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Mix & Match: A Guide to Coordinating Outdoor Furniture Colors and Materials - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/f330044b-da83-431d-8ef8-36e664ec861a/_76A8670.jpg Explore - Mix & Match: A Guide to Coordinating Outdoor Furniture Colors and Materials - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/a94e37ed-a79d-4dee-82e0-e9da3d8ee6a7/_76A8732.jpg Explore - Mix & Match: A Guide to Coordinating Outdoor Furniture Colors and Materials - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/5c6547b3-9c40-4f6c-9e70-f81a1ada88c1/Leisure+Chair+Sand.jpg Explore - Mix & Match: A Guide to Coordinating Outdoor Furniture Colors and Materials - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/4d7788eb-97da-4d0c-b1a7-58e8d7d56281/Front_8.jpg Explore - Mix & Match: A Guide to Coordinating Outdoor Furniture Colors and Materials - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/406c1052-881f-4d0b-bfb4-d33ee95ee2cf/Bay_1.jpg Explore - Mix & Match: A Guide to Coordinating Outdoor Furniture Colors and Materials - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/e556a06c-bd3d-43d7-a1f5-60ba7f61a842/23070008.JPG Explore - Mix & Match: A Guide to Coordinating Outdoor Furniture Colors and Materials - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.italeisure.com/blog/upf-50-plus-explained monthly 0.5 2025-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/29fe72a0-4902-4f94-b573-12759331f46d/3F6A4562.jpg Explore - 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Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.italeisure.com/blog/walkingthewalkwithandrew monthly 0.5 2025-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1724081175363-OYC00F3G17GVV2CPIL9B/unnamed-2.jpg Explore - Walking The Walk with Andrew - Tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is Andrew Kwabena Darko but I go by Andrew or Drew for short. I'm a first generation Ghanaian-American who grew up mostly in Texas. I’ve always had an appreciation for culture and the expression of it, be it language, music, food, fashion, or sports. I enjoy learning the history of people and places to better understand and appreciate the present. Today, I’m an entrepreneur and construction manager currently living and working in Germany. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1724081176501-2SOSMI1VIC0VA7Z3M8IS/unnamed-4.jpg Explore - Walking The Walk with Andrew - Growing up, what was your relationship like with the outdoors? Looking back, I realize that I mostly viewed outside as the arena for whatever sport we played in the neighborhood. I grew up in the 90s before high speed internet. We would play basketball, football, or baseball till the street lights came on. It wasn't until we took a family road trip to the Grand Canyon when I actually disassociated the outdoors from competition and really gained an appreciation for nature. A few years later, my mom took us back to Ghana to visit our grandmother's village and I learned to value the different facets of nature at a very basic level. I witnessed the importance of the outdoors not only as a venue for play but as a source of food, water, shelter, and wellness. I hold that reverence for the outdoors to this day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1724081176833-7EYB4BA69P1MXKER9GMU/unnamed-5.jpg Explore - Walking The Walk with Andrew https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1724081175267-I9JK3E1HVDOPJM9CA2RQ/unnamed-1.jpg Explore - Walking The Walk with Andrew - We met in Ghana in 2022. What was that trip like for you? Have you visited other countries in the continent? If yes, where abouts and what was it like? How did your experiences differ?  I try to visit Ghana at least once a year to visit my grandmothers and connect with friends and other family members. Back in 2022, I was just picking up surfing and wanted to surf in Ghana for the first time. It was a much needed change of pace compared to most of my previous trips. I got a chance to be still and connect with a lot of young, talented creatives and entrepreneurs. I always say that amongst the vast number of resources on the Continent, the most valuable of them all is the people. I really came back from that trip inspired. Though I was born in Africa, I haven’t gotten the chance to travel extensively throughout the continent. Of the countries I have visited, Egypt was one of the most memorable. Obviously, it's a country rich in culture and history but it's a little more fast paced compared to Ghana. What I took from that trip was an admiration of the ingenuity of ancient Africans and the importance of preserving and protecting that history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1724081177224-UAC2UKXLJ3N2A3FBSC5V/unnamed-6.jpg Explore - Walking The Walk with Andrew - I looked back at our DM and you mentioned you hike almost every week. Are you keeping this up? How did hiking become a part of your life? During the pandemic, when the only place not locked down was outside, I definitely spent a lot of time on the trails. Hiking really gave me an outlet to disconnect and really put things into perspective. I think we all face day to day challenges that affect our mental and physical well-being. Personally, when I'm outside in nature, those challenges shrink a little. I really value that time to self reflect and usually end up clear minded and recharged. I still make it a point to do some sort of outdoor activity regularly. Usually when I travel, I start by searching for National Parks near the cities I’m in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1724081177532-OVX3C6JV8HR8FHAVEN8D/unnamed-7.jpg Explore - Walking The Walk with Andrew - Besides hiking, what are some of your favorite outdoor activities? Aside from hiking, I enjoy being in the water. Whether it be in my kayak on the lake or on a surfboard in the ocean. I played sports growing up and even though I’m getting older, I still look for random courts to run pick up basketball games. On the other hand, I also don't mind being outdoors and not being active. I'm a big fan of the kick back with friends in the backyard, at the park or at the beach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1724081177929-0XXJOEMZLTRI5V2VB0P2/unnamed.jpg Explore - Walking The Walk with Andrew - As a Black man who spends his time outdoors, how have you been able to feel comfortable and make space for yourself in the outdoors? As Black people, we possess genetic characteristics that predispose us to outdoor activities. Our melanin and our hair texture serve as a natural barrier from the sun's radiation. At the same time we need to spend more time in the sun to get the necessary vitamin D. I truly believe that biologically, we are meant to spend time outdoors, especially in tropical climates. So personally, I don’t feel the need to make space for myself outdoors. Being outdoors has always felt familiar. I understand that in America, there is a historical social and political context to consider when explaining why we don’t see many Black people in outdoor spaces such as state and national parks. That being said, the outdoors is for everyone, Black people included. