Sarah Birks’ Post

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙖 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧? The long deep of winter is ending and I feel hopeful. Groundhog Day (aka Imbolc) is the mid-point between the Winter Solstice & Spring Equinox. The days are getting longer, the seeds below the surface are awakening, and there is anticipation in the air. No wonder the groundhog pokes its nose out of the burrow to sniff the air. As the returning sun breaks up the icy surface on the pond, the maple tree sap starts its journey from the roots into the furthest branches.  Along the way, the stored sugars awaken the buds that will unfold slowly and steadily in the Spring.  Shortly after, the daffodils and tulips wiggle their roots deeper into the soil; the beetles and worms create new tunnels, and traffic jams of migrating birds crowd out the regulars at the bird feeder. Most of the activity is invisible to those of us on the surface. I have lived in Vermont for nearly 40 years.  As a native of California where the February wildflower bloom is the start of Spring, I spent the first 15 years lamenting how long winter is in Vermont.  The emergence of Spring in Vermont is subtle.  I missed the understated signs that winter was waning because I had a fixed idea of what Spring looked like. I spent the first 15 years in business just getting through each week. I didn’t spend much time planning for the future or assessing my progress. While there were some big wins along the way, success felt elusive. 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴. In the middle of scheduling appointments, supporting my clients as the built their businesses and found jobs, I was also making regular bank deposits, paying my bills, eating well, and never lacked for nice clothing.  I was buying office equipment, hiring staff, meeting payroll, and expanding my office space.  I nearly always felt like I was barely making it.  Since the vast majority of businesses go out of business within the first five years... 𝘊𝘖𝘕𝘛𝘐𝘕𝘜𝘌 𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘋𝘐𝘕𝘎 https://lnkd.in/eqUn24i7

Planning a move this winter? Our latest blog, A Guide to Moving in the Winter, is packed with tips to make your move smoother—even when the weather isn’t! From prepping your home to navigating cold-weather challenges, we’ve got you covered. Check it out and make your winter move stress-free! 🏡✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲𝐓𝐍.𝐜𝐨𝐦 #movingtips #wintermove #realestate #murfreesbororealtor #premierrealtytn

Thinking about moving to sunny Northeast Florida? 🌴 Before you pack your bags, let's chat about the weather. 🌦️ In Florida, it's tropical living all year round. But not every day is a beach day. From sunny afternoons to sudden rain showers, the climate should play a big role in your decision. Here's how to think about it: ☀️ Sunshine: Expect bright and sunny days most of the year. Perfect for those beach walks and outdoor fun! 🌧️ Rainy Season: It tends to rain a lot in the summer months. Rain usually comes in bursts, so be prepared for quick weather changes. 🌿 Nature: The climate helps create lush gardens and beautiful landscapes. It’s a dream come true for anyone with a green thumb. The tropical lifestyle is vibrant and full of life, but just like any home decision, knowing the climate can help you make the best choice for your family. What's your favorite part about living in a tropical spot? Let’s discuss!

To begin with this week, I slept in a deep forest. Why do I post this in a professional network: Because this is very much related to the way we do business. If we want to design our common future it is necessary to understand how we got where we are. For 99% of our time as homo sapiens on planet earth we were living in nature and in line with nature. Our survival was depending on our capacity to predict any potential danger like thunderstorms, storms, cold periods or for example floods. Only 1% of our time we are living in buildings and of that time less than 1% we do business like we do it now. Unfortunately, we feel and are performing a business that is often separated from nature and as such from our nature as human beings. We even do the opposite: We use natures capital for our products and do not even account for this. This has consequences: We have to live with an unsecure world where nature related crises are challenging our business harder year by year. If we want to "escape" this circle we need to do not only less harm to nature but act like nature. To sleep in a forest makes you listen to nature. You wonder how a deer barks and how darkness deepens your listening skills. You reconnect to where we are all coming from and maybe - at least this is what I thought of in that night - you ask yourself how a business world would look like when it would be designed by nature. Short disclaimer: It is forbidden to sleep in any forest in Germany. If you plan this, you need to ask the owner and get a permission...and of course no fire or any disruption 😉 A big thanks to Benjamin F. for inspiring me and for sharing this unique experience with me. #designbynature #ourbusiness #tourythm

Snow day here at the office! As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to start snowballing your way toward peace of mind. Whether it’s prepping for winter weather or creating an estate plan, being prepared is key. Stay safe, stay warm, and let’s tackle your 2025 goals together! #BCCounselorsatLaw #SnowDay #StaySafe

We are approaching Winter Solstice - the longest night & shortest day of the year on December 21❄️ Have you noticed a shift in your energy levels? Winter Solstice is a powerful reminder of the beauty in stillness and the wisdom in cycles. Stillness is a learned practice - not a default that comes natural. The more we practice, it becomes something we choose in the middle of the chaos. While society glorifies “the hustle/grind”, the solstice teaches us the value of slowing down as we ease into a new season. It’s an invitation to embrace the darkness, not as something to fear, but as a time for rest, reflection, and planting the seeds of growth. After the solstice, the days start getting longer. It is a reminder that even in the toughest seasons, brighter days are ahead. Are you taking time to appreciate how far you’ve come this year, or are you focusing on what you feel you didn’t accomplish? I encourage you to let go of what’s not working and dream/plan for what comes next. My focus areas this season are: getting outside to get fresh air, walking 10k steps/day, connecting with colleagues/family/friends, saying no, seeing the sunset when I can, slowing down, being present, journaling, & planning for 2025. What about you? How are you embracing this season of rest and renewal? Photo location: 📍Atlantic City, NJ #wintersolstice #energymanagement #selfcare #newseason

