In 2018, Dai became a graduate of the Wilderness Awareness School where they fostered a deeper connection to the world at large, which they so often aim to honor through their art.  Honoring the world and the wild ones has become a central tenant to their guiding and artistry.  It was from here that the Practice of Honoring took form. ​

An art teacher once told Dai, "I'm not teaching you how to draw, I'm teaching you how to see." They have carried this lesson with them through the decades, aiming to see the world more clearly, more wholly, and with more gratitude. When they teach others, Dai aims to help their students see both the world and themselves as truly beautiful, and in that, worthy of the time it takes to truly pause and honor the gifts given to us by this world.