What is Wise Freedom?

Have you ever looked at a piece of art and had it speak directly to your soul? When I encountered the tilework of artist Justine Tot Tatarsky, I instantly fell in love. I was drawn to the artist’s use of color and shape, the movements in her pieces, and the themes involving women, nature, freedom, and empowerment. Two pieces in particular caught my eye, and I knew I had to take them home with me. One of the pieces (pictured above) is titled Wise Freedom, and it is the inspiration for this post.

What is wise freedom? To me, it means using your time and resources judiciously, cultivating patience, and moving forward in a planful way (while still having the freedom to change course). It also means exploring in a meaningful way—a way that is intentional and aligned to your purpose. 

When I became “somewhat” retired in 2022, I had to adjust to my newfound freedom. I am an active and driven person, so I knew that lounging on a beach or living a quiet life at home would not satisfy me for long. These retirement paths work just fine for others, but they are not for me. I’m restless and industrious; I like to create and start new projects and help others. Understanding myself and my personality, I began to ponder how I could use my freedom wisely—how I could leverage my time, creativity, and resources to not only do meaningful work but to also uplift and empower others. 

Though I am not an inherently patient person, I decided to take some time to figure out the path forward, giving myself the grace to consider different routes and see how they fit. As I explored, I found my thoughts and ideas revolving around one key idea: wine and winemaking.

I appreciate the traditions and ceremonies surrounding wine. Winemaking is a practice that has been around for thousands of years, with wine gracing the tables of people from many different regions and backgrounds. It represents gathering, friendship, conversation, and community. It is symbolic of celebration and abundance. Wine also provides a feast for the senses—the sound of a cork popping; the array of colors, from pale yellow to deepest burgundy; the bouquet of scents wafting from the glass. 

After purchasing a small vineyard in Argentina and founding Blū Phoenix Wines, I began to use my “wise freedom” to intentionally cultivate this business into an enterprise that embodied three main traits:

1. Quality

I have always taken pride in my work. No matter what I’m doing, I tend to throw my whole self into the job to make sure I achieve the best possible outcome. In the case of Blū Phoenix, I not only worked with a highly skilled agronomist Gustavo Ursomarso and winemaker Gustavo Bauzá, to select grape varietals and develop the wine, I also attended “wine school” so I could make intentional and informed decisions about the vineyard (I have passed my Level 3 WSET Certification and am working toward earning my diploma). The wines that resulted from my partnerships are highly flavorful and embody the qualities of the region, using grapes that thrive there, native yeast, and centuries-old processes for harvesting and winemaking. And our commitment to quality has paid off. One of my wines recently scored 92.5 from José Luis Belluscio, a score that surpassed my expectations.

2. Sustainability

My goal is for my business to be sustainable from both an environmental and economic perspective. I want it to grow and flourish, generating enough income to be viable, while at the same time honoring the land and the people who live there by sowing, growing, and harvesting in an eco-friendly way. To achieve economic sustainability, I am in business-building mode. I have built a website and am gearing up to launch an online shop that will allow customers to order directly from the business (stay tuned!). To reach my goal of environmental sustainability, I have followed the protocol to become a certified organic vineyard, and as of the 2024 vintage, I can now officially claim organic status. We also practice water conservation and other sustainable tools to achieve this goal. In addition to respecting the land and surrounding environment, I believe this dedication and commitment to what is natural and whole is reflected in each bottle.

3. Purpose-Centric

As I cultivate and nurture my business (just as the woman in Justine Tot Tatarsky’s tilework tends to her bird), I am thinking about how it can soar. My ultimate goal is to use this work as an instrument to make a positive impact in the world. For me, that means channeling most of the business’s proceeds into helping two vulnerable groups: young women and animals (read more about my involvement in the wonderful nonprofit group Friends of Ngong Road in my last article). I keep this purpose at the center of my work, always in sight. 

Though I am free to do whatever I’d like in my not-so-retired life, I’m choosing to move forward with as much patience and wisdom as I can muster. I’m choosing to act with intention. To me, that is the meaning of wise freedom, and the message I see in the tilework of the same name.

So many people have already been on my journey with me.  Such a gift.  I invite others to join.  Together, I hope Blū Phoenix wine can be a part of everyone’s wise freedom.