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1724081175991-N03OAL9VOO37Y6HNSMJI/unnamed-3.jpg Explore - Walking The Walk with Andrew - Can you share any words for a reader who wants to make space for themselves outdoors but hasn’t made the jump?  I think spending time outdoors can be one of the best exercises for both physical and mental health. 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Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.italeisure.com/blog/qpoc-hikers monthly 0.5 2023-06-20 https://www.italeisure.com/blog/ghana monthly 0.5 2023-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156026344-MVGW34H9DL05EUTF7EZM/ITA+-+Leisure+Chair+24.jpg Explore - From Ghana, With Love - ITA | Leisure Chair https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156027874-Q6JDKPZ44CWKM5LM1W5Q/ITA+-+Leisure+Chair+26.jpg Explore - From Ghana, With Love - ITA | Leisure Chair https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156025967-84JDN1Z4CGS1J3YKH514/ITA+-+Leisure+Chair+07.jpg Explore - From Ghana, With Love - ITA | Leisure Chair https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156021826-R72MYPTWC10J0DCJWB72/ITA+-+Hat+02.jpg Explore - From Ghana, With Love - ITA | ITA Hat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156028515-N9YHBBE6RFIWLA0UIKP1/ITA+-+Leisure+Trio+02.jpg Explore - 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From Ghana, With Love - ITA | Market Bag https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156034879-VVD6XSFW6QU64Z4CTHXS/ITA+-+Terrain+Beach+Towel+01.jpg Explore - From Ghana, With Love - ITA | Terrain Beach Towel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156032909-65ZKM96N55AFQC1SSHCB/ITA+-+Terra+Throw+02.jpg Explore - From Ghana, With Love - ITA | The Terra Throw by Kenesha Sneed https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156031259-PTVHJITGFPI1C0ORU0CC/ITA+-+Terra+Throw+01.jpg Explore - From Ghana, With Love - ITA | The Terra Throw by Kenesha Sneed https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1686156033343-9SY1M5G4JJTFF5EH7TCT/ITA+-+Terra+Throw+04.jpg Explore - From Ghana, With Love - ITA | The Terra Throw by Kenesha Sneed https://www.italeisure.com/blog/evelynn-escobar monthly 0.5 2023-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679768642581-ZLD9KJF2K2VLHT7UPHE6/ITA%2BLeisure%2B-%2BImage%2B97.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679704782360-BEEHAY7M2MA8N9N8NEZ5/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+88.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - How would you describe your relationship to the outdoors? You’ve mentioned that your first trip to a national park was when you were 23. What was your experience with the outdoors growing up? I’ve got a very symbiotic relationship to nature in that I go out there to restore myself. To explore. To be inspired. To feel, and to also get people out there to experience it themselves. Growing up, my experience was pretty typical in that I usually went outside to play and was exploring nature unconsciously doing so. And as I grew older, whenever I visited my aunt who lived in LA, she introduced me to hiking (she really loved hiking). She took me on trails and it really planted that seed for me. I grew up in Virginia and we did have a national park, but before [visiting her] I never felt those spaces were really for me or defined my experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679704780788-V8RGBVA9EZWVYHAB5615/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+87.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - What’s your read on the outdoors and the outdoor industry in the US? How did your “call to action” reach you? I never set out to be this thought leader in the outdoor space. I had my first outdoor experience at 23 and that’s truly when the A-HA moment happened. I went to the Grand Canyon and Zion [National Park]. I expected both to be super touristy destinations –which the Grand Canyon for the most part is - but going to Zion, it was so homogenous and so white. I remember going up one of the most popular trails and people looking at me with curious stares. I was like, “this is so bizarre. I look more like the people whose land this actually belongs to than the people who are looking at me crazy.” So, in that understanding, knowing there must be other black and indigenous people who were interested in the outdoors and also felt all of the effects of being outdoors in places like that. In this moment I was really being able to silence and listen to myself in a way I hadn’t ever before. I remember thinking how integral it was to my being to get a group of us out there to create a safe space to literally take up space and show that we care about this too, that it’s not just a white people “thing” to do, it’s also actually very natural to us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679704778690-B1YREDFCT6WH63GU7GZ0/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+86.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - You have a rich cultural background being from Guatemala, what role does the outdoors play within your culture? Are there any outlooks, rituals or traditions that you carry with you? I feel that I am in the place to do what I am doing because I am Black and it was restoring that relationship with the land that helped me restore the poetry of my being, of it all. I think that connection [to the outdoors] in this way had brought me an understanding of self that lay dormant until I was able to dive in a little bit deeper. I think a lot of the things that I would take for granted were honestly bigger teachings. Like, you know that we’re all interconnected – that we are just a speck as part of a bigger thing. We’re here to be land defenders, and the way we operate is not natural to us. Feeling those things and (when I’m going out) looking up at the stars and the beautiful silence of camping –things like that, really made everything click from an identity perspective. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679704782406-FNJ4CMSVZG73NQCBMKXX/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+85.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679774109602-XCO91N1OGPN6M7JXAV4Q/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+101.