Hi! I’m Pamela Hirsch. Most people call me Pam. If you’re like me, you are impossible to define and slightly miffed that you should even try. But since this is an About page, here’s the essence (titles and experience are at the bottom):

Pam Hirsch

  • I am totally in love with food – all kinds, but mostly real food.
  • People who know me say I’ve been an earth mama since my 20′s. Funny, I thought I was kind of a yuppie!
  • I am passionate about religion and spirituality and prefer to focus on the similarities and universal truths rather than the differences that humankind has concocted.
  • I love all things Jane Austen and have watched every production of every one of her books I could get my hands on – multiple times.
  • I like to swear. Not too much, but enough to make my point.

What This Site is About and Who It is For

Mainly I write about the things I think make for a healthy, self-responsible person, such as real food, sustainability, health and wellness, simplicity, and spiritual practice. I’m certainly not an expert in all of those areas but I have lots of experience in them.

I think of myself as a Johnny Appleseed character. I want to help you find your own answers, not by telling you how something should be done, but by planting seeds with you so that you grow and nourish your own answers. And because plants grow best in community, I hope that you will comment on the things I write.

My Philosophy of Life

I believe in the Connectedness of Life. That’s a surprise, given the name of this website! I’m kind of like that guy in A Beautiful Mind – without the voices and delusions – I see patterns and connections in everything. And I believe the glue that holds it all together is… <please insert whatever Name you have for the Holy here>. For me it is Spirit. I am simply unable to separate Spirit from the Everyday.

Don’t get me wrong. I am the least pious person I know. I’m a huge believer in irreverence especially since it guards against fundamentalism and fanaticism. It’s also a lot of fun!

I also believe that we – and the world around us – are better off when we take responsibility for ourselves. I love the New Hampshire state motto – “Live Free or Die” – and I believe that with that freedom, comes responsibility. Like, we don’t get to say – “I have no money because I spent it all on whatever shit de jour there is out there, and now I want someone to take care of me.”  Hmmm. I don’t think so. Where’s the fun/honor in that? As Steven Pressfield says so cogently in his book “The War of Art” -

“…the truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery. While those who will not govern themselves are condemned to find masters to govern over them.”

Brilliant!

I want for us all to look at the beauty, the sheer abundance of our lives, and to learn to live responsibly and healthfully, knowing that with each decision and each step we are either creating wellness or pushing it away.

Mini Curriculum Vitae

  • Wellness Coach – I am certified as Co-Active Life Coach with The Coaches Training Institute and am currently a student at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
  • Studied medicinal herbalism for over 15 years which led to the publishing of two books – The Traveler’s Natural Medicine Kit and Planting the Future.
  • 30 – count ‘em – years of experience in software development, primarily as a project manager, but I did my time in development, customer support and management as well. I learned that techies are unsung creatives just waiting to be discovered.
  • Traveled all over the world. Venezuela, Libya, Europe, Malaysia, Iran – most of this due to my father’s job, but some through my own work as well.
  • Ordained Interfaith Minister – my credentials come from The Chaplaincy Institute (ChI) in Berkeley, CA. I also have a certificate in Spiritual Direction from ChI.
  • Reiki Master
  • Artist – potter, painter and writer

Connect With Me

If you are interested in boosting your health, living a full and well life and are looking for ways to be more connected to the Spirit within and the Spirit without, I invite you to check out the writing, recipes, and recommendations on this site. Feel free to subscribe to my monthly wellness emails (and get a free eBook to boot) by entering your name and email in the sign up form up in the right corner of this page. And if you feel so inclined, I also offer wellness coaching, as well as free wellness classes.

With Spirit,