Meet Andrea Zoppo

We recently connected with Andrea Zoppo and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism comes from wonder and good people.
Making sure the people around you are good healthy people is also a key to optimism. Friends who can pick you up, lift you, laugh, and share precious time are the weight-bearing walls we need to build a good life. Speaking of holding onto good people, keeping the lessons of my late grandparents near dear, also is a key to my positive outlook. I know they went through so much in a world torn up by wars, and though the news may say this is the worst time, I know my elders traversed much darker waters and came to this country with hopes and dreams that I get to live a beautiful life. It is an honor and privilege to do so.

Wonder for me often comes in the littlest things spreading out into the biggest things. The sparkle of an eye, in the reflection of the world in a dew drop, beams of sunlight shining through clouds, the golden finches flying off sunflowers like petals flying to heaven, all signal to me the vast beauty of our existence.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Let’s play, grow, and create together with nature and art!
I collaborate with communities, teachers, students, and administrations to create and facilitate dynamic play and nature-based programs that beautify, empower, and uplift culture and community.
Being an educator and artist for over 20 years this passion and work comes out in different forms. Whether I am teaching, writing lesson plans, growing gardens with students, hosting and organizing community events, performing with my book Storm Bugs, or even throwing performative storms with artists in public spaces, the work is all about exploring our natural world and finding wonder in our discoveries together.
On the horizon are more Storm Bugs book shows in both Tennessee and Georgia, ongoing improvements to our farm venue (Walden Peak Farm), grant writing with fellow artists to share joyful theater with diverse communities, and speaking and consulting on regional and national conferences.
I’d like more opportunities closer to home in Chattanooga.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Connecting with nature and self, cultivating an inner voice and world, determination.
Being able to disconnect and be with myself in nature is a gift and quality that helps me grow my inner voice and world. Cultivating an inner voice has helped me grow confidence and find the next steps. Many things are unhealthy including food, people, and media and it can seem like it’s all pushed in our faces. Being able to quiet advertisements, asks for engagement, desires, and see the wonder and beauty all around us helps me focus and gives me determination.

My advice to young people is to unplug regularly and connect with the beautiful natural world. Take time to write out your thoughts on paper and let them go if you need to. Walking through nature may help move through emotions. Be kind to yourself and others and find healthy positive people to hang out with.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Feeling good, health-wise, is the biggest most amazing thing for me this year. Health problems throughout most of my life made me a workaholic. I know that can sound weird but I found that working helps me not be in pain. It’s been over a year of being pain-free and now I can say I enjoy working less and focusing more on my relationships with myself, my garden, and my loved ones.
Often we don’t know what other people are going through and in our social media culture, there’s a lot of pressure to share. It’s okay to be private. It’s okay to have challenges and struggles that we keep to our close circles of support. It’s okay to not know what people are going through and still be kind, compassionate, and patient.
My health problems were solved with a blend of Western medicine and holistic medicine. It took me a lot of time, questions, research, and support from friends to find the right balance and answers. I wanted to give up but the joy of my work helped me find the drive to feel good and get help.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.followladybug.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/followladybug/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FollowLadybug
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-zoppo/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andreazoppo2986/videos

Image Credits

Tres Crow of Roots Down, Emily Kate Boyd, Ardyce Ridolfo, Allison Pratt of Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Andrea Zoppo