ABOUT

First Sip came into being after the birth of my first child many years ago, when I was learning to navigate the joys and challenges of motherhood. I didn't have time to dive into the books I so loved, and I didn't have energy to ponder deep questions about living in wholeness and in peace. Still, I found myself craving bite-sized servings of beauty and inspiration that I could carry with me as I navigated the world with a baby swaddled at my chest.

I couldn't find what I was looking for, so I created this site. I began uploading passages from the quote book where I've stored inspiring words since I was a teen. And then I started jotting down new poems and quotes on scraps of paper to post while my baby napped. Eventually I began adding my own photos to accompany each day's text.

I shared the bare-bones site with family, and then with friends. My friends shared the site with others, and on and on. We now have a lot of daily readers - I have no idea how many, but I am so happy for every visitor. I feel a deep kinship with anyone who might like to share a little early-morning light together.

Occasionally I hear from readers from far-flung places, telling me how a particular poem arrived in their inbox at just the right moment, or how a nugget of wisdom served as a touchstone as they navigated difficulty, or how they shared a particular uplifting post with family and friends. I love to see the many ways First Sip stretches its arms out into the world.

I am so grateful for all of the thinkers, sages, poets and writers whose words I share. Whenever I can I seek out these wise souls for permission to post their words on this site, and without fail they have generously allowed me to share their works. I also do my best to point readers toward the authors' offerings, so we all may benefit from their wisdom and beauty. Thank you!

My oldest child is now an adult, and that means First Sip has been around a long time. Somehow this site feels to me like a quiet and steady friend in a rocky world. Whenever I need a little wisdom or light, I head here for sustenance and inspiration. (I hope you do, too.) I continue to stay on the lookout for glimmerings of beauty and insight that help us connect, engage and act in alignment with our deepest truths and values. Thanks for sharing this adventure!

In gratitude,

Claudia Cummins