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - You launched Hike Clerb back in 2017, and what a strong, vibrant community it has become! How has the journey taken shape? Can you share a great challenge and great success? The great challenge has been the business side of it all. As I said, I never sought out to be who I am and what it is now. And in doing so, making it an official non-profit organization and never having done anything like that, finding out from a legal perspective. And the wins, obviously, it’s too many to count. I think seeing the tangible, physical, real impact that we are creating and you know whether that’s connection or the relationships that are forming out of it, or the women who are coming to the event, and hosting an event that is selling out in ten minutes, it’s really something to see what a loyal and engaged community have been able to create. And we’ve got great feedback and we have people in different countries, it’s really cool to see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679774110109-KMRU8BCT1G1FBY8RRCNO/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+102.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - There is something very powerful that takes place when a community of diverse womxn come together. How would you describe the spirit at a HC hike? Overwhelmingly welcoming. Someone had told me it’s like the cool kids who are inclusive. I think that hits the mark there. You know, we are a very creative community. There are women who are doing lots of really cool and unique things on their own, and I think what makes Hike Clerb “cool” itself is that everyone is showing up fully as themselves in whatever they are doing. As a result, it gives you this vibe of the cool kids that are inclusive because no one is doing anything that they’re not. What’s cool is everyone is doing themselves, and whether they come alone or with others, it’s a great friendship making service in LA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679774109501-S5X7D3QYX6WUPXBCFAIE/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+100.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - For any budding hikers reading, any starter tips - prep, locations, gear? When most people think of hiking, their perception is a heightened level of what it actually means — the gear, the backpack, the hiking poles. But it could be really simple and tailored to you. I try to tell people to start where they are, and with what they have. I started with tennis shoes. For the easier trails in LA, you know, you don’t have to have all of those whistles, you can get things as you need and start at a tangible place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679704777392-D6YTY2XTCVB1716UP6FM/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+84.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679774108766-V67VBG6OLUX1CCANHE9K/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+99.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - You welcomed more change into your life with the birth of your beautiful daughter Isla. Congratulations! What role do you want the outdoors to play in hers? It played a huge role in her life, because even in the womb, we went to four national parks during my pregnancy. She’s already been on multiple road trips as a five month old. I mean her experience in the outdoors is beyond anything I could have ever had even in the first quarter of my life, and it’s so amazing because she won’t know anything otherwise. She will have a great understanding of the role that she plays as far as the human experience, but also nature and the outdoors as a modality, how to feel yourself and be yourself. You know, I take her to Hike Clerb events (if I’m not leading them), but through that she will also see that the outdoors are for everyone and people who look like her are out there too. It’s been beautiful to provide a safe space for her in the outdoors and see how that manifests and how it develops as she gets older. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679774108910-SG4HB6177MKYU4JV7LUL/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+98.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - You’ve spoken about motherhood being a rebirth for you. How are you adjusting to shifting priorities? What practices have helped you in this life changing moment? Honestly, I feel like this is so timely, because I was thinking to myself yesterday, “how am I doing all of these things”? Honestly, going out and making time to just have fun, get away from LA, and go on adventures with her – having these bonding experiences – keep me on track. You know you can get bogged down with the day-to-day, and it’s very important to prioritize rest, prioritize play, prioritize time to yourself. During my pregnancy I was so into going to acupuncture, going to a prenatal chiropractor – you know, after five months of motherhood outside of the womb, I’m starting to try to get back to my routine of getting back to acupuncture, getting back to yoga, because you really have to make yourself a priority by any means necessary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679704772124-VSVYB1DNCDGHIK9JL58E/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+83.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679704771215-ECMSO49NINEP0FXJB2LF/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+82.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - There’s no doubt she’ll be an explorer! What first three big adventures do you want to take her on? Near or far. So obviously, being indigenous to Guatemala, I absolutely want to take her on that experience. There are beautiful lakes, beautiful hikes and volcanoes. Having that experience of being able to immerse her in that world and immerse her where we have come from. Also, on the other side of that, Yosemite National Park has a big spot in my heart. So does Big Sur. Honestly, there are so many places that I’ve absolutely fallen in love with. It’s a continuation of taking her to beautiful places, and hike with her. You know, Lake Tahoe, doing all of these great things. You know whats really up next? Taking her to the snow, playing in the snow, honestly, I’m excited to do it all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679704771664-CLO8HX6LTB2ZRTFUUPJM/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+81.jpg Explore - Fostering Community with Evelynn Escobar - What is your idea of time well spent? My idea of time well spent is to be really and intentionally thoughtful. We’ve been really meditating on intentional things versus being productive. For me, “Time Well Spent” is “conscious time spent”, if that makes sense. You know, doing those things you want to be doing in that present moment, whatever it may be…as in reading a book, taking the time to do whatever it is, that’s my idea of time well spent. https://www.italeisure.com/blog/steffen-jean-pierre monthly 0.5 2023-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679781569736-FQY66MPV5OJBCCJMETRI/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+103.jpg Explore - Braving New Heights with Steffen Jean-Pierre