Kathleen Yap moved to a new country as a young child and always felt like an outsider for being judged as "different" in the way she looked, dressed, and spoke. The only sense of belonging she experienced was when she was outdoors in nature. Nature became her solace, where she could relax, be carefree, and be in harmony with herself. The sense of connection and possibilities that she learned through nature led her to want to share with others who feel different, to help them to know that our uniqueness is not a flaw but rather a cause for celebration.

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  • Susan

    My worth is not defined by others or by the voices in my head. Our unique differences are to be celebrated. Thank you to Nature.

  • Diane

    Her beauty and gentleness and connection with earth. But mostly her pure spirit and authentic honesty and vulnerability. xx.

  • Joseph

    Kathleen, thank you for shinning your light, courage and love in the beautiful way you do.🙏

  • Leaf

    Kathleen, I echo Wendy’s comments. I relate to feeling like an outsider welcomed by nature (the more than human world). I appreciate your candor and self awareness. I also appreciate the pensive gentle energy you and the video radiate. I sat next to a tree friend to watch the film so I could experience what you were experiencing as I watched. Thank you for sharing your story and your work. The tree and I send love and appreciation.

  • Wendy

    Kathleen: What a resilient and delightful person you are! You're exactly the kind of friend I would cherish. Your story is very similar to another one I recently learned about.Sam Lee, a British folk artist also felt like an outcast and he, too, found solace in nature, and with nightengales in particular. He wrote "The more I understood the (nightengale's) songs, the more I understood that my human relationship with nature was, that they were my vocabulary and they were my entry point into the natural world in a way that made sense to me." There’s a wonderful film about Sam's journey called "The Nightingale’s Song" which brought me to tears. I hope you can find and watch it, as I think you will find a kindred spirit. I also hope you can let go of trying to please your parents. It will be so liberating when you can get beyond that. No matter how hard one tries, you may never get the approval you're yearning for. Save your energy for people who appreciate you for exactly who you are. Thank you for sharing your story.

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  • Learn more about the benefits of experiencing the miracles of nature
  • Read the quote by Rachel Carson mentioned in the film, and this reflection on it. 
  • Make the effort this week to spend time in nature, being fully present to your surroundings. 

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