Welcome to a Wilder Life
Wilder Life is a sanctuary for slow living, creativity, and deep nature connection—an ad and algorithm free space of belonging where kindred spirits cultivate an intentional, meaningful life rooted in curiosity, joy, and the wild beauty of the natural world.
Hi! I’m Jenny Golding. I’m a writer, photographer, digital storyteller, and the founding editor of A Yellowstone Life. I live in a tiny house on the edge of Yellowstone National Park with my husband and son (both named George), and our adventure-dog, Hobbes.
You’d think my life here, in one of the wildest places on earth, would be perfect.
But for years, I struggled with chronic depression and anxiety, even as I built a life I loved. A diagnosis of adult ADHD brought some clarity, but between grieving my mom’s long battle with Alzheimer’s, facing the very real indignities of perimenopause (if you know you know😉), and experiencing that chipping away of self that comes from the middle aged squeeze of caregiving, motherhood, family and work, I felt lost, untethered, and overwhelmed.
I desperately needed to find a way back to myself.
But my usual coping mechanisms weren’t working.
Nature has always been my refuge, but it wasn’t until I shifted my perspective that it became my true medicine. I tried meditating, hiking, taking pictures of wild animals, drinking (too much), all of it. But nothing brought me peace. And even when I had time outside hiking and photographing, I wasn’t really seeing what was around me, much less engaging with it.
Until I shifted the way I spend time in nature and found my true medicine.
Letting go of “destination” hikes and task-oriented outdoor time, I began to slow down and simply “be” in nature. Evening sit spots in a grove of cottonwoods I call the “Tree Palace,” combined with slow walks, journaling, mindful photography, and focusing on the smallest details—the rustle of leaves, the songs of birds, the texture of bark—transformed me.
This intentional blend of nature and creativity transformed me, opening new doorways to calm, clarity, and a renewed sense of wonder. Add in a couple of solo “mom retreats” and a 200 mile soul-searching backpacking journey, I was finally able to weave the frayed threads of my life into a new tapestry, into a stronger sense of my own voice and purpose.
Now, I’m passionate about helping others discover their own paths back to themselves through deep nature connection, creativity, and living fully in the present moment.
Why I created Wilder Life
In truth, I created Wilder Life because it’s the kind of community I wish I’d had during my toughest times. I wanted a retreat from the noise of the world, especially the “mosh pit” of social media, where we’re trading likes and hearts for real, meaningful conversations. I want to build a sanctuary for kindred spirits seeking an authentic way to live in our crazy disconnected world.
I wanted to hold space for myself, and for you too: Wilder Life is more than a community; it’s a gentle invitation to rediscover yourself in the company of like-minded people seeking joy, creativity, and belonging. Together, we’re creating a slower, more intentional way of living, rooted in nature, creativity, and a profound sense of place, where we can find a deeper relationship with our true selves, and the more than human world around us.
A gathering space where we can be fully ourselves—sharing creative projects, marveling at natural wonders large and small, and exploring the wild places within us that others might not always understand. Here, we embrace our innate creativity, align with our true selves and purpose, and connect with others who celebrate the untamed beauty of both nature and our inner lives.
And finally, through the Wilder Women’s Circle (coming soon), I am creating a space for women navigating the transitions of midlife to be SEEN amid the “invisible years” when our commitments and sacrifices are at their greatest, yet our recognition and voice often feel at their lowest. It’s a place to explore how we can reclaim our creativity, confidence, and power during this transformative time. Through simple, nature-based practices and acts of creativity, we’ll find our way out of the wilderness and back to ourselves—or perhaps even into a new version of ourselves, supported by a community of like-minded women walking this path with you.
Why subscribe?
In a world that often feels noisy, disconnected, and polarized, Wilder Life is a haven. It’s a place for those of us yearning for a more intentional way of life; a space to rediscover meaning, joy, and belonging through slow living, creativity, and deep nature connection, in community with like minded souls.
Here’s what you can look forward to in this space as a free subscriber:
In regular posts, newsletters, and notes I’ll share dispatches from the natural world here at home on the north border of Yellowstone National Park and on travels abroad, as well as reflections on the joys, challenges, and lessons of striving for a wilder life.
Regular posts and essays will be open to everyone to comment, connect and contribute.
When you’re ready to dive in deep to create a wilder life, paid members enjoy:
A Community of Kindred Spirits: A private algorithm and ad-free space to share experiences, engage in meaningful conversations, and foster real kinship in members only chat sessions and regular online gatherings.
100 Wild Hours - Weekly prompts that invite you to weave nature and creativity into your daily life to help you cultivate mindfulness, belonging, and a sense of place.
Live, Online Events - Nature and creativity events done in community, such as mindful photography retreats, nature journaling sessions, forest bathing, nature breaks, art workshops, and sit spot challenges
Access to the Wilder Life Academy, a collection of workshops and resources to help you cultivate regular nature and creativity practices.
Conversations with Special Guests: Semi-regular chats with fellow artists, naturalists, and storytellers striving along with us for a “wilder life”.
If you’ve found your way here, please drop a comment below to say hello, and let me know what your “wilder life” looks like.
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