The power community of one, &
Wild Kinship author Monique Hemmingson hopes her new book will help people understand their power as a consumer and how to channel it.
Monique Hemmingson has a powerful quote by cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead tattooed on the inside of her arm. “Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens have the power to change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Since those words were inked 10 years ago, Hemmingson has been reminded and re-educated of its unwavering truth.
As the world faces an environmental crisis she decided to seek out conscious entrepreneurs throughout New Zealand and Australia and tell their stories. The result is Wild Kinship, a collection of frank, inspiring conversations with the founders of conscious businesses.
“I hope that it aids education, inspires and celebrates the ways in which we can improve personally and professionally. I hope it shows people that things can be done ethically, not with sacrifice, but by having a connection to their actions and they can move forward in this world with kindness and consciousness for the wellness of themselves and our planet,” says Hemmingson.
Full circle
It’s Hemmingson’s first book. Previously she owned wholefoods café Wild One in Mount Maunganui, working with some amazing conscious brands who were putting profit by the wayside and things like environmental sustainability, fair trade and quality over quantity at the forefront.
“They were defying the normal business model, which I found super inspiring. I realised they had stories to share with the world, at a time when the world really needed to hear it. Wild Kinship really blossomed from that moment,” she says.
Hemmingson left high school early to get a Bachelor of Media Arts, and worked for an independent newspaper straight out of her studies before further study in creative writing in New York.
She left New York with a strong desire to travel (writing intermittently for small travel magazines and blogs along the way), which led her to working seven days a week all summer in hospitality in New Zealand to fund her winter travels.
On one of these trips, she fell ill, which led her to wholefoods and holistic wellness.
“This new-found way of life, in addition to my experience in hospitality, led me to opening my wholefoods café and meeting these wonderful business owners. It’s funny how life ebbs and flows. I feel like I have done full circle and this book is a combined collection of my past experiences,” she says.
Better businesses
Hemmingson wanted to capture a broad range of industries to highlight change that can be made across the board.
“I profiled big and small companies, old and new and with directors across a range of demographics so that everyone could relate and become inspired or empowered, no matter your age, background or industry.
“I think it’s important to note that no one is perfect,” she says. “I do not believe we live in a world where this is possible. So whilst these businesses may not be perfect, they are better, which is a great place to start. As Al of The Daily Bar said: ‘I don’t necessarily think everyone has to be perfect in their environmental crusade, but if everyone is doing it better, or pretty well, then that’s going to have a huge effect’.”
Throughout the process she was moved by the collective energy of everyone she interviewed. “I was also really inspired by many of their core philosophies, one of which was to make their businesses work for them, rather than working for their business,” says Hemmingson. “Many were actively capping their growth to ensure quality was maintained but also that it didn’t outgrow them or their lifestyles whilst still running a highly successful company. There is so much bravery and a real sense of trust and groundedness in that.”
Wild Kindship is a book about many things. Life and love, livelihoods and communities, how to find balance and success personally, by nurturing the world around us. It also offers practical business advice and lifestyle tips and comes from an inspiring space where the reader can be creatively charged and motivated to chase their own personal or professional dreams.
“It started out being about small business, environmental sustainability and conscious consumerism but ended up being about so much more than that,” says Hemmingson. “It’s about wellness and sustainability as a whole; mentally, physically, economically and environmentally through mindful consciousness and slow living.”
“I hope that we can learn the importance and huge impact of consciousness within consumerism and that it doesn’t equal sacrifice, but empowerment.”