Sungai Watch x Indosole Ocean health has been a major topic in the conservation discussion and international spotlight for the last 20 years, and we are thankful for this attention to the ocean we love so much. Less attention has been attributed to the health of rivers and the waterways that connect the land to the ocean. Sungai Watch has been spearheading this movement since the start of the pandemic in Bali, and we couldn’t be more proud of our friends and excited about what they are doing. We said - “we are here to help”! Fun Fact; Make A Change World was started in 2009 - the same year as Indosole.  Sungai Watch was started by the three siblings behind Make A Change World - Kelly, Gary, and Sam Bencheghib - a dynamic trio of change makers both individually and collectively.  So how does Sungai Watch work and what do they do?  The simple answer is hours and hours of hard work whether it be cleanups or installing their now signature “Trash Barriers” in over 100 rivers and waterways in Bali. In Sungai Watch’s own words: “​​Sungai Watch is a community river cleanup organization that has the mission to protect our waterways, starting in Indonesia. At Sungai Watch we believe that simple Trash Barriers can serve as a way to stop the leakage of plastic pollution into our ocean. Rivers are the perfect connection point between life on land and the ocean.” “Jaga Sungai Kita!” (Take Care of Our Rivers) Over 300,000 kg of trash collected to date Sungai Watch recovers 1000 kg (1 ton) of trash everyday from waterways in Bali that otherwise would reach and leak into the ocean. Installed Trash Barriers in over 100 rivers and waterways in Bali Next goal is to move into Java with the goal of 1000 trash Barriers installed So what happens to the waste that is collected? This is where it gets really interesting. Sungai Watch has a sorting center where all waste collected gets separated into organic and non-organic. The organic waste gets processed into compost, charcoal chips, and mulch. The non-organic waste gets separated into glass, metal, plastics, foams and...wait for it...flip flops! Yes Flip Flops comprise 5-8% of the waste Sungai Watch collects. The team has invested into cleaning and grinding machines which can process and break down this non-organic waste into secondary resources that can then be made into new products.  You can learn more about the waste management at Sungai Watch and download the “The River Plastic Report 001”  PRESS HERE You may ask - what happens to the waste flip flops that get processed at Sungai Watch? We may just have something up our sleeve, stay tuned for more info. Additionally if you are in Indonesia and have any old flip flops of any brand feel free to drop them off or send them to us at our store location in Canggu, Bali, where we collect them to be processed at Sungai Watch. For the next week 10% of any purchase at Indosole.com goes to help Sungai Watch in their massive cleanup effort at the Bali Mangroves and on the 100 plus rivers and waterways that are surging with trash during this strong rainy season in Bali. Follow our journeys...  @sungaiwatch @indosole

Indosole x Industry of All Nations "We strive to represent the future of our planet as well as we can - and if beings from other worlds were to come and visit, they would look forward to taking back IOAN products as gifts from planet Earth." Industry of All Nations is a brand that is committed to a responsible process and high quality products that are properly made by real people. They source where things are made, they help the local economy, they limit transportation to only end products that are transported, they find what specific countries and communities do well naturally, and they invest to keep responsible and fair manufacturing alive.  We are super proud and happy to announce that we are producing our second collection with IOAN featuring our signature recycled tire soles, recycled eva and natural rubber footbeds, with organic cotton canvas straps in 2 variations - Raw, and Natural Indigo. Made proudly in Indonesia.  IOAN works with a lot of different nations worldwide, they have an established network of artisans that span from South and Central America to Europe and downward to Africa. Each piece represents a specific moment in time, places, feelings, and people. We are humbled to include Indonesia as one of the many nations in which IOAN has chosen to partner with. We are proud to introduce...THE IOAN x INDOSOLE SANDALS featuring: -Natural Rubber / Recycled EVA mixed upper footbeds-Organic Canvas straps that have been naturally dyed in Bali-100% upcycled tire soles -Packaged with 100% recycled cardboard tags

FATHERS DAY Indosole would like to take a moment to wish all the incredible fathers out there across the world a happy fathers day. Not all heroes wear capes and fathers, grandfathers, father figures are those heroes. In light of fathers days we took the time to ask our indosole fathers some personal questions about fatherhood and what that means to them. Name: Rizal "Ijal" Alvrianza Region: Denpasar, Indonesia Role: Graphic Artist/Illustrator Kids names and their ages : Mischa Azalea Alfriansyah (8), Maola Agasthya Alfriansyah (6), Moana Almaeera Alfriansyah (4) What has been your proudest moment as a Dad so far? There are so many.. from the time they are being born, to the first time I get a look at their face, to when they smile at me. But the proudest moment so far is when I'm get back home from work, and then they run to me and shout at me "Ayah!" (Dad). Sometimes I'll bring them bunch of snacks and their face more happy then before. I'll let them to kiss me first one by one before give them snacks. What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Dad? For me, it was finding the balance of doing the right amount of guidance for