What happens when your clients are your muse? Well, you work with more heart, I know that. You wonder more often how to really see them, their talents, their hearts and their good taste. We get more curious about what our people have to teach us. For me, the love started early with these folks and their house, just over a decade ago. It’s easy to love the house they chose, that’s the thing about great clients, they have great taste. Andrea and Dave purchased a place eleven years ago that synced well with their own needs, interests and values. Andrea and Dave and their insight are a gift to us at cityhome and I hope that their insight can be a gift to you fine folks that read our words and view our images. I sat down with them to chat about their thoughts on what it means to be a good global neighbor, a good friend, and a good person. During times of struggle and strife, we can use all the insight we can get. Especially when it comes to people who live globally, but who love locally. Here are a few gems from these friends who I just cannot get enough of.
Cody – Let’s chat about the causes that y’all care about and what it means to be a good neighbor.
Andrea – What we do professionally is possible because Salt Lake City is such a good hub. We have traveled to twenty three different countries, but traveling less now we still find such meaningful engagement. The idea of being a good global citizen means being involved. We don’t necessarily need a house in a place to be a part of its community. Maintaining community can mean so many things. Investing in ways that enrich friendships to enrich the world and hopefully, our planet. For us, the financial stability [with] selling our home and having a place in New Zealand, means more time with family and friends, more time for passion projects.
Dave – When the pandemic started, we wanted to still help out as much as possible. Doing epidemic intelligence remotely, allowed [us] to put our shoulder to the wheel, helping the community even when you can’t physically interact.
Cody – What makes it worth continuing to invest in a community if you’re not there?
Andrea – There is nothing that replaces people who hold you accountable for the person you once were. Not only accountable, but celebrates it. Pissed off punk rock kids, Andrea and Dave! Do not forget this rage and indignation. For any amount of oppression, there is an equal amount of rebellion. That rebellion and indignation is LOVE. It is a part of everything we do in our work, as systems collapse and climates change, we rage on.
Dave – There is love in letting the natural world soothe you.
Cody – We want to help folks and encourage them to take care of their body so they won’t burn themselves out. So they can fight the fight. What does allowing nature to soothe you, mean to you? What does it feel like? How do you rest to remain present in this world?
Dave – I am big on forest bathing, going for runs up City Creek Canyon and home.
Andrea – Communion with your ancestors. Less ownership of things. Not being so tethered to things allows us to invest ourselves in families and friends.
Cody – How do we find ways to connect with people?
Andrea – Relational esteem is something that you can scale into a community. One part of relational esteem is being able to stay within your isolation. To be able to stay still in moments that are filled with grief. “Don’t just do something, stand there.” (shared laughter all around)
