There are many ways to be rewarded in life. For me one of the greatest honors is not only to work with people to help them on their journeys, but the actually privilege of witnessing change and becoming a part of someone else’s story. In some cases this is more true than others. In the case of Margaret Roach, I literally became a part of her story in her fabulous new memoir “and I shall have some peace there.”
I’ll never forget when we met more than 5 years ago. I was working at Miraval resort as a spiritual coach and she was a very powerful VP in the Martha Stewart Empire at the time. With a long list of accomplishments and accolades to her credit, there was something about Margaret that betrayed it all. I knew she had style and influence and a lot of social status, but there seemed to be another force working inside her: a deep love of nature and her garden. During our sessions wandering the desert or discussing my divining stones in the shade of a mesquite tree, something became clear to me – that Margaret, like it or not, was destined to be a steward of the Earth, a goddess of the garden and an advocate for the natural world. Sure she seemed like a savvy New York executive, but a old school shaman of sorts seemed to be lurking below the surface.
Well, it was obvious to me, but Margaret, with her dry wit and New York style was startled: half surprised and half intrigued that I might see such things in her. Over the following years we connected and reconnect through my role as Spiritual Program Director at Canyon Ranch. I was amazed and inspired to watch the bold and dramatically inspiring steps she took as she gave up her power-position, moved full time to a rustic setting in the Massachusetts countryside and dove into her passion for gardening, communing with critters and writing.
Her website Away to Garden has infiltrated the gardening world like a fertile vine, and her incredible photos, garden guidance and witty wisdom are abundant. Margaret understands what it means to observe, manage, master and be humbled by the forces of nature. Looking back at our times together, and reading her memoir, I truly feel that Margaret is a force of nature herself. MORE magazine thinks so as well, and they have featured a lovely excerpt from her new book – which just happens to feature very lucky Jonathan Ellerby.
I am so thrilled to know Margaret, to watch her new life unfolding and blossoming like the brugmansia she grows. Her memoir is a lesson for our era, consider: significance not success; purpose not power; and staying to committed to what matters most, even when the world wants you to play a different game. Follow your bliss, as Joseph Campbell once said, and see what grows.
Enter to Win Margaret Roach's Amazing Book!
I am pleased to have the chance to share this wonderful book with you--so pleased, in fact, that I've decided to offer you the chance to win a free copy of and I shall have some peace there!
To enter, simply answer this question: Where do find your peace? (or just leave a short comment, if you prefer)
Want more chances to win? Visit Margaret's blog for the chance to win a gift set of my books, "Return to the Sacred" and "Inspiration Deficit Disorder."
