Sands of Life

The experiences that shape us

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About Vincent

With 47 years of experience as a cabinet maker and contractor, Vincent is passionate about turning his clients’ ideas into reality with precision and care. For him, woodworking is more than craftsmanship; it’s a way to blend beauty and function, where each project becomes an opportunity for personal expression and collaboration. Alongside his craft, Vincent is also a Reiki Master Teacher, helping others tap into their own healing energy. His dual expertise in creating and healing reflects his deep respect for both form and flow…whether shaping wood or guiding others toward balance.

When he’s not in the workshop or channeling Reiki, Vincent enjoys deepening his relationship with his bride Nina. He enjoys taking in the great outdoors. He embraces both adventure and tranquility, whether kayaking, hiking, fishing, meditating, or performing a fire ceremony. His vintage 1975 Bronco or his pickup truck is a regular companion on his journeys, taking him through both rugged terrain and quiet spaces.

Nestled deep in the North Woods of the Adirondacks, Vincent’s off-grid camp offers the ultimate sanctuary. Surrounded by the sounds of a bubbling brook and the warmth of a crackling fire, he finds peace in the stillness. In this quiet place, even the softest sounds…like a bird’s feathers cutting the air or snowflakes settling on the ground…remind him of life’s simple, profound beauty as he continues to navigate the sands of his life.

I Am Not Disposable

The Seasons of Us by Vincent

I sat by the open door of my favorite place, my camp deep in the north woods, the soft hum of rain tapping on the roof top…sipping my tea slowly, watching the leaves drift from the trees outside, some green, some golden, some already brown. It struck me how much those leaves reminded me of people.

For decades, I had believed friendships were forever, like sturdy oaks standing tall through storms. But life, as I was learning more and more, didn’t work that way. People have come and people have gone, seasons changed, and with each shift, I found myself both grieving and growing.

There were some friends and some teachers, one of my closest, the one I shared secrets and pains and struggles and fears and joys with for years, our bond felt unbreakable. But as time passed, our worlds shifted…new cities, new jobs, new loves. Calls became sporadic, messages unanswered. 

I felt the soreness of silence more than any fight or argument ever could. On that rainy afternoon, I realized something important: relationships are not disposable, but they must be mutual. Respect for myself meant accepting that sometimes, the kindest thing I could do was let go. Not with bitterness or blame, but with gratitude for the lessons and memories shared.

My 60s , their 40’s and beyond brought new seasons, unexpected losses, fresh friendships, and a deeper understanding that change is the only constant. Like the trees shedding their leaves, I was learning to release what no longer served my soul…trusting that new blossoms would appear when the time was right.

I smiled softly. Life’s rhythms were not to be feared. They were to be honored. Impermanence was not an ending but a promise…a chance to rediscover, to create, to live fully in the moment.

As the rain slowed and the clouds parted, a single leaf floated down and landed gently on the deck before me…a ladybug appeared and I reached out and it landed on my finger (interestingly on the ego finger) and I whispered, “Thank you, for every season, every lesson, every change”

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