Where the Road Leads

I’ll admit it—I spend too much time scrolling through Instagram. I love images, art, and learning, and I’ve learned to curate my feed so that it mostly reflects what inspires my creative work or delights my quirky sense of humor.

Somehow, I began seeing posts from Walk for Peace, USA, which follows Buddhist monks walking more than 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington, D.C. to inspire peace. I’m not sure how it found me, but I’m grateful it did. There were days when their words, quiet presence, and steady dedication moved me to tears. For more than 100 days, they walked—through heat, cold, and uncertainty—guided by compassion and purpose. It was extraordinary.

Each time I saw a post, I wondered if I might be able to see them in person. When they reached the outskirts of Washington, D.C., I decided it was time. I went to the church where visitors were gathering. The crowd was smaller than I expected, but hundreds of us stood outside the fence, waiting in the cold for them to appear on the small stage set up in the street.

After a long wait—one I couldn’t complain about, knowing what they had endured—their leader stepped forward. He greeted us with a warm smile, gentle presence, and words filled with wisdom and grace.

The crowd was kind and welcoming. We were all there for the same reason: to be in the presence of something meaningful. Some sought blessings, others photographs, and most of us simply wanted connection—with people whose purpose is to bring joy, compassion, and peace into the world. He made us laugh, cry, clap, and cheer, often within the same breath.

The mayor of Alexandria presented the monks with a homemade tapestry to keep them warm. It had been created by women learning the art of sewing through the Artisan’s Training program at a local nonprofit. In that moment, I knew I was meant to be at that stop on their journey. 

Sewing as service.
Teaching sewing as a way to lift women up.
Creativity as compassion.

It was meaningful beyond words.

It made me reflect on my own work. How does my sewing lift others? How do I share this gift? Creating is part of who I am. It brings me joy, connection, wonder, and delight. My hope is that when I share my work, others feel that spirit, too.

And sew it goes.