"The deepest, most powerful form of empathy is intimacy with another human, a connection without boundaries set by the ego or the mind. An intimacy between two beings suggests that although each is a separate and unique individual, when they come together, their lives flow harmoniously in each present moment toward a larger whole. . . .
"You cannot find intimacy with another unless you can be truly intimate with yourself. In this book, I have tried to reconstruct my own journey of nurturing my inner self. Anything you do that truly nurtures the inner self is an exercise in developing intimacy with both yourself and others.
"In my life, I have identified eight bridges into recurring points of connection to my inner self that live outside of linear time, flickering through my being without labels and shaping my inner life. I urge you to search your inner being and discover your own list. Here is my lifetime list:
"• an early love and feeling of connection to the natural world
• psychedelic experiences in nature
• watercolor painting in nature as a form of meditation
• growing a vegetable garden and communicating with the plants
• developing awareness of the inner self and outer body
• finding peace in solitude
• connection with others
• gratitude for the gift of life itself
"Given the long period over which I absorbed and integrated these experiences into my inner being, there isn't a simple linear correlation to how they influenced my approach to design over these many years. Feeling a deep connection to nature developed through the first four experiences. Finding a deeper connection to my true self has been a process that coincided with major changes in my life over the past five years for which I am deeply grateful."
