Walk into a field of sunflowers. Okay. Now frown. Yes, I am serious. I dare you.
What do you mean you can’t do it? I know. I know. I can’t either. No matter what’s going on in the world around me, no matter what I may be facing in my life at the moment, bring me to that field (or even a tiny patch of sunfl owers next to a decaying urban parking lot) and my brain is flooded with happy chemicals.
What is it about these beauties? They are anything but delicate. Meaty. Strong. Nurturing (providing essential nutritional and medicinal qualities throughout most known cultures and times). As they drink in the sun’s rays, they climb and they climb.
Have you noticed that no matter how big and how tall any individual sunfl ower grows, she never blocks the sun from reaching her brothers and sisters? Rather, she seems to inspire them to be the best they can be. Shhh…. I think I hear her.
Smile with me.
Grow with me.
And, pass the message along.
Terri S. Alpert
Founder & CEO
T.alpert@unoallavolta.com
Artisan Moments 
Artisan Elisabetta asked that we comment for her in both Italian and English:
“Mi sono messa a leggere growing toward the sun e poi tutte le altre cose scritte da Terry, tra cui il ringraziamento al suo babbo. Mi son venuti i brividi dall’emozione.
Potresti dire a Terry grazie da parte mia per avere questa sensibilità e trovare il modo di trasmetterla a tutti .”
Translation:
“I read Growing Torwards The Sun and all the other things written by Terri, including her thanking her father. I got very emotional and had goosebumps. I would like to thank you for having such sensibility and knowing how to transmit it to all.”