https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679781572460-GRJPP0PCJIGN34L37ML1/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+110.jpg Explore - Braving New Heights with Steffen Jean-Pierre - What type of landscape did you grow up in and how did that influence your relationship to the outdoors? I actually grew up in Brooklyn far away from the green mountainous landscapes where I currently seek to spend a lot of my time. Despite growing up in the concrete jungle some of my fondest memories as a child are of the times I spent either vacationing or visiting family in states like Virginia or Florida. We would spend a lot of time hiking through the woods, fishing in the lake, swimming in the ocean. Looking back, I think the reason we would do these activities is because it is not only a great way to spend time with your family but also because these activities were free. Whatever my parents' motivation, I loved those experiences and I was constantly looking forward to the next one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679781570557-Y0EB9ITGUQ76JMMSBW6R/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+105.jpg Explore - Braving New Heights with Steffen Jean-Pierre https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679781571321-TB0IF1HLJYYG0QJVGNIO/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+109.jpg Explore - Braving New Heights with Steffen Jean-Pierre - What first inspired or motivated you to join camp yoshi? What are some of the most memorable lessons from your time with camp yoshi so far? I've known the founder of Camp Yoshi for a few years; he reached out to me when he was starting Camp Yoshi because he knew of my experience in and love for the outdoors. He was looking for people with experience in the outdoors with a background in hospitality. I immediately told him I was on board; introducing more Black people to the outdoors has been my goal for a long time, and Camp Yoshi was a way for me to take action on that goal. Being a part of Camp Yoshi has shown me that it is vital for Black people to take up space in these environments that we may not always feel welcomed in. Camping and exploring beautiful locations with Camp Yoshi is something that every person should be able to experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679781569832-F1ODRN9X9ZX4IEVUSIZF/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+104.jpg Explore - Braving New Heights with Steffen Jean-Pierre https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679781571269-8924XF9NKGYVJ0KGAFEL/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+108.jpg Explore - Braving New Heights with Steffen Jean-Pierre - How has your Haitian identity and culture intersected with your love for the outdoors? I am a second-generation Haitian; both my parents were born there. I grew up with my parents' stories about growing up in Haiti. They were constantly sharing stories about climbing mango trees and going down to the river for water. Even though my childhood in Brooklyn was very different from theirs, their stories helped me see myself in those spaces. Haiti is a beautiful Island that has gone through terrible economic and environmental hardship. There is a strength that exists within the Haitian people to be able to persevere despite those challenges. I imagine that I access that strength when I climb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679781570534-FZIXF0YUK254SBKN6YIE/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+107.jpg Explore - Braving New Heights with Steffen Jean-Pierre - What are your favorite places to escape to nature in NYC/ your neighborhood? Fortunately, I live across the street from a lovely park in Brooklyn called Owl's Head Park. Taking walks around the park with my partner Janelly and our pup is a great way for us to escape from the hustle and bustle of our lives. One of our favorite activities is to hop on our skateboards and skate around the park while our puppy O'keeffe is chasing us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679781369564-TA9IP9ZB0E0DG0ZN63BY/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+106.jpg Explore - Braving New Heights with Steffen Jean-Pierre - What is your idea of time well spent? For me, time well spent Is when I'm doing something that inspires, touches, or moves me or when I'm able to do that for someone else. I also try to make time to try new things, this is how I found both climbing and woodworking. https://www.italeisure.com/blog/mickey-belaineh monthly 0.5 2023-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/23baf44d-795b-40aa-b778-119ecb3ad651/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+25.JPG Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/46aeb54b-3b21-46dc-8db6-0ba77ec412bb/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+89.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - When and where did you first explore your relationship with the outdoors? When I think about the outdoors what comes to mind is the beach and the ocean, the trees and the grass. These are the spaces I grew up in and with… So for me now, when I think about the outdoors I think about coming back to myself, coming back to my inner child. Growing up I spent a lot of time outdoors, in the beach, in the dirt. The outdoors is where I feel safe. I grew up in a Texas suburb, that has now grown into somewhat of a city-- it's really the space that connects Dallas to Fort Worth. It's a lot of what you would expect when you think of Texas, horses strewn about, a lot of open flat land (the sky is the main attraction where I grew up-- and you likely wouldn't know what a personality the sky has until you've spent time in very flat lands). Before I knew the city, all I knew was abundant nature-- therefore, I am realizing now how much I took it for granted. Before I could walk, I was camping in South Padre with my parents and their friends (I'm a first born, so I spent my early years as an accessory to these young immigrants getting to know the foreign land that is Texas-- considering they came from Ethiopia). We had a huge backyard with lots for me to explore. I spent a lot of my childhood sitting outside lifting the largest rocks I could manage, to see what hidden worlds lay beneath. We had honeysuckles that grew in our backyard along the fence, they're pretty abundant out there from what I recall-- and I remember being fascinated by the idea of being able to get something sweet from something growing wild outside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/06ff02ac-d3c3-4f06-b63c-839c73c035a7/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+90.