my children. Do too little, they think you don’t care. Do too much and you spoil them and they never learn adversity. Every child is different and I made my fair share of mistakes. But I also taught them to love and forgive. This comes in handy when they’re adults and you need love and forgiveness from them. How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Parenting style? I always buy clothes for my kid that almost 80% came from thrift shops. I'll try to save money and make life more sustainable is to not buy all my kids clothes new. The other thing is I teach them about environmental to clean up after meals and throw garbage in its place, because sometimes kid doesn't care about the trash. When we go to picnic, before leaving I pointed out a list of everything I need (including a trash bag). As to the picnic spot, I can spend some time looking at the pulse and identify the nearest trash can and reminds them to throw the garbage on it. What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? I'll let my kid do whatever they wants and I still have to be very communicative with my kid so it doesn't get the feeling that me uninterested. I'll tell them about my intentions why I choose to give them a lot of freedom of action. As long as good for them, I will always fully support. Don’t miss out on being there for them when they needs you if you choose this parenting type. In my opinion the best parenting type is a balanced one. Not too strict but also not too relaxed. Name: Byron Seegers Region: Pacific Northwest and Western Canada Role: Sales Rep Kids names and their ages: Mikaela 25, Anya, 20, James 8 What has been your proudest moment as a Dad so far? I'd say the thing that has made me happiest as a Dad has been to see my daughters Anya and Mikaela really embrace and love their adopted brother James. I think it's tough for kids to accept big change and I'm proud of my girls for how they have welcomed James with open arms and hearts. What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Dad? The toughest thing has always been traveling a lot for work. These days there is a bit of a bonus though as my work now takes me to Los Angeles fairly often and I get to see my daughters when I'm there. Plus James loves adventures and sometimes I get to bring him along for the ride! How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Parenting style? Really just trying to lead by example and encourage my kids to embrace mindful practices and consumer habits. Sharing the outdoors and nature with my kids has been a big emphasis and I hope to nurture their own love of nature and sense of environmental responsibility.  What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? More than anything I hope that my kids are happy and grow up with a clear sense of who they are and what is important to them. Name: Wim Verkade  Region: Europe Role: Sales manager Europe Kids names and their ages: Fardau 5 yr, Melle 3 yr, Julie 0 yr   What has been your proudest moment as a Dad so far? I’m so thankful that we are having three kids and that they are happy and healthy! Proud is not the good word, it’s more than that! Thankful that when I’m coming home and they are yelling PAPAAA!!! And when our youngest daughter Julie see my face she starts smiling directly!  What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Dad? You want to be a good colleague and a strong chain in the company but also in my role as father and husband. It works much better if you share all pendings issues also at home so they know where I am with my mind or phone sometimes. And when I have to travel I always keep the focus on when I’m coming back and not that I’m leaving! How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Parenting style? We make our kids aware that plastic is not good for our nature so they are picking constantly plastic waste on the streets. And wasting food is a sin in our eyes, so if they have enough and there are still some left overs we bring it to the garden for the birds or Noony, our 6 years old rabbit!    What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? Take care of anyone as you care yourself! This should be the main goal in life and taking care of the planet is equal on this! Name: NIck Riley Region: Aus/NZ Role: Director/Dad Kids name and their age: Ra Mini Riley currently 3.5 years young.  What has been your proudest moment as a Dad so far? Bringing up our beautiful daughter in a way that she is comfortable within her own skin. She has a soft nature and hell of a lot of love to give. That always makes me smile and tells me i'm doing something right.  What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Dad? Just the constant juggling act of work and play. My kid is everything and usually gets the nod ahead of work. She makes all aspects of life fun so it's an easy decision.  How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Parenting style? Its definitely opened my mind up to providing the best future possible for our kids. I think it's an easy thing to say and understand without them, but once you have your own child, it quickly becomes an absolute necessity.  What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? I have no agenda or aspirations for her. I just want her to be the happiest person she can be. Comfortable within her own skin and have the feeling of love and support no matter what her decisions are. The worlds her oyster and I can't wait to see what that involves.  