Photographer John E. Walker in Oshawa, July  25, 2025, at Parkwood Estate National Historic Site.

🦅 The Hawks: Symbols of a Journey

Four years ago, my life changed in an instant. I left the hospital using a walker and oxygen after surviving a major stroke. A little over a year later, I underwent open-heart surgery. It felt like the end, but it wasn’t. It was the beginning of a different kind of journey.

This image of the hawk, taken on the fourth anniversary of my stroke, carries more meaning than I can fully express. Red-tailed hawks are symbols of strength, clarity, and higher purpose. Seeing them, alert and unshaken, perched calmly above, reminded me of everything I had overcome and everything I was becoming.

I've been homeless. I’ve lost businesses. I’ve walked away from homes and even lost everything in a fire. Life has brought me to my knees more than once. But each time, I’ve rebuilt stronger, wiser, and more focused on what truly matters.

What I’ve learned through every hardship is that healing goes beyond the physical. Yes, I had to fight to regain my health. But just as important were love, compassion, and a renewed commitment to help others rise, too. That’s what LIFE - Love Is For Everyone means to me. It's not just a phrase. It’s a truth I’ve lived.

When doctors told me I couldn’t recover without expensive treatments I couldn’t afford, I had to adapt. I returned to the basics. I turned to nature. I began growing plants indoors, starting in my kitchen and a 4x4 ft space in the living room, selecting each for its healing and nutritional value. What I couldn’t buy, I began to grow. And what started as a necessity became a way of life.

🌱 Wellness in Action: Growing My Recovery Today, that journey has grown into something much larger. My website now includes:

• Wellness Profiles – Highlighting the benefits of more than 65 plants I grow and use regularly for health and recovery.

• Wellness in Action – Real-world examples of how I use these plants to stay strong, resilient, and well.

I’ve saved seeds. I’ve done the research. I’ve seen real results. And now, I share all of it freely because true wellness should never be limited to those who can afford it.

💚 A Path Forward for Everyone This isn’t just about recovery. It’s about transformation. The programs I created before the pandemic to support people in crisis have evolved into lasting wellness solutions. What started as a way to survive has become a way to thrive, not just for me, but for others too.

The hawks in that photo didn’t need permission to soar. They followed their instincts. They watched. And when the time was right, they rose above.

That’s what this journey has taught me: to trust nature, to trust myself, and to keep moving forward no matter the odds.

So I keep walking most days more than 5km. I keep growing. I keep sharing. Not just for me, but to offer hope to anyone who needs it. Because no matter how far you've fallen, there is always a path forward.

You are not alone. There is still beauty. There is still love. There is still hope.

Let the hawk be your guide. Let nature be your medicine. And let love for yourself, your community, and this planet be the reason you rise.

Because LIFE – Love Is For Everyone is not just a message. It’s a way forward. 🌿