Celebrating The Halfway Point of My Vocal Media Exclusive One-Year Creative Project

Good morning, and welcome to a special edition of my Monday Morning Huddle! Today, I celebrate the halfway point of my year-long Vocal Media exclusive creative project, which aims to inspire, uplift, and encourage readers to think outside the box of everyday human living. Photographs of outside places and nature, all captured by yours truly, paired with a weekly theme, set the pace for reflection and self-discovery, while pushing the boundaries of physicality.

Tuning into nature, listening beyond the noise, finding the quiet place where the spiritual voice speaks, is an important part of our earthly existence. As a spiritually inclined person, I hope that by sharing my weekly edition, I will impress upon the reader an image, idea, or lightbulb moment that will personally resonate and aid them on the road to transformation and self-growth, embracing a heightened mindset.

The Monday Morning Huddle began on Medium in my spiritual publication before I jumped ship and exited the platform last August. Although I've since rejoined Medium (primarily as an editor), Vocal Media is the new home for my series, and rightly so since my online writing journey began five years ago, right here on Vocal.

Ahh, there really is nothing like home...

How My Creative Project Got Started on Vocal Media

The above-featured story was an entry in the New Year, New Projects Challenge and received a runner-up placement.

At that particular moment in time, I was a Marriott Operations Manager, and the Monday Morning Huddle theme felt important to incorporate into everyday living, reaching beyond workplace settings and the busy day-to-day rat race. Thinking with a similar mindset to my Medium-based counterpart, I added a keyword: Trailblazer.

Trailblazers are goal-orientated and hard-driven souls who have a vision and are unafraid of embarking on challenging tasks to forge a new path. They are the future leaders and trendsetters with fire in their footsteps paving the way for like minds, inspiring similar actions catered to personal experience.

Quoted from my New Year, New Projects entry, the statement above reflects the typical trailblazer personality.

While goal-oriented and hard-driven are admirable traits, it's easy to get caught up in career, work, and productivity and lose sight of other things, while softer, perhaps much more subtle, but undeniably equally important.

Of course, one need not be a trailblazer to enjoy my Monday Morning Huddle; the overall idea is to get people to pause the demands of physical living, take breaks, and allow the lessons and love awaiting from a spiritual perspective.

And nature is the perfect place to align with and discover the gems waiting in the spiritual realm.

How has my year-long series done to date?

Since rolling out the huddle in January, I've had three top story picks by Vocal Media curators:

More importantly, I've had the ongoing support of a handful of supporters, for which I am truly grateful!

Whether a weekly visitor, new arrival, or somewhere in between, I appreciate anyone who joins the huddle, and I am especially thrilled when readers chime in, sharing an experience, a thought, or a unique perspective.

True to its huddle nature, when a group comes together and connects, and shares ideas in a safe place, surely that is an inspiring moment for all!

Key difference: unlike workplace huddles, mine draws upliftment from outside places, and only the gifts that nature can provide.

Personal Growth: Nature's Gifts Unwrapped

Much has changed personally since my series premiered in January. I no longer work for Marriott or the hotel industry.

A workplace accident in February resulted in a medial meniscus tear, which initially left me frustrated, but time and reflection afforded me a fresh outlook, aided by nature's loving guidance.

Time outside walking and exploring blooming life in a local community garden would soon become the medicine I didn't realize I needed.

Birdlife, seasonal change, and early morning outside time began pointing out specific messages, ones I had missed, dating to specifically 2015.

Incidents, accidents, and health-related experiences had a particular theme, one I had overlooked, perhaps ignored too, when inner nudgings were trying to get my attention.

• Pitbull attack in 2015 took me 6 months to recover, leaving nerve damage to my left leg.
• Splenectomy in 2020, resolving a rare benign tumor condition called Litoral Cell Angioma, meant strict isolation; well over a year, closer to two, since this procedure happened just weeks before Covid hit our nation.
• Medial Meniscus tear to the left leg in 2025, an ongoing issue awaiting approval from Workman's Compensation for a surgical procedure.

Note the pattern of 5 above; it might seem superficial or coincidental, but as I've learned throughout my life, nothing is truly ever simply a coincidence.

In a nutshell, the number 5 relates to life experiences specifically geared to change.

Angelically, 5 speaks to making important life changes, keeping health and overall wellbeing in mind, to fulfill one's heart's destiny- Positive life decisions and choices that will yield benefits, not only for self, but for others.

Not one, not two, but three times an incident occurred, taking me away from my career pursuit of serving travelers in hospitality for nearly two decades.

The photo above is a scene that I've revisited many times over the past several months, watching the pathway evolve during seasonal change from snow and stillness to sunshine, clear footing, and blooming flowers.

A lightbulb moment spoke to me through nature's gentle nudging.

My time for a new path is here; it's overdue. The narrative tried to speak to me several times, but I didn't listen. Finally, the most recent occurrence grabbed my attention. I am listening. I hear and head the call.

Sometimes, the universe is finicky like that; unheard messages prompt divine intervention, forcing the hand of change.

And so it is.

Upcoming for the Monday Morning Huddle 🌞🌺

A podcast is in the works. I thought I might be ready this week, but some more preparations are necessary. I am shooting for next Monday, and am excited to see how I might take the huddle to the next level.

Another thing in the works is regarding my cover images. I have a product in the works featuring some of my favorite photos and hope to have it going by weeks end. Hopefully, next Monday, I will be able to make the big reveal, involving a giveaway limited to the first 5 (there goes the 5 again) takers!

Will I extend my huddle on Vocal Media into 2026?

I am uncertain at this time. Feedback from readers will be greatly appreciated and will help me make the decision.

What I will say with 100% certainty is that my 2025 creative project has opened my eyes to much-needed life changes and the possibilities that await me.

Closing out, again, I want to thank all of my supporters, new and old- all are welcome!

I love you guys, yes, it's true. Meeting only in virtual space doesn't matter. My love is unconditional and an energy that gives freely. 🥰🥰🥰

Thanks for reading, and may you all have a beautiful week!