This photo was taken on a hot August day in Paramaribo, Suriname at the International Day of Indigenous People festivities. The guy on the left smoking a cigarette has an entire bird on his head. It was pretty shocking. But then even deciding to live in Suriname came as a surprise.

Amer-indians on a break from the festivities

Freeing myself up from a hustle-and-bustle life was part of a transformation that included a commitment to wellness -- mine and support of others along their own paths.

Lots of hands on training and many years of study in various wellness modalities was only part of what turned me into something of an expert on healing and wellness.

The challenges of a complex childhood and other traumas were also my teachers. I learned first-hand how to clear out old cobwebs, the dark nights of fear and anxiety, and to tend pathways filled with sunlight. Through them I also learned the indelible healing power of compassion, hope, and reaching out to help others.

One of my greatest supports has been my connection with nature. Many years ago I developed an enduring relationship with plants that has evolved into an online business creating elixers of wellness.

We call them lemon birds, but technically this is one of the Great Kiskadees, and they brighten the landscape of Suriname.

I had been working for a few years with rainforest herbs, and a friend in Suriname invited us to visit her and her country. It was a great opportunity to learn more about rainforest herbs. I decided to keep the herb business going while we took some time off for intensive field study.

My husband creates web sites and his work is based wherever he is. We love to travel and this was a new adventure we didn't want to pass up. Our time is Suriname has been a grand adventure filled with new learning and new friends.

As I write this I hear a lemon bird and am comforted. I know that as we move on to our new home, the birds and plants will stay on and continue to brighten this spot.