Why I'm Starting this Substack ( And Why you might want to Stick Around)

Welcome to my corner of the internet—a little sanctuary where poetry, art, recipes, and reflections meet the soul. I’ve been sitting with this idea for a long time, waiting for the right moment to bloom. And now, here it is: a space to share what nourishes me—and hopefully, what might nourish you too.

So, why this Substack?

Because I’m launching a Poetry book soon (!) and this is where I want to bring you along for the ride. (More to come on the book, Waves of Thought. ) But more than that, I want to build a community—a living, breathing exchange of inspiration. A gathering place for those who love the beauty of a sunrise, wild creativity, mindful nourishment, happiness & longevity—not just as buzzwords, but as real ways of living.

I’ll be writing to you weekly (if not more), sharing:

• Recipes (Featuring Locally sourced ingredients, nourishing, sometimes gluten free/dairy free when i’m feeling it)

• Stories from nature, the kitchen, and my heart

• Poetry and visual art inspiration for slowing down and living fully

You’ll also find daily visuals over on Instagram and other spaces, but here is where I’ll go deeper—where words and ideas can take root.

A little story to begin…

This morning, I hiked into the mountains with a mission: to find a tree that hugged back.

Growing up in the ’90s, I first heard the term tree hugger as a joke. A mean tease. Look at him, such a tree hugger. As if loving nature, or touching it, or being moved by it, was something to be ashamed of.

But the truth is, I’ve always wanted to touch nature. To be in it. To listen to it. And lately, I’ve found myself returning to this very simple ritual: finding a tree, placing my arms around it, and just…bear hugging it!!

This morning, Mags and I marched up the hill and into bamboo forest. I’ve always found peace in a bamboo forest. A quiet tug pulled me off the trail, so I followed it. Trusting instinct, I climbed down into a ravine, balancing on the backs of a fallen tree.

That’s when I saw it—rising high above the bamboo, nearly 80 feet into the sky, stood a single Cook Pine. Solid. Towering. Timeless. It felt ancient, like it had been rooted there since the 1800s, when Cook pines were first introduced to Hawai‘i.

I gasped in delight.

With reverence, I approached. In my heart, I asked permission to come closer—and felt a clear, gentle yes echo back. I wrapped my arms around the base of the tree. They barely made it halfway. I pressed my cheek to the bark and smiled.

I had been quietly longing for a hug. And in that stillness, I felt such love returned to me.

Call it meditation, call it presence, call it tree-hugging—I call it medicine for the soul.

Highly recommend.

If you’re someone who craves soul-filled stories, nourishing food, a connection to the natural world, and a slower, more artful way of being—this space is for you. I hope you’re a tree hugger too!

Thanks for being here

With Love,

Abi Rose

my love
of the ocean
can't keep me
from the trees
it divides me
part for the mountain
part for the sea 

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