When it's nearly 80 degrees Fahrenheit in late October in Brooklyn, I find myself carrying a mixed bag of emotions. In isolation, this type of weather is Peak NYC™️—an absolute gift to weary, cooped-up city dwellers who utilize the great outdoors as their living rooms. But in the context of the #climatecrisis, on the heels of the hottest summer on record, this summer air in early fall (cc: Bo Burnham) stirs up the following: 🤘 rage at #fossilfuel companies and government officials for so brazenly ignoring unanimous scientific alarms 😔 grief for the plants, animals, insects, humans—all persons in their own right—that are impacted or killed off because of #climatechange 😑 frustration that I can't fully enjoy what was my favorite season, autumn, as it starts later and becomes shorter 😰 exhaustion about the entrenched impacts of white western #colonialism and #extractivecapitalism that deems entire populations and cultures as collateral damage in the pursuit of profit 🙄 annoyance at (perceived!) apathy of my peers, combined with shame / #egotism for my "judging" them in the first place 😊 enjoyment, of course, of this technically lovely weather It feels dizzying, but I know I'm not alone in navigating these emotions. As I've learned facilitating #ClimateCafes, and as countless studies show, *most* people are gravely concerned about the #ecological crisis. My advice when confronting these feelings? 🌱 Get outside—communing with the natural world (of which we are a part) is a reminder of the sheer of luck of even being here🪄, a show of #reverence for the ecosystems around us, and a way to #decenter the self. 🗣️ Talk to people about it—instead of just the “wow, crazy weather!!!” smalltalk, name a feeling to go with it. “Beautiful weather we’re having—but it makes me feel sad!" This crisis, to me, is rooted in our #detachment from this earth, so the more we can experience it and talk about it, the more we can see how its changing, how we impact it, and how to better live in harmony. It’s not a buzzkill to bring up in conversation, it’s just our reality. So go outside, get in #community, and accept that we're in this together. We're all we have! 🤗 #climateanxiety #climategrief #peaceonearth #climateemotions #climatecafenyc #thatfunnyfeeling #brooklynbotanicgarden #climateactionow #climateaction #mentalhealthawareness

💥 Fantastic Friday Energy 💥 The weather might be tempting me to stay in bed, but it’s finally FRIDAY, and the excitement is real! 💪 Peterborough Positive first event of the year on 15th February is just around the corner, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it! This is the start of something big – a celebration of strength, positivity, and the power of our community. 🏆 This week has shifted my mindset in ways I didn’t expect. The beauty of our city centre 🏙️ and the way people are coming together to make a difference has reminded me just how much potential we have. We’re building something strong, and it’s only going to grow from here. Let’s keep that momentum going – more love, more action, more progress. 🔥 Mark your calendars for 15th February and let’s show the world what Peterborough is all about. We’re in this together. And here’s a little laugh to kick off your weekend: Why don’t skeletons fight each other? 🦴 They don’t have the guts! 😂 #PeterboroughPositive #StrongerTogether #CommunityPower #PositiveForce #CityCentreStrength #KeepPushing #FridayMotivation #RiseAndGrind #BeTheChange #StayFocused #MenOfAction

Leiden (and I assume the Netherlands) experienced its first (relatively) warm day today after 7-8 months. It was quite something because cold, wet, and gloomy weather can hit you hard. The temperature of 24°C immediately lit up many faces. (We could argue about floods, droughts, heatwaves, and frostbite across the globe in the context of climate change, but for now, we are setting that aside.) It was just the sight of so many people enjoying the moment that made it special. For a change, I decided to enjoy the moment too. There were so many things rushing through my head—for starters, every minute is precious! Somewhere along the line, we are trained to rush, always reaching for the next thing without actually enjoying the present. This applies to both our professional and personal lives. It's not about being stagnant; rather, it’s about taking the necessary time something requires. Now, in the rush, we tend to burn out more and end up grumpy! So today, before I headed to work, I cycled slowly, enjoying the sun that visited us after ages. Trust me, it made my day much more productive than if I had rushed. I really hope all of you enjoy some moments of your life, no matter what chaos is around you. Because that chaos isn’t going to leave soon, so you might as well take a few minutes to smile to yourself. #productivity

Imagine waking up to the sound of waves crashing gently on the shore, the sun shining bright overhead, and the promise of another beautiful day. ☀️ Welcome to Southwest Florida, where every day feels like a vacation. Whether you're a local or someone looking to relocate, the weather here is a dream come true. Here's why: 1️⃣ Sunny Days Galore: With over 300 sunny days a year, say goodbye to gloomy weather and hello to endless sunshine. 2️⃣ Temperate Winters: Leave the snow shovels behind! Winters in Southwest Florida are mild, making it a perfect place to escape the cold. 3️⃣ Outdoor Lifestyle: The weather is ideal for activities like beach days, boating, and golf. It's easier to stay active and enjoy nature when it’s sunny and warm. 4️⃣ Community and Culture: The weather brings people together. Enjoy outdoor festivals, farmers markets, and community events year-round. Living and working in a place where the weather is consistently great has a positive impact on your well-being and lifestyle. 😎 Thinking about making the move or buying a second home? Let’s connect and explore your options in this sunny paradise! What do you love most about sunny days and sandy beaches? Share your thoughts!