In October of 2024, I jumped at an opportunity to take my first trip over the big blue ocean to visit the UK and Sicily (enjoy some photos below). While I enjoy a well-planned itinerary and agenda, I REALLY love letting go of the reigns and going with the flow when I travel. From the very beginning, the trip provided me the opportunity to do this. As the weeks grew nearer and nearer to departure, I began to talk about the journey a little more and in conversation with my mom found out the three countries I was planning to visit happened to be part of my own ancestral history: England, Scotland and Italy. So, naturally, I dug deeper and found out that our Woodrow family name has a crest and it’s even got a meaning behind it that is reflective in the name of my business.
Originating in Yorkshire, which is a part of Northern England, the ancestors of the bearers of the Woodrow family name are thought to have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. The name indicates that the original bearer lived in an area in which the woodrofe was common. The woodrofe plant was plant that produced a white flower with sweet fragrance. It is thought that the name could have been derived from Woodreve which means “the woodman, the forester of the Midland Counties.”
When I think about how the idea for this business name came to me, it makes me smile. I had been ‘foresting’ with my friend Rachael and talking about how I really just want to gather people outside and have authentic conversations about living life, trying to find balance in a world of seeming chaos and techno-weird. LOL! We are basically just walking houseplants with emotions and it’s vital that we stay connected to our energy source, which is this planet. Having been in the business of helping people rest in their bodies [on a massage table or in a sound bath] and a desire to help them connect with nature, preferably in a forest, ForResting the Soul was a perfect blend of them both!
And, just like when you’re meandering through a forest, it’s often hard to see what’s around the next bend until you get there, which makes you stay present in the moment, enjoying the scenery and making decisions when necessary. This happens to be exactly how I’ve now chosen to be in life and in business now. These last couple of years have taught me a lot about being still, having awareness and pausing before responding to the outside world.
It is my intention to let it be easy in 2025, allowing life to unfold, ebb and flow. I look forward to connecting with other like-minded humans who are looking to shift the dial on the radio frequency, tuning into another way of being. If you would like to slow down and meander with me, let me know. I have a Linktree page providing all the important and sometimes time-sensitive links. Other than the Linktree page, following my social media pages on Instagram and Facebook will be the best way to find out where I’m meandering and when.
This year, I celebrated Winter Solstice perfectly – inside Mother Earth and around a warm fire. That link will take you to the video. I hope you have an amazing start to winter and give yourself permission to rest and reflect.
