In this clip from the Culture Is Healing Podcast, I told a story special to my heart.

Every morning, as we prepare to leave the house, my son insists on stopping to touch the cedar branches near our car. At first, I’ll admit—I found it kind of frustrating. We were often in a rush, and this small ritual felt like a delay I couldn’t afford.

But over time, something shifted in me.

I began to wonder: Why cedar? Why did he consistently feel pulled toward these green broughs of cedar? It wasn’t just curiosity—it felt intentional, almost sacred. That’s when it hit me: perhaps my son was responding to something deeper. Maybe it was an intuitive connection to the natural healing properties of cedar? Cedar is a plant that has always been revered by our people for its cleansing and protective qualities.

Could it be that my son was guided by his ancestors? That moment of reflection became a wake-up call for me.

I realized I had been moving too fast—too caught up in the momentum of daily life to notice the quiet invitations to slow down and reconnect. My son, in his innocence and wisdom, was showing me the importance of being present. Of pausing. Of touching the earth—literally—and allowing nature to offer its quiet medicine.

Now, I see those moments not as delays, but as gifts. I’ve learned to embrace them as opportunities for self-care and connection. Cedar has become more than a tree to me—it’s a reminder to breathe, to listen, and to honor the healing that surrounds us every day.

In the end, it was my child who taught me this lesson. I need to "slow down enough to touch the cedar". And for that, I’m deeply grateful.