Meet Helen from Green Heart Collective
Meet Helen from Green Heart Collective
Anyone who has read our blog for a long time knows the name Helen Redfern. As a former internal author at Yogamatters, Helen has contributed a lot to our blog through interviews, articles and guided meditations. We were very happy when she recently agreed to interview Anna Ashby and Yvonne O’Garro for us, and were excited to see how her life has developed from the Yogamatt team since she left Data-CCP-Props = '{"201341983": 0, "33559739": 160, "335559740": 259}'>
What did you do since you left Yogamatt at the end of 2019? When I left Yogamatters, I was completely burned out. My family situation had become very stressful and juggling with the work and the care of my three adoptive children, who are now teenagers and try to find their place in a world that is not set up for people with additional needs, demanded their toll. I knew that I needed some time and freedom for myself and I could only achieve that by giving up a job that I loved. So I closed at first, found a good consultant, slept a lot-and then the pandemic brought the whole world to a standstill! In contrast to most other people, during the Lockdown we had a house full-four adults, two teenagers, a toddler and three dogs-since my son and family lived with us at that time. Then I fell in love with an RSPCA rescue puppy called Custard and we added it to the mix! I remember the year 2020, which I mainly spent with dealing with anxiety - my own and that of my family. It was a steep learning curve.
How did you get your own company Green Heart Collective? Green Heart Collective moved into new premises a year ago in early 2021, became a social enterprise, hired two part-time workers, opened a curated sales area, developed a website and continues in his mission of the garbage disposal. Visit our website www.greenheartcollective.uk to learn about us!
What did you learn about yourself in 2021?
to found a company is ridiculously difficult, this is the first lesson! If I had no passion for what I do, I would have given up long ago. There were setbacks, but also a lot of encouragement on the way. As a completed/finisher, it is difficult to decide what you want to concentrate on every day and go at the end of the day with the knowledge that there is still so much to do. And yet I'm so proud of what we have built up and survived the first year! We have created online and personally inviting rooms in which people can buy preloved, and as a small committed team we find something to celebrate every day (with a lot of laughter on the way!) Why is sustainable consumption so important to you?
I have always tried to make conscious and ethical decisions about what, where and how I buy. Fair trade, organic cotton, environmentally friendly cleaning agents etc. When I became aware of the entire extent of the climate catastrophe, which we are heading for, I realized that such personal lifestyle changes were not sufficient and we need social changes. a large scale. It is not enough that I don't buy new clothes, but if enough others join me, we can bring about an ethical consumer revolution and Fast fashion will be a thing of the past. so what is your reaction to the climate emergency? on May 1st St 2021 I sat down in the city center of Newcastle and wore a poster with the inscription 'I am afraid of my grandchildren because of the climate crisis.' Tied up, inserted into a police car at the back and locked in a cell for five hours. During all of the experience I repeated the mantra "I'm peaceful. I am powerful." Many of my friends and family displeasure what I do. I had to accept this as part of the costs of my activity. I never feel connected to the one I was created, as if I was involved in civilian disobedient and non -violent direct action. are. Data CCP-Props = '{"201341983": 0, "33559739": 160, "335559740": 259}'> We can do difficult things. This is said that Glennon Doyle - the super inspiring woman who wrote "Untamed", repeats the book that has changed my life and who is enthusiastic to me through her two -week podcast. She is right. We can. What is in store for you and what are your New Year's resolutions? Three simple intentions: Do not buy beef for my children anymore, never visit MacDonald’s and never buy at Amazon. In addition, I will continue to put all my energy in the Green Heart Collective and climate activism. Green Heart Collective is constantly developing and I am excited to see where we will be at this time next year. I don't know where my trip to activism will lead me (I will definitely be put in court next year), but I know that I have to raise more courage and determination than ever before. But how can I stop if there is so much to do?
and when I say all I am determined to improve more time to narrow down my family, my friends and my own self-care (who for me, read and spend and go wrong Playing is) to be paid full attention.
Glennon Doyle asks: 'What will you do with this one wild and precious life?' After I have lost a close friend and my remarkable mother-in-law this year, I know that life is short and I want it to count. So I will continue to scream when I run into the sea on a Sunday morning, and hug my 20-year-old autistic son as often as he leaves it, and cuddle with my dogs on the sofa on the sofa and hide the plastic dinosaurs around the corner to find space for my granddaughter and spin a little meal that I cook ... because I am so and I have to be. Data CCP-Props = '{"201341983": 0, "33559739": 160, "335559740": 259}'> 
From the pen of yogamatt