On the Winding Path

On the Winding Path

Greeting card collector, twinkle-light enthusiast, budding gardener, and the writer behind On the Winding Path. I daydream and write from a little log cabin in Vermont, where I live with my husband, our two kitties, and our six chickens (who have their own home outside!)

I’ve always had a passion for writing — in many ways, I’ve found writing to be the easiest way to express myself. Putting pen to paper has been incredibly healing (and now paper to digital!)

I hope you’ll find a sense of comfort and belonging here On the Winding Path. It’s been quite a journey to get to this point — a journey of heartbreak, worn-out patterns, resilience, hope, gratitude, and transcending peace.

I’m grateful to be here, writing, reflecting, growing, and dreaming.

Rhythms of the Seasons

Living in Vermont means having the incredible opportunity to bear witness to the natural ebbs and flows of the seasons.

Falling asleep to the summer songs of crickets and later the soft hush of winter snowfall. Planting bulbs in autumn and then one spring day finding green shoots peeking through the dirt. There’s a natural flow — breath in, breath out.

I’ve felt the natural rhythms of the seasons — the spectrum of noise and bustle, movement and life, steadiness and calm, patience and rest. And somewhere along the way I managed to add hurry and rush to the mix — every season, all year around.

In fact, it wasn’t that long ago when I found myself completely. utterly. burnt. out. For years I had been competing against myself — against my own mind and body. As an HSP empath and chronic people-pleaser, I struggled with boundaries, stretching my time and mental capacity to meet the needs of others (or at least what I perceived to be their needs).

It was the perfect recipe for burnout: packed schedules, long to-do lists, high expectations for myself, with an added cup of guilt if I said “no” to something or let someone down.

Forced to Slow Down

After a heartbreaking year of significant loss, it all came to a head in May 2024 when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Surrounded by an exceptional medical team, supported by the steadfast love of an incredible community of people, and rooted in faith, I stepped forward with hope, strength, trust, and the peace that transcends all understanding.

I immediately made intentional changes to the way I lived my life — my morning routine, the food I ate to fuel my body, how I talked with God, where I targeted my energy, and reframing my mindset and unhealthy thought patterns.

Forced to slow down and focus on physical healing, I unexpectedly stepped onto a beautiful path of spiritual and emotional healing.

I realize I’ve only scratched the surface of healing the worn-out patterns in my life. This blog is a piece of my healing journey and I’m humbled to share it with you.

On the Winding Path Through the Seasons

It’s here on the winding path, I step forward — I wander, but not without purpose. I’m here to simply be. I’m here to learn. I’m here to grow. I’m here to listen.

I’ve found myself breathing and moving with the rhythms of the natural world around me as it was created to be — I hope you’ll join me.

Thank you for being here!

Bethany