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - What would you say are some of the major barriers to access for outdoor space and accessibility (especially for BIPOC communities)? Easy and meaningful access to nature is a human right that has now been turned into privilege, where we are asked to pay premiums for to access nature... whether it’s affording to live in a neighborhood with parks or owning a car to drive to natural landscapes or to travel... these luxuries are not afforded to most BIPOC. We have been cut off from nature in similar ways that systems of power have excluded BIPOC from a high quality of life. When we talk about mass incarceration, history of redlining, substance disorder... these are all connected to our lack of access to nature. In advocacy spaces we often grapple with how to treat these social ills, and nature is a free remedy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/875a0df2-043b-4991-9c55-894a8c6613dc/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+91.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - As a Texas native, how accessible were outdoor activities and leisure as you were growing up? Has your relationship with the outdoors changed since you moved to New York? How? The outdoors is where I grew up to be honest, Texas has year round warm weather (though it has changed recently with climate change)-- and that meant I spent year round outside. Playing in the backyard, the park, sports training-- everything happened outdoors. And so now, the outdoors is healing for me-- and it helps me to feel closer to myself, and my family and community who I don't get to see as often as I would like. Since being removed from the world I had grown accustomed to (where "nature" as we typically think of it is abundant), through mindfulness I've come to learn that Nature is a mindset, it is everywhere around us, even in New York. I’ve had a lot of privilege most of my life, with access to untouched, wild nature. I had to let go of my attachment to what type of nature I have access to. Instead of seeing the beauty of the nature around me, I used to be upset it wasn’t the nature I was used to/nature in the way I wanted it to be. But recently I’ve learned to be grateful for all nature that surrounds me. And ultimately reminding myself that we are nature too, we are not separate from it. In New York, I chose to find ways to make nature a part of my routine...like going to the park, noticing the plants on stoops, and getting to know the birds and biodiversity of my neighborhood. Showing up in this way has made me see the city in a different perspective and has made it feel more like home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/67b2d932-6a08-4e8d-b8dc-243b02998305/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+92.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - As a pro athlete, how has time outdoors contributed to your pursuit of wellness? I try to do as much of my training as I can outside, I realized it is more aligned/conducive to my health than a gym. This leads to a deeper, sustainable health rather than a performative or aesthetic one. You don’t have to manufacture fitness.. take your shoes off and plant your feet on the ground--ancestral wisdom, spiritual wisdom, and even Western medicine (who's always late to the party) tell us that ~15-20 minutes of "grounding" (being barefoot in the grass) has a plethora of healing benefits. Without getting into the details, it is just good common sense. Though technology has advanced at an exponential rate over the years, decades, etc.-- human wiring hasn't really changed that much. We were made to be walking, running, jumping, climbing, hanging-- engaging with nature and the elements for survival. So, it stands to reason that reconnecting our skin with the earth would have some deep balancing effects (regardless of your beliefs or spiritual leanings). For what it is worth, I will say that the most critical elements of my movement protocol as an athlete are: spending time in grass/outdoors, hanging from stuff, walking outdoors, deep breathing outdoors. Standing on uneven ground for example forces your body to stabilize and practice balance (think about how sore you are after a hike-- you can't re-create that soreness in the gym because there's nothing like your muscles having to adapt to the changing nature of the rocks and uneven terrain). Nature tells our body to move in ways that are true to our inherent body. If most of our ailments are caused by lack of nature, then spending time in nature can undo a lot of that harm. Exercising in nature, building up my resilience to different weather conditions... whether it is hot or cold, sunny or rainy, that gives my body different stimuli that keeps it dynamic and alert, and leverages my body’s remembering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/a9c7a14f-ecda-4395-98a4-c63b3900907b/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+93.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - What would it look like to reallocate police funding into revitalizing city parks or parks in BIPOC communities? Spending time in green spaces, nature, etc. has an unquantifiable list of healing benefits, including positive impacts on mental health, physical health, trauma healing, and more. To keep this response short and avoid a number of rabbit holes we could get into, I'll say it like this: 1) Mass Incarceration and the Impact of the War on Drugs has had on BIPOC communities is undeniably the number one social issue plaguing the United States today, given its impact across all facets of life and the disparate impact experienced by all BIPOC people (see racial and ethnic disparities in arrest, conviction, incarceration, etc.); 2) We know that at the root of mass incarceration is state sanctioned violence against BIPOC communities (War on Drugs, Over policing, etc.) + willful negligence on behalf of government (not only investing in the resources communities need, but actively blocking communities from being able to invest in themselves). BIPOC people have been hurt and are hurting (trauma)--> Nature and Green spaces = good for the environment, good for healing, good for BIPOC people. But the way our society works, it's damn near impossible for BIPOC people to get easy access to their healing. Where are we investing our dollars? What outcomes are we putting our money towards? Right now, jurisdictions all over the country are considering investing millions of dollars into capital construction projects to build new jails and/or prisons (especially for womxyn b/c they are the fastest growing correctional population right now-- specifically BIPOC womxyn)-- imagine if those millions of dollars went towards alternatives to incarceration that focused on centering healing, time in nature, something beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1677615291773-44CAEA08FPLJ4Q9S1M5D/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+07.