Hellooooo Steemit Community!!
My name is Samantha Rae aka Raeya Sunshine and I am SUPER stoked to be a part of a decentralized, social community! Allow me to introduce myself by bearing my heart and soul and being vulnerable with all of you beautiful people.
Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, surrounded by its vivid landscape of mountains, forests and rivers, I developed a deep love and appreciation for nature. I remember always playing outside as a child, making mud pies and eating dirt, digging around in ant hills, planting trees in my backyard with my father. As I grew older, my love for Mother Earth flourished into a passion to protect her precious resources. This was contrary to the type of society I was raised in and the programming I received as a child. Inundated with constant advertisements and being pushed to consistently consume, I somehow lost my connection to Mother and more importantly, I had lost my connection to myself.
Throughout my formative years as a teen, I experimented with drugs and alcohol, thinking that substance would take away all of the pain, guilt, shame and depression I carried. I became addicted to cocaine at the age of 15, still unbeknownst to my parents. I stole money from my mom's purse in order to support my habit and snorted lines alone, in the darkness of my room, while the rest of my family slept (I'm sorry, mom and Sam).
I was always desperate to fit in. Spending hours in the bathroom trying to create that perfect hair style, constantly concerned about how others would judge my appearance. I did everything I could to uphold this image that I was "cool" and could fit in with not only the popular crew, but all of the "rebels" and druggies as well. While I am grateful for all of the lessons my recreational drug phase provided, I in essence, was losing the innocent, creative, optimistic Samantha that I was born into this wold to be. I began to squander my talents and abilities because I was lost in this world of consumption and outside expectations. The further out of touch I became with my heart and with nature, the more the darkness and depression began to creep in.
At the age of 18, a good friend of mine introduced me to Buddhism and meditation. This opened up a rabbit hole of awakening experiences and lessons, and I began a path of self development and deep, esoteric exploration. Shortly after, my vibration attracted someone very dear to my heart and soul 
Today, years later as an adult, I am now fully committed to reprogramming myself to live in full alignment with natural law and spirit. I am reigniting my childlike innovation, creativity and wonder.
With a deep desire to strengthen my connection to Mother Earth and learn more about how to work with rather than against nature, I went on to study permaculture design in 2015. Along with permaculture, some of my other passions in life include creating regenerative ecosystems, energy healing, yoga, traveling, photography and teaching, inspiring and encouraging children.
Permaculture Design Graduation Day
Learning about zoning during my PDC course (thats me in the left hand corner in the tie dye hoodie)
Knowing that the key to protecting our earth’s resources lie in the hands of our youth, I became a nanny in order to educate kids on the importance of living in accordance with natural law and inspire them to help make a change. I encourage children to follow their passions while being mindful of the effect their every thought and action has on their planet and our collective human family.
When I am not educating children, I am learning all that I can about reducing my impact on our beautiful planet and how to live a life where I am truly free. My plan for this community is to share what I learn along the way so that you, too, can reduce your carbon footprint, help to create a regenerative ecosystem, and rise above centralization and regulation so that we can live in liberty! I will also share anything that inspires me, my photography, poetry and travel experiences.
I am still building my website, so please stay tuned for my big launch!
Thank you, to my beautiful human family, for taking the time to read my introduction blog. I am excited to start creating and sharing my creations with all of you. I look forward to connecting, sharing, and learning from my new Steemian family and shining some light on your life in return.
Love and Light,
Raeya Sunshine
Please check out my intro video