Announcing: The Thrivalist Newsletter

Yes, I Made Up a Word

When I first created this Substack, I wasn’t sure if it would be a one-hit wonder. I was just grief-stricken about the recent mass shooting in Maine and I desperately needed an outlet for my thoughts and feelings. Writing that first post turned out to be a gratifying process, and I am excited to announce that I am continuing with this publication. She now how has a name…

The Thrivalist Newsletter

So, what is this all about?

I once thought of myself as a survivalist. Now I know surviving is not enough. I want to thrive, and I want my readers to thrive alongside me. 

In 2018, I embarked upon Discovery’s Channel’s 21-day survival challenge ‘Naked and Afraid.’ I like to call it ‘Naked Not Afraid’ or simply ‘Naked and Hungry.’ If I could redesign the show, I would send not two people, but a whole community out into the forest with as many tools as they needed to create their Utopia. ‘Survival’ and ‘wilderness’ are social constructs that only exist through the lens of the western mind. My ancestors didn’t send folks into the woods butt naked. They formed communities, shared technologies, made art, danced, sang…in short they thrived in their environment. What does that look like in the modern world?

I completed the challenge feeling triumphant, but left physically and emotionally depleted. My menstrual cycle ground to a halt and I entered a period of depression. I didn’t want to muscle my way through life anymore. I had proved to myself that I could survive just about anything, but why? Why survive when I could thrive? I realized that in many areas of my life I had settled for surviving, not thriving. Thrivalist became my new identity. My new mantra: don’t deal, heal. 

I am plugged into the matrix these days. I work in Oregon as a forensic nurse, supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. This newsletter will be a refuge where I can let loose and explore a range of topics, from nature connection to trauma-informed healing modalities, ancestral diets, reducing plastic use, and more. It is also a place for me to thrive, to share, to be my full self. 

I am honored that you are tuning in. I’ll be looking for feedback along the way about what piques your interest and which articles hit home.

My Gratitude,

Jess