Your Brain Loves New Things. When Did You Last Give It That?N

Permaculture in the Desert
This week my friend Maureen from England came to visit. Maureen works with permaculture – a method that works with natural cycles to shape landscapes sustainably and hold water.
She showed me how to catch rainwater on a slope – using handmade sausages made from jute and hay. We installed them together along the hillside.
I have so many ideas for what I want to create here with this land. And Maureen’s visit woke so much up in me again.
I stood there, the jute roll over my shoulder, the desert floor under my feet, and I felt that tingle. That curiosity. That “I have no idea how this will turn out but I’m doing it anyway.”
And that’s exactly it. That feeling.

What Happens in Your Brain
When we experience something for the first time our brain releases dopamine. That chemical makes us alert, alive and curious. The brain stays flexible. New connections form.
Researchers call it experiential diversity – the more varied our experiences, the happier and more alive we feel.
And the beautiful part? It doesn’t take a big trip. No special talent. No perfect preparation.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Stand barefoot outside. Five minutes. Just feel the earth under your feet.

• Send someone a handwritten letter instead of a message.

• Buy a food you’ve never tried before – and cook it today.

• Sit in nature for an hour without your phone. Just be there.

What the Desert Shows Me
I’m in the process of working more with my land. Thirty-six acres of New Mexico desert. I’m discovering how to care for this land, how to hold water, how to create alongside nature.
It keeps me alive. It pulls me out of habitual thinking. It shows me what’s still possible.
That’s creativity. Not in the sense of painting or writing. But in the sense of staying open. Staying curious. Taking the next step even when you don’t know where it leads.And You?
What do you want to invite into your life that’s new? What are you drawn to? Are there ideas or projects you’ve been wanting to try?
What would be the smallest – really the tiniest – step to start right now?

Suzy Godsey lives and works in the New Mexico desert. She helps people discover their own strengths – in her Super Powers monthly program, in one-on-one sessions and in her Telegram community.