Meet Amy Shimshon-Santo

 

We recently connected with Amy Shimshon-Santo and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Gaining confidence and self-esteem did not come easily for me — except, like Nora Zeale Hurston said, “I love myself when I am laughing.” My work ethic is devotional. I am confident about my ability to get things done. My dreams have been big dreams that demand collaboration and coalition building.

Having confidence that you can get things done is not the same as simply feeling good about oneself. Achievement, for me, is not associated with self worth. Achievement is something you do. Self worth is how you feel about who you are, and what you believe is possible for you in life. It has something to do with freedom, authority, and hope.

It is crucial to care for one’s own desires and dreams. I have stopped trying to fit in, or waiting for permission. I realized that I’m a unicorn, and that’s just the way it’s going to be. I’ve found dignity in that. It may even be my magic.

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Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’d like to share my new poetry collection with your readers. Random Experiments in Bioluminescence is an eco-poetics book out now with Flowersong Press. The poems are catalysts for conversations about our connection to each other and to the environment. These poems are for cherishing cultures, languages, and the Earth. You can learn more about the book, and I’m available to communities for readings, public speaking, and workshops.

Poetry can drop us into our deepest human nature. The right poem can be medicinal in a given moment. The poems in this book are playful and audacious. They have a good sense of humor, and see life on Earth as inherently interconnected.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities I believe in are authenticity, self guidance, and curiosity.

Authenticity: Be authentic and have faith in your highest purpose.

Self Guidance: Practice self leadership, self regulation, and manifesting what you value in the world.

Curiosity: Staying curious can keep you humble and constantly learning to regenerate your passions, interests, and life force.

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What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I am a generalist who likes to dive deep, so I would have to say that both matter. It’s critical to get good at what you love so that you can be of service. At the same time, it’s important to grasp how things fit together in the larger picture.

On a personal note, I’ve tried to expand and deepen my understanding by stretching into fields that seemed difficult and important, and I’ve also taken time to cultivate what comes organically to me. I spent my early years working and then teaching non-stop. As I hit mid life, I’ve come to value my innate sensibilities and what brings me pleasure and peace of mind. Being grounded in yourself can feel like tapping into a wellspring.

What matters is how one does things, and how your efforts impact the spaces that you touch. There is value in almost anything you do if you do it with grace, ethics, and to your best ability. So be yourself. Let your little light shine. Treat people well. Help them get free. Let’s use our creativity, energy, and ancestral gifts to seed livable futures.

Contact Info:

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Image Credits

Photos by Bobby Gordon. Book Cover Art by Pao Chutijirawong for Flowersong Press.

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