Reflections from Laurie on January 2026

As I sit here reflecting on the month of January, I find myself in awe of how much can unfold in such a short span of time. From a local community gathering, welcoming in 2026, to opening our land to friends, each moment felt deeply nourishing—exactly what my heart and soul needed.

Community kept revealing itself as the quiet throughline of the month. In many ways, it felt like a return to our original vision for this transition. While growing our own food and working cooperatively with the land remain at the core of what we love and honor from our time in Thorndale, the deeper dream has always been about more than sustainability. It’s about creating a space where like-minded people can come together—to live, gather, share, evolve, and grow side by side.

When our friend arrived, something within me clicked back into place. What had once felt like an abstract idea suddenly became very real: how easily a life being built by two people can shift into something shaped by community, and how much richer that shared creation can be. She arrived with an open heart, a willingness to help, garden clothes, and bug spray (though not for the bugs she would soon meet). Before long, she was weeding the pineapple patch, helping prepare meals, and moving naturally into the rhythm of daily life.

The impact on my mental and physical health was immediate and undeniable. My ever-growing to-do list shrank, not because there was less to do, but because more was getting done—together. With another set of hands and another presence, we found more ease in taking time to hike, visit the beach, and linger in conversations that opened our hearts and deepened connection.

As we talked about what it means to live in community—with intention, clear communication, and a strong foundation—more realizations surfaced. How community can help individuals uncover something they may have been searching for. How it can support people in finding their passions, learning to trust their intuition, and listening to what the universe, the plants, the trees, and the animals are quietly sharing. How safety and belonging allow us to notice the synchronicities that have always been there. How working together invites us to practice unconditional love, patience, and a sense of oneness that feels increasingly rare in the modern world.

And yet, I also sit with the challenges that community brings. The importance of honoring personal space. Remembering that the time we give is precious, as is the time we receive. The need for safety and security in a world still rooted in financial systems. The reality that meeting people where they are—physically, emotionally, spiritually—can surface things within us that ask for our own healing and growth.

These challenges are not small. But for me, they feel worth the effort. They feel like invitations—opportunities to step outside what we’ve been taught is “normal” and into a way of living that is soul-warming, heart-filling, and in harmony with the life all around us.

I believe there is another way forward. One rooted in shared vision, aligned values, and building from the heart rather than from greed. A way that allows people to discover what truly lights them up, and to be seen, supported, and celebrated as they shine within a community.

As we continue moving toward this dream, we are opening our doors to those who feel called to explore a new way of being. In the months ahead, we’ll be creating opportunities for others to join us on this journey. If any of this stirred something within you—if it resonated with your heart or your longing—stay connected. Follow along, reach out, or join our mailing list to see what unfolds next.

Sometimes, all it takes is remembering that we were never meant to do this alone.