Name: Komang Armawan Region: Bali Role: Warehouse Manager Kids names and their ages: 1. Surya Nata - 13 y 2. Bulan Dharma Putri - 11 y 3. Bintang Narottama - 7 y 4. Bumi Maha Dharma - 5 y 5. Cahaya Gayatri - 6 mth What has been your proudest moment as a Dad so far? When I have made my children safe and protected, and also seen a smile on their face. What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Dad? It’s stressful being responsible for shopping at the early traditional market to buy some food for breakfast and lunch, driving up kids to the school and picking them back home after work. leaving work with lots of unfinished business in mind, people trying to talk when they can see me heading out. on a busy hour finding a kid getting sick and the mom has to care for other kids. How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Parenting style? Planning your day before it happens, and making sure that you are prepared, can really cut down on your stress levels. Children have non-negotiable priorities.  What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? Being healthy and happy, having the skill and confidence to explore and venture out into the world to play and learn to achieve success in their life. We want to say a big thank you to all the fathers around the world who are raising change makers and to the fathers of indosole who are always driving indosole to be it’s best. Being a parent is one of the most important roles anyone can have and we really appreciate all  fathers and mothers doing this job.  Driving change with each generation

MOTHERS DRIVING CHANGE First of all we would like to take the time to thank all the Mothers out there, for being our heroes! Thank you for always being so caring, for raising change makers and for driving us towards a brighter future. In honour of Mothers day we have taken the time to ask some of the Mothers from the Indosole team around the world some questions about what it’s like to be a Mother in today’s day and age.  Name: Fransje Region: EU (Spain) Role: Europe Webshop Name of Kid(s) and their age(s): Elie (10) & Wolf (9) What has been your proudest moment as a Mom so far? I am the kind of Mom that was already proud when they burped for the first time. It's ridiculous.  But my happiest moments are definitely riding waves & hitting the ski slopes together. What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Mom? I feel very grateful to be able to combine it all. It's sometimes challenging to do everything, but then I get up an hour earlier to get everything done. How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Mothering style? we created a family Instagram called 'Thebiohackfamily' where we share our families lifestyle. What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? Whatever they want to become, as long as they put effort in and are passionate about it Name: Kiri Hance Region: Australia + New Zealand Role: Digital and Brand Name of Kid(s) and their age(s): Ra Mini - 3 What has been your proudest moment as a Mom so far? Every moment. seriously. Every moment I'm proud of Ra, she inspires me What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Mom? Disconnecting and reconnecting minute to minute. Ensuring I'm present with Ra when we're together  How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Mothering style? The understanding of how I see living sustainably has developed since Ra. I don't see that it's possible to live with an environmentally conscious mindset without honestly seeing the intersectionality of all elements of life. Women's empowerment affects health and wellbeing of the community, which affects health and wellbeing of earth, which affects health and wellbeing of animals.... and so it goes. In essence, for me, sustainability means kindness.  As oversimplified and pretentious as that ideal may seem, it helps stave off the demons of complexity in an increasingly hostile world. In turn, leaving space to be present with Ra. What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? Fearless, kind, and able to dare greatly! Name: Lana Region: Bali Role: Shop Manager Name of kid: Altov     Age :16 What has been your proudest moment as a Mom so far? When my son was in junior high school he won a medal for silat ( almost same like karate ) and he said this is for you mum I will protect you from all bad people  What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Mom? The hardest part is living far away from my son  How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Mothering style? I communicate to my son everyday,because he is in Jakarta so I usually call or video call in that way I know what he need and I communicate to his teacher and friends as well  What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? I wish he will grow up into caring and loving person and can pursue all his dreams Name: Jennifer Region: Singapore Role: GM Name of Kid(s) and their age(s): Zoe - 11, Max - 9 What has been your proudest moment as a Mom so far? Witnessing the moment my kids found the joy of cruising on wheels - they both love riding bikes, skateboarding and rollerblading. I think anyone at any age can experience joy and freedom when you're propelling yourself with your own energy and feeling the wind in your face. Seeing the look in their faces when they're realised how good that is was priceless. What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Mom? I'm not a perfectionist but I'm a very thorough person so when it comes to that work life balance the hardest lesson is to cut corners and be ok with it. It's a constant learning journey to realise that often it is only I that sees things that are not done, or only half-done, when in fact everyone else simply sees what I have done!   How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Mothering style? My parents raised me to respect all that is around me - the environment, the animals, the people and our communities. So I have consciously passed that same appreciation to my own children. Being mindful of the beauty that is all around us everyday is important for me and I remind my kids of that everyday in some way. As a mother, it is easy, especially when children are young, to get caught up in needing 'things' so I feel that awareness actually accelerated my learning journey as a more conscious consumer and has inevitably passed on to my kids. I am constantly helping them to question what they have, why they need it and how things might be made and by whom.  