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - What practices connect and ground you? What are some communal practices we can normalize to re-indigenize & reconnect with nature? I take every opportunity I can to ground myself in nature. So this looks like, going and meditating in the grass at Von King park (barefoot, as much skin contact as I'm up for that day with grass), taking weekends to explore other parks I can access. When meditating in or with the earth (I say in-- because my favorite place to be is IN the Ocean :))-- I get out of my mind, and into my body and spirit. It's about aligning my frequency with the frequency of the earth I'm with. Sometimes I feel for the history of a space-- like in the park, feeling for the love, creativity, thought, and resistance residing there from communities and individuals past (artists, athletes, musicians, thinkers). I would love to see us find ways to collectively re-wild nature in our individual spheres. Especially those of us in cities, it would be cool to see a mass effort to re-nature our spaces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679759440985-23OYTDBLYKBICZJJOWUF/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+96.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - What has nature taught you about yourself? Nature taught me how to love myself, deeply. When I look at nature deeply-- I see love, beauty and purpose without judgment. For example, the mountains are beautiful and majestic and amazing for hiking and exploring-- even though the mountain is not the ocean. And the ocean is deep, and wondrous, and essential-- something I could not live without, and it is not like the mountains. I could go on and on with how in nature, it's easy to see the inherent abundance of life. To put it another way, because I love animals-- I think about how a lion is an amazing creature because it is being a lion and not trying to be a tiger, and we love and appreciate them for that. A lion is meant to be a lion, a tiger a tiger, a goldfish. The ocean is meant to be the ocean, with all it's ebbs and flows and storms and moodiness. And we are meant to be whoever and whatever our true nature is. We're part of the whole ecosystem-- though capitalism has worked very hard to make us forget (because living this truth isn't aligned with corporate interests)-- nature is always there to remind us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/0cd56854-eaf8-4a72-b33d-c0b7925ce18d/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+94.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - As we transition to fall, how can we emulate the seasonal pace of nature to guide our own internal and external movements? When in doubt-- don't resist, accept and find a way to be grateful. For example, I'm a summer baby-- it takes a lot of mindfulness for me to maintain and continue nurturing my joy/spirit when the seasons begin to change and I start to see a stretch of colder weather ahead of me (remember, I only started having a winter ~6 years ago-- Texas didn't/doesn't really have seasons). That being said, what has helped the most has been finding ways to enjoy the change. In the fall, it's not as hot out and the cooler air allows for deeper breathing. It also does wonders for our Central Nervous System, promoting healing, slowing down, and recovery (also major benefits for those of us navigating anxiety, depression, chronic pain/inflammation, etc.). So walks outside take on a different feel and effect, when I train outside-- it'll be for shorter periods of time and I'll adapt my training methods to my environment, finding ways to leverage the cold and how it impacts my physiology. Additionally, I end up doing more indoors (because nature is pushing me to be indoors more as it gets colder and colder)-- which facilitates new growth, different projects, different hobbies getting nourishment, I appreciate the outdoors from inside (different engagement). The key (for me) is learning how to leverage the blessings Nature is providing. It's always got some goodness for us, we have to be open and willing to receive though. If we are not mindful to create space for us to be in love and in relationship with nature, it's easy to lose sight of our interbeing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/33dc1163-83c8-4ab1-a84c-9e74e074d5f7/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+95.jpg Explore - Seeking Outdoor Space with Mickey Belaineh - What are your favorite places to escape to nature in NYC? Von King Park (bed-stuy), Prospect Park are the main ones and the most consistent-- Forest Park (a new find in Queens), Riis Beach, The Botanical Gardens, Fort Greene Park are honorable mentions (but less frequented because of transportation). https://www.italeisure.com/blog/grace-ban monthly 0.5 2023-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679787703244-V1R7Y9NP7N9U3XYBE52H/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+111.jpg Explore - Globe Trotting with Grace Ban https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679787705436-KJ7G1D2Y07B737U8722Q/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+117.jpg Explore - Globe Trotting with Grace Ban - You’re what some would call fashion literate. Could you give us a bit more background on what you do and how you’ve really carved a space for yourself doing what you love? I’m a digital consultant and content creator for independent brands. I worked in-house and managed social media for Bergdorf Goodman for a few years and moved on to manage social for Vogue after that. I became a consultant after I moved back to Taiwan since it allowed for a more flexible schedule so the time difference wouldn’t get in the way of working with brands based in LA and NY. I had originally intended on becoming a buyer for Bergdorfs but since I was very proactive about growing my personal Instagram for fun, it unintentionally paved my career path in the digital space. Though I love helping brands with digital storytelling, I’ve been gradually shifting my focus back to growing my own personal brand—I’m currently on a mission to showcase what Taiwan has to offer (and put it on the radar as a travel destination) since it’s seriously underrated! