Andy Patterson (he/him/his)
was born in the heat of San Antonio, Texas, and raised among the cows of Amish Country in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His childhood was overflowing with outdoor adventures as a Boy Scout and balanced by hours in the studio as he worked his way to becoming a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do at Odyssey Karate. At thirteen, he traded the studio for the stage as he discovered the world of theater and dropped nearly everything to dive into the community. Five years later, he found himself walking in cap and gown at Coatesville Area Senior High School with his diploma, and four years after that, he left the hallowed halls of Temple University with his B.F.A. in Musical Theatre, amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic no less. With all of these rich experiences as his foundation, he is grateful to dedicate his time to a spiritual practice grounded in activism and self-reflection, a life teeming with creativity but countered by visionary discipline, and a lifestyle led by learning(it’s never too late to harness the beauty of a beginner’s mindset). His work is underscored by his dedication to sustainable practices, ethical working conditions, equal and equitable opportunity/representation, and his yearning to make space for queer and othered voices of all kinds in the world, no matter what he is doing, where he is going, or who he is surrounded by. Whatever community he finds himself in, he will bring all of himself to it.
ANDY’S LIBRARY
A Course In Miracles - Helen Schucman
A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
Becoming Vegan - Brenda Davis
Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology + the Chakra System as a Path to the Self - Anodea Judith
Finding Flow - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
How to Be An Antiracist - Ibram X. Kendi
How to Solve Our Human Problems - G.K. Gyatso
Me and White Supremacy - Layla F. Saad
Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good - Adrienne Maree Brown
Tell Me About Yourself - Holley M. Murchison
The Artist’s Way - Julia Cameron
The Book of Awakening - Mark Nepo
The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz
The Four Tendencies - Gretchen Rubin
The New Eight Steps to Happiness - G.K. Gyatso
The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
The Science of Storytelling - Will Storr
The Seat of the Soul - Gary Zukav
When - Daniel H. Pink
White Fragility - Robin DiAngelo
_________________________
Online Bookstores I Love to Buy From
(A) Key Ring
(b) Sambucus Elderberry Cough Drops
I am a singer. Enough said LOL.
Other Favorites:
(C) Pens, Pencils, Markers; the assortment
Sustainable, ethical brands:
(D) Books (at least two at all times)
Featured:
(E) Zenni Blue Light Glasses
These are a MUST have because I spend so much time on screens engaging with technology, 24/7. I’m sure you do too. Affordable, durable and so worth the investment if you feel like the need is there!
(F) Aquaphor
Since I was a child, every winter, my lips have been chronically chapped. A whole cracking, bleeding mess. Until the fall of my junior year of college! If you have chapped lips and can’t seem to solve the issue, this may be your new go-to product!
(G) Journals
I am a HUGE journal lover. From traditional diary entries to bullet-journaling, to goal setting, to to-do lists, I put my pen to paper daily to process events, strategize solutions and visualize my dreams.
(H) Meaningful Jewelry
I am not a big jewelry person, but these are some of the staple pieces that have come into my possession over the past few years.
Featured:
Chakra bead necklace
Circle Necklace - gifted by my mentor, Maggie Anderson
(I) Water bottles (at least two at all times)
Favorites:
(J) We’re Not Really Strangers
I love connection, and love to foster it deeply with whoever I meet. This game helps to create that connection, by allowing you to slowly get more acquainted with people you are less familiar with, at your own pace while still pushing you to the edges of your social comfort zone. This is a favorite of mine for sure.
(K) Essential Oils Roller Bottle Blends for:
Anxiety
Essential oils for de-stressing: rose, clary sage, frankincense, lavender, bergamot, marjoram, ylang-ylang, lemon, geranium, orange, sandalwood, chamomile, vetiver
Focus
Essential oils for improving concentration: rosemary, basil, peppermint, helichrysum, cedar, vetiver, grapefruit, pine, juniper
Sleep
Essential oils that help induce sleep: lavender, vetiver, patchouli, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, chamomile, neroli, marjoram, cedar, bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, rose
Digestion
Essential oils pairs for digestive health: thyme + rose, cardamom + clove, peppermint + ginger, tea tree + oregano, fennel + tarragon
(L) All-White Converse
If you know, you know. I wear these all the dang time.