such thing as objectivity. It’s problematic when people don’t know that they have bias or know what their biases are because certain perspectives are normalized.

When I did my research on food and consciousness in The Bahamas, one of the themes that emerged among everyone I interviewed (EVERYONE) was the continuity of a journey. There isn’t necessarily one starting point. Among the people I interviewed, there weren’t necessarily single moments that brought people to the points on their food or spiritual journeys that hadn't been supported by previous moments and experiences, that brought them to where they found themselves when I interviewed them (though it's only possible to realize this in hindsight, of course). There were moments--I call them catalysts on the journey--interactions, interventions, introductions (some identified as more significant than others, nonetheless) that facilitated shifts in people's consciousness and/or food choices. My research since has proven this to be rather common for people on spiritual and healing journeys (I am happy to share more about this if you’re interested). This is also true of the journey I’ve taken to come into my current work and the work I plan to do in the future.

My reflections this week relate to those moments, memories, and experiences—the tiny glimpses into who I am, what I do, and why I do what I do. As someone engaged in work that tends to be challenging and/or unconventional in the world in which I live, I have found it necessary to remind myself why I do what I do. There's no way I could have gotten to the point where I am now personally or professionally if I hadn't reminded myself constantly of why I do what I do. I am reflecting externally because I want you to know why I do what I do, too. I want you to understand the truth of who I am and where I'm coming from.

I have found that when I commit to something, that which is greater than I am offers me consistent reminders of why I do what I do through infinite channels—these moments are both nurturing hugs and kicks in the ass. I have been offered no shortage of reminders lately. That's also why I wanted to take this time to reflect, because so many reminders right now are manifesting as national (U.S.A.) and international current events.

First--a note about the very word “reflect”. Re-flect. The "flect" in reflect comes from a root meaning to turn, to shape, to bend. Therefore, re-flect means to re-shape, to re-turn, to bring flexibility to a moment, a memory, an idea. This concept is most important to the work that I do with clients, students, my research, my creative endeavors, and with my life. My work is to help you to claim enough of your own sense of power that you have the ability to re-shape the narratives you have about your life and your history until it aligns with your spirit, your soul, your people, your body, the planet, and the cosmos. Once you achieve this level of alignment, once you have the power to write and/or re-write your own history, you heal that which prevents you from approaching and fulfilling your destiny. The point of my work is to help you come into the truth of who you are so that you can fulfill your destiny, come into your destined way of being, fulfill your necessary work in the world. I am a researcher because it is part of my calling, part of my destiny, part of my work in this world. But it hasn’t always been that way, it hasn’t always felt that way, I haven’t always believed this to be true. I’ll write more about that tomorrow ... 

Enjoy your day!