Power Portraits

Nickole as the Eagle

At the edge of the frozen water, Nickole didn’t need to move to take flight. She stood — quiet, watchful — and the whole landscape seemed to rise to meet her. There is a strength that shouts… and then there is the kind that steadies the air around it. Nickole carries the second kind. Her rising looks peaceful and calm.

There are moments in this series when the landscape and the person begin to mirror each other — and last evening at Riverside Park was one of those moments.

I returned to the park at dusk, chasing the sky in its full winter glory. The light was soft and suspended, the kind that holds its breath for just a second longer than you expect. Nickole and I wandered out onto the frozen pond at the center of the park — solid beneath our feet — and then slowly made our way toward the river’s edge.

In the reflection of the still water, something shifted.

It felt like Nickole took flight.

Not in movement alone — but in presence. She stood there, grounded and expansive all at once, like an eagle soaring above it all: the trees, the traffic, the water… even me. I looked up and saw this majestic creature — alive in her boldness, quiet in her watchfulness, deeply aware of the world around her.

Nickole carries that rare energy: introspective, observant, and deeply caring. She is someone who sees what often goes unspoken.

How We Met

Nickole and I connected after yoga — drawn together by my yellow glasses and my unmistakably More Joy wardrobe. Since then, it has been a gift getting to know her over this last year.

As a yoga teacher, Nickole has witnessed countless students sweating uncomfortably in polyester during downward dog, quietly wishing she could help. She has a vision to create a yoga line that truly supports the body in motion — clothing that breathes, moves, and honors the human inside it.

But beyond her work, Nickole is a helper in the truest sense.

She has seen my pain and spoken love directly into it. On many afternoons around 3pm — after picking up her 10-year-old son Toby from school — she’ll stop by my door. We hug and hold it there until our heartbeats begin to sync… until our shoulders drop.

If you’ve ever experienced that kind of hug, you know:

A grounding embrace can calm overwhelm like medicine.

As someone who has wrestled with anxiety, I have come to deeply respect the power of a regulated nervous system — and the people who help bring us back to it.

Nickole is one of those people.

Why the Eagle

When I asked Nickole why she chose the eagle, her answer was immediate and heartfelt:

“The eagle flies high and sees things from above. I love the idea of strength coming from higher perspective — of trusting in its own innate strength and boldness rooted in humility. There’s a confidence in eagles and a rising above adversity.”

“It really resonated with me… I know my strength is from God. That is my favorite scripture because I love the idea of renewing our strength… even as I age. He makes everything new.

Her words brought to mind Isaiah 40:31:

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.”

There is something profoundly moving about strength that is both powerful and gentle — bold yet grounded in humility. Nickole embodies that paradox beautifully.

The Look

For Nickole’s look, I built the foundation in Brazil Nut, a rich, earthy brown that echoes the body of the eagle and harmonizes naturally with her own coloring.

We layered intentionally for warmth, texture, and presence:

Brazil Nut dash-dyed long terry cloth robe
Cream faux fur robe, scarf, and hand-knit hat (evoking the eagle’s head)
Nylon REI long sleeve base layer
Flowing long circle skirt
Rayon scarf tied into a flower belt
Rayon square wrap draped as a shawl

As we walked Riverside Park, Nickole moved with ease inside these layers — comfortable, grounded, and fully herself.

And the magic moment?

These shades made her come alive because they mirror her natural coloring. Against the winter trees, she nearly disappeared into the bark — completely at home in the eagle’s palette.