What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? Living in a world with clean air, clean food and clean oceans. If they aspire to that, they will hopefully find meaningful ways of working towards it within their community - both locally and globally. Name: Mirjam Region: Europe Role: Marketing Manager Name of Kid(s) and their age(s): Finn (12), Kaya (9) and Levi (22 months) What has been your proudest moment as a Mom so far? Oef that's a hard one, there are many. Perhaps one very recent one: last night my husband and I went out to a big event after a long period of lock-down and our eldest took care of the other 2 until we got home. What is the hardest part of balancing your professional life while being a Mom? You always feel like you are not doing enough and there is always a feeling of guilt, either towards your job, towards your kids and even towards yourself (since that’s what usually comes last) How has sustainability or responsible/conscious living played into your Mothering style? I try to raise my children with strong values, of being kind and caring to each other and the world they live in. I try to teach them responsibility and consequences of actions they take. It’s really hard sometimes and I am often critical of my parenting but its work in progress, like most things in life. Luckily some things just come natural living in Amsterdam like biking everywhere - we hardly ever use a car. A big focus for me and always a challenge is food and what we consume. My kids are at an age where they start understanding my choices but of course its also natural they push back on things and don’t want to agree with me (like forbidding things like McDonalds ;-) What do you wish your child to aspire to as he/she grows up? I want them to feel like the world is their oyster and that they can be anyone they want to be. Because of our international lifestyle, I hope they will learn there are no borders for them. They speak 3 languages fluently and I hope this will be a big asset for them as they grow up.  We really love our Mothers and appreciate them. The Mothers of Indosole have made us who we are today as a company. By leading with example we have learnt to take care of our planet the way Mothers took care of us. We can not be thankful enough and in reality everyday day is Mother’s Day.  Driving change with each generation

The world as we know it is in a state of crisis. We’re fighting a handful of unknowns – from a disease that many of us are afraid of (and some of us are unsure how to feel about), to a collapsing global economy and a dramatic shift in the way we interact with our family and friends. It can be daunting to think about this situation in its entirety, but as a solutions company we feel a responsibility to help out wherever we can. We’ve chosen to do this through food.   The formula is simple: one pair of Indosole flip-flops feeds three hungry people and one pair of slides feeds five hungry people. Our community here in Bali is facing deep financial uncertainty right now. The tourism industry has come to a sudden halt – flights are blocked, businesses are closed, thousands are jobless. In a matter of weeks, families who were comfortably supported by the hospitality industry have found themselves with little to no income and worried about the next meal.   Will Goldfarb from Room4Dessert in Ubud has been working on a solution to this since early March. He transformed his fine-diner into a soup kitchen of sorts in just six days – swapping tasting menus with takeaway, cocktails for fresh-pressed jamu and desserts for mega-loaves of sourdough. “We’ve basically launched an entirely new company in the last week,” he says.    The project is called Dharma Buns and it goes much deeper than deluxe home delivery. Using the revenue from Room4Dessert’s takeaway sales, Goldfarb has been distributing fresh, nutritious house-cooked meals to local restaurant workers who have been let go by their employers. “I think it’s really important to do something positive when things are bad and not only when they’re good”  His goal is to get good food to the people who need it and spread a little optimism at the same time. “I think it’s really important to do something positive when things are bad and not only when they’re good,” he says. “We’re keeping everybody busy, keeping morale super-high. We just want to stay positive and show people that you can cook your way through any crisis.” When we heard about this initiative, it instantly hit a chord. As Will explained to us, the trickle-down effect of a project like this is pretty significant. It supports hospitality workers and their families, of course, but it also keeps small-scale farms supplying quality ingredients in business. So, this isn’t simply about feeding people, it’s about feeding people well, and sustaining responsible, non-conventional farming methods that are at risk of being lost as more businesses close.  We’re getting involved by putting a portion of our sales towards meals for people who need them. The formula is simple: one pair of Indosole flip-flops feeds three hungry people and one pair of slides feeds five hungry people.  This project launches today. We hope it’ll raise awareness, make a difference and brighten the lives of the people who need it the most right now. We’re calling on all of our family and friends to participate and support and make a small step towards a very meaningful footprint that impacts us all!  Shop Now.  