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679787705256-922EQCLG5L90Y7FX1HPA/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+116.jpg Explore - Globe Trotting with Grace Ban - How did your childhood shape your relationship with the outdoors? There was never much emphasis in my childhood household to embrace nature or pursue outdoor activities. I honestly never had the time! Between a full schedule of classes every school year and an equally overwhelming student orchestra, band, and chorus rehearsal calendar, I spent most of my time indoors. Ironically, my parents loved being outside. They would go on small hikes and take long walks along the tree-lined trails around our neighborhood at least twice a day, something I’d love to do nowadays but don’t have the luxury to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679787703243-I001JHT41Q50JCT1AWDW/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+112.jpg Explore - Globe Trotting with Grace Ban https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679787704767-P79S5ZF7O050M3IK3ET1/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+115.jpg Explore - Globe Trotting with Grace Ban - So, you spent time in California, NYC, and now Taiwan. What are some of the major cultural differences that you would say are most apparent between these spaces? I would say the biggest difference between California and New York is the amount of freedom you’re granted to explore your own identity. Personally, I always felt the need to conform when I lived in CA and it was exhausting to continuously, and unsuccessfully, try to fit into some socially acceptable mold that I just couldn’t fit into. I didn’t have any friends growing up who could share and/or accept all of my interests so I ended up having many acquaintances and friends from various circles who shared specific interests with me but no close friends who I felt like could accept me in entirety, if that makes sense. I really found myself in NY and I owe that in part to the friends and support system I found there—I had finally found my chosen family who loved me for me and I had never felt more at ease. They encouraged me to embrace who I really am and I really thrived and came into my own. The self awareness, confidence, and perspective I developed in NY can be taken with me anywhere. Taiwan, I would say, is more like CA than NY in respect to conformity but the other side of that coin in Taiwan is that people care a lot about community and family and that has helped us immensely during the pandemic. The type of individualism that’s so deeply ingrained in the US doesn’t seem to exist here and people look out for each other and generally everyone is willing to make small sacrifices to help the community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679787704093-AHU724R3AD0LFVEBJ25N/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+114.jpg Explore - Globe Trotting with Grace Ban - Do you consider yourself an ‘outdoorsy’ person? If you could choose to spend leisure time at a beach location or a city, which would you choose and why? When I lived in CA, I would only want to go to a metropolitan city to spend vacation because I craved the mental stimulation. I really took the beaches we had for granted—my university dorm was a 5 minute walk from the beach and just knowing I had such easy access to it made it less appealing for some reason. I never really considered myself an outdoorsy person per se, but ever since I moved to NY, I’d always have the urge to head somewhere closer to nature to help me ease my mind and feel more grounded. Nowadays, my ideal vacation would probably be a mix of both—a few days of relaxing by the beach or a lake and once I feel more recharged, I’d want to be exploring a new city and learning about a new culture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679787704288-EZMDOH785WQUWQ3W05XH/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+113.jpg Explore - Globe Trotting with Grace Ban - What is your idea of #TimeWellSpent? Any time spent on something that helps you grow and/or heal. https://www.italeisure.com/blog/thembi-hanify monthly 0.5 2023-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679791420137-7AUPHQJ8PVZ4D419J6SO/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+118.jpg Explore - Hitting the Open Sea with Thembi Hanify https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679791427294-630GEZZDCR9EJD245P4L/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+125.jpg Explore - Hitting the Open Sea with Thembi Hanify - Hi Thembi, you’ve got quite an interesting backstory. Could you give us a cliff’s notes into your background? I’m a half South African, half New Zealander, Australian graphic designer and art director. I grew up in Brisbane, Australia and moved to the States almost eleven years ago. I lived in NYC for my first eight years, and then made the move over to California in 2019 in search of warmer weather and right hand point breaks. In 2020, alongside Mariah Ernst, I began working on Emocean - an every person surf magazine championing diverse perspectives, radical creativity, relatability and empowerment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679791422412-CB06BXF31F5AIS03PKBB/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+123.jpg Explore - Hitting the Open Sea with Thembi Hanify - We love your name - could you give us a bit more color on the origin? Thembi is a Zulu name and it means ‘promise to’ or ‘trust’. My dad is South African, hence the choice. I love my name but I do have a fake ordering name for when I can’t be bothered explaining the spelling or pronunciation (silent ‘h’!)… Ann, which is my mum’s middle name. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679791424965-KNO75YYGIA6H3N0TQOB3/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+124.jpg Explore - Hitting the Open Sea with Thembi Hanify - Did your childhood see a lot of outdoor activity? Was it encouraged by your parents or something that really came about in growing up ‘down under’? Oh definitely. Growing up in Australia was 90% nature time as a kid, or at least just outside time. I remember having so many big magical backyards to play in, and regular trips to the beach and the bush. I think it was encouraged by my parents but also just inherently part of the Aussie way of life. And we didn’t have screens back then (tablets, smart phones), aside from Saturday morning cartoons on the TV, so we were constantly outside, moving around, interacting with nature and using our imaginations to play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679791428836-BQP5BDJBQTV6UALGL1X4/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+122.jpg Explore - Hitting the Open Sea with Thembi Hanify - So you were previously in NYC, and like many, have made the sojourn over to sunny California. Would you say this move really stemmed from a need to be closer to the outdoors? 