My name is Amy, but you can call me Stanley Jo if you like. I grew up on a dirt road in Southern California, always dreaming yonder. Today, I understand the value of dreams but I know that right now is all we have. I have written poetry and carefully observed human interactions since I was a little girl. I revel in the mysteries of the universe—life, death, joy, grief and science. I believe in the resilience of the human spirit and I want to help cultivate that knowing in others.

I’ve lived a really “fun” life full of travel and adventure but a more meaningful existence has always been on the horizon. I’ve been very intentional in getting closer to that horizon for the past five years or so. I’ve cut things out that don’t serve me (alcohol) and added things that do (yoga). I’m learning how to make a formula for myself that feels a lot like a road map not just to the horizon, but also the promised land of a more meaningful life. I have become more courageous and self-accepting; overall, through a series of missteps and adjustments I feel like I’m becoming more like the person the world needs me to be.

I value respect, accountability, authenticity, kindness, compassion and growth. I believe that our perceptions of the world are our world and that we have the power to change those perceptions at any time if we wish. I’ve learned that cultivating this power takes time, effort and serious commitment but it is available to all of us. I am a work in constant progress, and I want to learn with and from YOU.