With the world's changing views on fashion and consumerism, we are now turning more towards brands that are not just good for us, but also good for the Earth. Reducing our carbon footprint has now become a part of so many of our daily lives. Here at Indosole believe that when you put on a pair of our flip flops, you'll not only feel comfort, durability, style. But also an awareness every day that their choice to buy something that is responsibly made has a positive impact on both the environment, the people that produce the shoes and the global shift to conscious consumerism. Choosing a pair of Indosole shoes is part of your journey towards a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle. 8 Reasons why Indosoles are great for both you and the Earth: 1) Waterproof For everyday travels and adventures. Whether you get caught in the rain, are ambling around the pool, or heading to the beach, your Indosole's will get you there even if they're wet. And they can be cleaned and dried and ready to start all over again. We designed the ESSNTLS range for all terrains, meaning even if they are wet, the grip is unprecedented. (think car tires on wet roads - your Indosole sole provides the same functionality for your feet!) Being waterproof they can also be cleaned and dried completely making them anti-bacterial. An essential reason why Raffles Hotel Singapore chose them for their in-house spa slippers, not to mention their sustainable action of replacing single-use.  The ultimate beach slides - Men's Slides | Women's Slides 2) Vegan Vegan footwear is made without any animal ingredients or byproducts making them cruelty-free and environmentally friendly! Leading us towards a greener future, Indosoles are designed and created in a way that makes them responsibly-made and overall more sustainable! 3) All Terrain The very thing that makes Indosole so unique is the recycled tire sole that connects your shoe to the ground you walk on. And like tires, the two redeeming features are grip and durability. Our tread is designed to capture tiny grains of sand or dirt and actually provide even more traction to prevent you from slipping as you walk. 4) Recycled Tire Soles What makes Indosole's so great for the environment is the fact that we’ve taken waste tires that will not decompose and instead of allowing them to sit in landfills, we've repurposing them into soles of shoes. We have saved 80,000 tires from landfills in Indonesia so far! And in case you're wondering... that's 220,000 pairs of shoes.  5) Envro Fibre In order to make a supple strap, that doesn't rub and can withstand all conditions, we searched far and wide to find Envro Fibre. A custom made fiber, it uses little water and all-natural dyes, ticking all the right boxes for our shoes. 6) Natural Rubber When you put on a pair of Indosole's there's an immediate reaction to the comfort - the 'squishiness' that you feel under your feet. That is the layer of natural rubber between the recycled tire sole and the footbed. Our rubber is responsibly grown and sourced in Indonesia, and along with the footbed, is dyed with natural dyes with no chemical and toxic run-off into our environment 7) Ergonomic Support The ultimate game-changer - flip flops with arch support. With contoured footbeds, our Indosole range provides ultimate comfort with its superior cushioning while still being stylish enough to wear every day. Our unique contoured footbed not only provides arch support but hugs the foot in all the right places, creating better stability when being worn and keeping your foot in place in all-terrain. 8) Made Responsibly Indosole is a certified B corporation and it's proof that we meet the rigorous standards required. We are proud to be making footwear in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Get your hands on one of our Indosole's ESSNTLS and feel the difference for yourself. And know that every day that your choice to choose something that is responsibly made has a positive impact on both the environment, the people that produce the shoes and the global shift to conscious consumerism. 

