Fog, Wind, and a Cat: Patagonia’s Gifts to My High-Performance Heart

As the fog lifted, the beautiful snow capped Andes were revealed

There are moments when the Universe whispers so clearly, it’s impossible not to listen. My recent trip to Chile wasn’t just a getaway—it was a calling home to myself. Patagonia held up a mirror, and through fog, fierce winds, and one remarkably intuitive cat, I was gifted lessons I didn’t know I needed. As the founder of Greener Thumbs, I’m always encouraging our members to take five, to center, to listen inward. And here I was—out in the vastness of nature—learning again how essential that pause really is.

The journey began in fog. One morning on a ferry to Chaitén, the mist was so thick I could barely see past the railing. It felt isolating, uncertain—like floating in the unknown. And then, as if on cue, the sun broke through. Towering, snow-capped Andes revealed themselves, cradling us in silent awe. I stood there, breath caught, overwhelmed by how suddenly clarity can return after a season of disorientation. It was a perfect metaphor for the darkest times in my life—those foggy, heavy chapters where I could see no light ahead. But I waited. I trusted. And slowly, the sun of healing began to rise. Patagonia reminded me: clarity comes, even if it takes longer than a morning.

Later, overlooking the largest lake in Chile, I met the wind. Not a breeze—but a roar that swept me off my feet. I was Dorothy in Oz, caught in a cyclone with no yellow brick road in sight. Disoriented and spinning, I couldn’t even find my way to safety. But my guide and companion did. They ran to me, grounding me back onto the Earth with their presence. What could have been a terrifying moment was instead one of profound calm. I allowed the moment to simply be. I was held—not just by my companions, but by a deeper knowing that I was safe, and exactly where I was meant to be. That storm wasn’t chaos—it was practice. It reminded me that stillness isn’t found in the absence of noise, but in the strength of our own center.

Of course, even sacred landscapes can’t protect us from being hangry. Midway through the adventure, I got snappy with my travel companion—a painful but needed wake-up call. I’d let my body run too low on fuel and rest. Adventure, while magical, can fool us into thinking we’re immune to our own needs. I forgot that my rituals—my five minutes of breath, movement, and affirmation—aren’t extras. They’re survival. They’re what allow me to lead, create, and love well. I’m grateful for grace, both my companion’s and my own, and for the reminder that self-care is non-negotiable—even (especially) when we’re far from home.

Then came the cat and the Hoya. On the very first day in Puerto Montt, the Universe sent me a wink—a beautiful blooming plant and a lap-seeking cat, just waiting for me to arrive. Creation, connection, and comfort… all in one moment. It was more than coincidence. It was confirmation. I live by the belief that what we place our attention on grows. And here it was, manifested. My core value—creation—meeting me at the door.

Patagonia didn’t just awe me. It recalibrated me. It reminded me that life is nature: fog and clarity, wind and stillness, exhaustion and rebirth. These extremes don’t contradict—they complete. And it’s in the daily devotion to listening, caring, and centering that we find our way through it all.

At Greener Thumbs, our community of high-performing women doesn’t just take five minutes a day because it’s trendy. We do it because it’s life-saving. It’s grounding. It’s the one practice that keeps us connected to our power, our peace, and our potential.

Let’s keep listening. Let's keep thriving. Let’s keep creating. All for a more lovely world.

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