1000000%! In my last four years of NYC I was living in Rockaway Beach, so that was a step towards being closer to nature. But there was still a lot of noise (constant planes screaming overhead from JFK), trash and hustle and bustle there. It honestly took me about six months after being fully settled in California to ‘come down’ from that anxious, frenetic New York City energy and enjoy my new, slower, nature filled life. Where I’m living now in Ojai also really reminds me in parts of Australia. It’s a very comforting feeling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679791421603-MCH7MU60DHDQBAWUK7D0/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+121.jpg Explore - Hitting the Open Sea with Thembi Hanify - We’re loving the work you're doing with EMOCEAN primarily in it’s focus of bringing a more inclusive narrative to all things surf. What was the driving force to bring it to life? The driving force behind Emocean definitely came from a dissatisfaction and honestly a low key rage at the incredibly non-diverse way surf media has developed basically up until this point. It came from over time diving deeper into surfing and its history and being simultaneously awed by learning how the ’sport’ had developed technically, and frustrated and disgusted by the veins of misogyny, homophobia and systemic racism that ran throughout it. I had experienced this personally too growing up in Australia. I never properly learned how to surf there because of the intimidating overly macho, male-dominated vibe when I was younger. I only learned properly when I was in Rockaway, circa 2015, with a very supportive crew of mostly women. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679791421185-CWJ4J9WVG0IZ54SH7212/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+119.jpg Explore - Hitting the Open Sea with Thembi Hanify - Being away from home must be incredibly tough. Where are you keen to visit once we’re finally able? Oh my gosh, incredibly tough! I used to go home pretty regularly but since COVID hit, it’s near impossible for me to get back. Once I’m able to, I’ll be making a beeline to Australia to see family in Brisbane, Sydney, and Margaret River, then I also really want to do a camper van surf trip around New Zealand, and go and visit my mum and stepdad in Samoa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679791420911-YIW4JGAVIVVLT2BNGH7M/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+120.jpg Explore - Hitting the Open Sea with Thembi Hanify - What is your idea of #timewellspent? I’ve been thinking about this a LOT lately. My personal ‘downfall’ tends to be becoming fixated on things needing to be done a certain way, on a certain time frame, and everything being very goal oriented etc. Ironically I’ve realized that this really only hinders me most of the time. Being rigid and perfectionist only makes me feel stressed and anxious, and definitely makes me procrastinate and panic last minute. It sounds cliche but my focus has really been on balance, flexibility, surrender, and right intention. To honestly really embody and live these values requires a lot of work… well at least for me! So time well spent for me is relaxed, balanced, joyful and dynamic. Whether that be in ‘work’ or ‘play’. And of course, time well spent for me is with the people I love, in the places I feel most at home. https://www.italeisure.com/blog/akua monthly 0.5 2023-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679795384080-KJEH8S1DXWCJLHBTQQ3W/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+126.jpg Explore - Staying Grounded with Akua https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679795385854-K9JPUNOMY2LA1HJW5QAZ/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+130.jpg Explore - Staying Grounded with Akua - Akua, as a woman of colour, are there any noticeable differences in your outdoor experience here in the US vs Canada or Ghana? I would say that as a woman my experience outdoors has always felt tempered by the fact that outdoor space doesn’t always feel like it’s a place where I can be safe. Sometimes I want to explore places at night but then look around and there’s just men everywhere ..men on the corner, men in the streets, everywhere! I think part of the beauty of the outdoors is the ability to feel free and empowered by what these natural environments might bring out in us….and at times my status as a woman, and more pertinently , as a woman of color, has inhibited my ability to feel that, no matter where I live or travel. Being a person of color makes navigating every space a consideration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679795385096-12OCPHW3X49OU6CETRI5/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+129.jpg Explore - Staying Grounded with Akua - Akua, in creating music - what impact has the outdoors / leisure time had on your creative process? It’s taken some time to realize and accept how much the city seems to only serve as a distraction for me and what I aim to create. I absolutely love being part of a creative community and am inspired by my friends yet at the same time, I have found it harder to connect with the part of myself that makes my best work. Before the pandemic, I would usually take a little self-imposed retreat-meets-residency at some point each year...the last trips being in Running Springs, CA and Ojai, CA at the beginning of 2020. I would load up all my music gear and get an Airbnb in the woods for a few days and just stay alone to write and create...it would always feel so starkly different than being in the city. I would take more breaks during the day to hike and explore my surroundings, yet somehow accomplish so much more. I found that replacing the stimulus of the city with the stimulus of nature activated my creative mind in a different and more generative way. There was time and space not only to create but to also step away from what I made, reflect on it and then revisit it and make it better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63fa4355fb59e03c2bcfff6a/1679795385183-ME8X7NKEYE9UCPRD3WNA/ITA+Leisure+-+Image+128.jpg Explore - Staying Grounded with Akua - You've recently moved from Los Angeles to Rhode Island in a very stressful time. What role did leisure time play in this transition - if any? Did you discover any new benefits from being outside? When the pandemic hit and Los Angeles went into lockdown, we found ourselves newly-pregnant and basically confined to our cute-but-tiny apartment in Koreatown. With most spaces closed, outdoor activity was our only outlet. Fortunately both of us had gotten really into running so finding parks and trails in and around LA felt really accessible and was keeping us sane. That said, within weeks of everything closing, outdoor spaces became absolutely saturated to the point of frustration and apprehension. There were so many unknowns and a lot of collective fear and anxiety at that time, and being pregnant only exacerbated those feelings for us in the city. We decided to temporarily relocate to Rhode Island to be with family and suddenly found ourselves dropped into nature. The transition from walking around the hot, littered streets of Koreatown in a mask to breathing fresh ocean air was stark and undeniably a better option for us. Getting out of the city required us to adjust our mindset and the pace to which we had grown accustomed. After a few months out of the city I noticed a drastic change in my partner...it was like a pressure valve had been released. The literal and figurative space allowed for so much reflection and recalibration for us as a couple transitioning into becoming a family. 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Field Trip to Venus Flytrap