LETTER #18

Kim Silva, Executive Director of Friends of Outdoor School—but that doesn't begin to describe this human!

I’d like you to meet Kim Silva. Her job description as Executive Director of Friends of Outdoor School should actually read Executive Director of Being a Friend—to people, to the planet, to community, and more! For heavens sake, she used to be Executive Director of Friends of Trees in Oregon!

In fact, that’s where our paths crossed the first time.

She is a connector. She finds ways to fund social organizations. She’s all about providing opportunities for people that may not have resources. If she meets someone that might be a doorway to something beautiful in your life, she will make that introduction. Her heart is big. She cares so much for our planet and future generations and it shows up not only in her workplace, but in how she is in the world.

Kim is someone that I can say truly lives in her authentic self—and she does it unabashedly.

On a recent walk with her around Forest Park near Pittock Mansion, we settled in to our time together. It had been awhile—years! We both had things to do later, but this hour and a half was just for us.

There she was, checking out the local plants trying to figure out what she wanted to add to her garden as I walked up.

And off we went!

We talked about our relationships and extended family challenges, as well as the gratitude points. She shared a little bit of her struggles with medication post cancer treatment. I talked about the hard place I am currently in after the loss of a job. And we laughed and walked on into the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

When we had to turn around and head back, we sat on a bench and realized we hadn’t even gotten into updates about our kiddos. But it was time to go.

So, that’ll be our next walk around the largest urban park in the US!

Have I mentioned how grateful I am for the place where I live and the humans I have in my life?

This letter is part of a weekly series called Analog Connections. Each week I create and handwrite a letter to someone that is on my mind and post it here. I hope you enjoy getting to know some of the amazing humans in my life!