Cultivating Creativity, Connections and Community

How are you adapting and coping with change? The world is changing and we all need to change to survive and thrive, but change happens in stages not one step.

A new book by Dr Deborah Early explores the process of designing for wellbeing through looking at nature identity, changes to this relationship and changes to culture. The book launched virtually on International Women’s Day with multidisciplinary attendees from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the USA. From across the motu there were attendees from Rural Woman NZ, Marlborough Business Trust, Marlborough Multicultural Centre, Climate Karanga Marlborough, and Otago and Lincoln Universities.

Simultaneously across the strait from 23 February to 17 March, the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts was held, which was fitting since the book engages contemplative reflection and biophilic art to bridge Eastern, Western and Indigenous philosophies.

The last week has been one of connecting cultures, cities and communities together with citizen diplomacy. Dr Early attending the Global Cities Conference together with international diplomats from Korean, USA, China, Japan Australia and the UK.

Dr Early’s new book Forest Bathing with My Clothes On: One Woman's Biophilic Journey of Belonging, Wellbeing and Transformation with a Path towards Adapting to Change will be essential for cross-cultural professional teams designing for wellbeing and adapting to change, especially those working at the intersection of healthcare, recreation and the built environment. For more details see: www.forestbathing.earth