A letter from Indosole Europe - Amsterdam, The Netherlands  If we cannot go to Bali ourselves, what better way to bring Bali to Europe by officially launching the brand across the ocean. As Amsterdam being our new European hub the Indosole Europe team brought together a group of people that all have something in common: doing good to the world and the environment. Whether it is maintaining a vegan lifestyle, a plastic free living or supporting sustainable fashion. The event was held at local venture, Meneer Nieges, and was set up to experience the brand up close and to learn a little bit more about how it all began when the idea of Indosole was born in 2004. As a conscious brand we are always busy spreading our message to as many people as possible. So it was only natural to spread our wings and make Europe aware of the huge tire problem we are not only facing in Bali, but across the whole world. As we are still facing the consequences from COVID-19 unfortunately Kyle Parsons couldn't physically be there himself. However a livestream connection made it possible to do an intimate Q&A session that answered everybody’s burning questions regarding the origin, current state and future of Indosole in the eyes of the founder himself. As the event evolved the venture turned into a relaxing Bali hangout. Think coconuts, delicious healthy food, relaxing music and of course loads of sustainable Indo slippers to try on. Coloured recycled tires filled up the environment and shredded tire pieces made the process of slipper making visible. Seeing everybody exploring and engaging with our slippers made us super excited about what the future has in store for us. Within Europe we are currently available in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, UK, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Our goal for coming season is to open even more markets and grow with our beloved partners. Spreading the message is the common thread within our distribution model and we can proudly say to have success with the agencies and stores who believe that they can make the difference. Thanks Europe for the super warm welcome we’ve got. Now its up to you to join us on our quest to save as many tires as possible from negatively impacting our environment!  Click here to view Indosole Europe's website: www.indosoleeurope.com   

This week, we’ve been asking mothers to share their 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐉𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐘. We interviewed two amazing moms; Cameron Lee Barnum and Maya Kerthyasa. We’ve compiled their interviews here, to serve as inspiration for other mothers (and fathers!) and as a celebration of the divine feminine. MAYA KERTHYASA 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚒-𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚊𝚜 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛? 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛? Motherhood awakens a different kind of intuition. I really learned to listen with my heart, and that’s one of the greatest joys of motherhood, for me. There’s also the undeniably delicious moments of love and cuteness and laughter. The hardest thing for me is seeing my son struggle in any kind of way, then learning to embrace that and let him experience his emotion. It’s challenging but important. 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎? Becoming a mother gave me a deeper understanding of love, duty, and responsibility, and it made me more compassionate towards all women, including myself. For me, being a woman – with a child or without a child – is about embodying the inner mother, because mothers create, mothers sacrifice, mothers nurture, and all the women I know contribute these things to the world. Mother Earth is an intrinsic part of the feminine being. 𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗? 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚛? I believe all humans have a responsibility to nurture the planet. So as well as taking steps myself, I believe strongly in raising my child as a custodian – not just doing the work for him. I encourage my son to garden, to respect the spirits of the land through storytelling and prayer, and to help take care of our animals. And as a family, we choose to fuel our bodies with naturally grown food and surround ourselves with products that impact positively on the environment and other people. CAMERON LEE BARNUM 𝙾𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚠𝚊-𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝙿𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝙾𝚝𝚝𝚘 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛? 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛? I’m only a month into being a mother but being able to watch him grow right before my eyes has been incredible. All the loving, feeding, soothing, snuggling, and changing endless diapers has been equally enjoyable. 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎? Over my lifetime, especially recently, I’ve realized how incredible it is to be a woman. I’ve been lucky enough to grow up with the encouragement from a loving family that the possibilities are endless no matter the gender. However Women have this special gift of growing, birthing, and nurturing the future that has forever changed our capabilities in my eyes. 𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗? 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚛? I absolutely believe limiting impact with sustainable options is not only good for the earth but also my family. We’ve taken steps by cloth diapering (which cuts down tons of waste to landfills), using reusable water bottles/straws/containers, making our own household cleaning solutions, DIY organic skin care, and purchasing products that use sustainable practices like Indosole. Even just implementing one thing can make a huge difference.