BOLDNESS + BRAVERY Page 15 of 18

Gone adventurin’

Posted on 2012-03-24 at 9:00 am.

(Image by NavyBlur)

Our stuff is in storage. The out-of-office/studio is on. The to-do list is done. We are off.

My man and I are heading East for a big adventure. We are going to spend a few months in Japan – slowing down, looking, listening, exploring, (dare I add ‘retreat researching’??) and I am so thrilled. These past few months have been crazy, and the past few weeks have been nothing short of chaos. But they have all been leading to this moment when we step onto that plane, head into the skies and fly in the direction of adventure.

See you in Tokyo!

Beth

PS. If you fancy a very different kind of adventure of your own, I have just relaunched the Do What You Love e-course which will be brought to you for the very first time from Japan! Class begins on May 14. There’s a special early bird discount if you sign up before the end of March. See here for more details and to register!

The Do What You Love e-course… back by popular demand!

Posted on 2012-03-21 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

For the past couple of months I have received a lot of emails asking when the Do What You Love e-course is running again, as it has been tucked away quietly since the last run of it back in November.

Picture of me by Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon

It is all about adventure, identifying your passion and making that a bigger part of your every day life. But for the past few months I feel like I have been padlocked to my desk getting lots of other things out into the world.

It would have felt wrong to run the course when I was holed up in my attic office, but now Spring is on its way, I have a plane ticket it my hand and I am about to head off on my own big adventure to Japan. It feels like the right time to run it again. Won’t you join us?

The Do What You Love adventure will begin on May 14, and for the first time ever will be brought to you from the Far East! It is going to be very special indeed… find out more below or register here (there’s a discount if you sign up by the end of March!)

This online adventure will take you step-by-step on a path to discovering your true passion, and finding a way to make it a greater part of your everyday life.

In six weeks you will expand your comfort zone, nurture your playful spirit and use this to feed your creative soul.

You will travel this path with a community of like-minded people from across the world, sharing your stories, forging new connections, and inspiring each other.

This will be like no other class you have ever taken. Can you afford not to join us? Find out more and register here.

Bringing big creative dreams to life: Stephanie Guimond & Julia Dolowicz Harvey share their stories

Posted on 2012-03-19 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Bringing big creative dreams to life: Stephanie Guimond & Julia Dolowicz Harvey share their stories DWYL BLOG SHAREDSTORIES 650X250PX LR

Today’s shared stories come from Stephanie Guimond in Canada and Julia Dolowicz Harvey in England.

Stephanie Guimond

I’m an artist, a visionary and an avid left-brainer (read: I paint, dream big and I love spreadsheets). Doing what I love means:

a) creating meaningful work and revenue related to art and creative expression, learning and growth, space and community or business and productivity,

b) working with others to help them create their own meaningful work, and

c) making sure my chosen work is part of a bigger picture, supporting the life I want to create overall.

At least that’s what it means today.

After spending nearly 10 years coveting the possibility of multiple income streams and fulfilling work, in October 2011 I took the leap and left my government 9-5 job to pursue something more meaningful. (Full disclosure: when I told my boss I was leaving she generously suggested that I take a one-year leave which I did, so technically as I write this I’m on leave.)

I loved several aspects of my job and tried hard to make the 9-5 work, but the desire to do something different kept coming back every few years, each time more pronounced. I could no longer ignore it. Months leading up to last year’s decision to leave became fraught with hemming and hawing to the point where I just had to choose one way or another: branch out on my own or stay.

So here I am, smack dab in the middle of my journey in creating work as a solopreneur.

‘Blue Reflections’

I’m in the space between, working on foundational projects and products that fuel me day in and day out, but I’m not yet bringing in revenue. It’s a place of possibility and hope intermingled with fear and doubt, of satisfaction at seeing things come together and frustration at wanting them to come together faster.

It’s a place of opportunity.

Today my biggest obstacle is fear of never having a substantial income again, but I see possibility in others making a good living doing what they love and that pushes me to not give up. Through small actions I try to move through this fear as gracefully as I can, regularly calling on the Universe for healthy doses of faith, patience and confidence in my ability to make it work.

I am grateful for the opportunity to create work tailored to my soul and life goals. The journey started years ago, but I feel like it’s just beginning. Here’s to seeing where it will lead…

[Profile shot taken by Jag. Other images courtesy of Stephanie Guimond.]

Find out more about Stephanie on her website.

Julia Dolowicz Harvey

Bringing big creative dreams to life: Stephanie Guimond & Julia Dolowicz Harvey share their stories jules9

‘Doing what I love’ is about creating the life I want to live. It is related to my work but it’s also connected to my environment, my home, marriage, friendships, family, animals, community, the planet and even my spirituality. All of these are so important to me – I need to ‘do what I love’ in all of these areas. I need to be in tune with the very core of myself and honour what’s deep inside. There have been times when one area of my life is ok, the other fantastic and another abysmal; they all have a knock-on effect on each other. Happily I can now state that I am now doing ‘what I love’ because I am a Writer, Artist and Healer. This has led me to become an author, sell my art, teach workshops and offer reiki healing sessions.

In 2009 I was made redundant from my job at the University of Liverpool where I worked as a Career Development Manager – it was a good job that saw me travelling around the UK delivering workshops and presentations about how to create and develop your career, your life and your dreams.

I was gutted.

Having been at the university for 4 years, previously within the education team working with 16-19 year olds, I was always designing and delivering workshops and programmes. With a lecturing background, degree in Health, teaching certificate and counselling and NLP qualifications, it all worked beautifully.

It was only on being made redundant that I realised there was something missing. I was on auto pilot.

When I eventually finished work, synchronicity entered and family offered us a chance to move to France for a while. Two days after that phone call; an old colleague contacted me as she was moving back to Liverpool from Devon. Voila. We all house shifted.

Spending 5 months in France, we all went, me, my husband and Lucy, my adorable Jack Russell (she got her passport too). Here I immersed myself into my long-standing dream of becoming a writer and artist and I began to write my first book ‘Writing a UCAS personal statement in seven easy steps’. I started with subject matter of what I knew for sure, supported by my work history and background – writing expression statements to apply to university in the UK. I also reignited my passion for art and mixed media, buying a whole lot of art supplies from a lovely lady who was selling them to buy a motorbike. Once again, this sparked my sketching spirit, my love of colour, prisma pencils and paint. In my 5 lovely months, I practiced my French and living in the countryside. C’est moi!

Whilst in France, I began to create my cocoon art commissions for family and friends and I wrote, wrote, wrote, alongside developing my “ME mentoring” – where I support and mentor individuals who are suffering with M.E*/CFS* or Candidaisis, as well as career/lifestyle coaching. All of this I did over Skype.

*Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Back home to Liverpool having pitched my proposal to a publisher just as I left France, I received ‘the email’ four weeks later to say they wanted to publish it!

I then set about continuing ‘to create the life I wanted to love and live’ back in Liverpool. I began to build a portfolio of work and got a job as a careers coach at a local independent school and also worked in a health food shop – this was my bread and butter money, enabling me then to focus more on my writing and my art around it.

Currently, I work as an external marker for Liverpool John Moores University’s World of Work programme and am putting finishing touches to my second book ‘Creating your First Ever CV in 7 easy steps.’ In April, I will begin my 44 Wisdom Card Project, which will see me complete a set of 44 oracle cards, art work by me, with messages and wisdom inspired by others and written by me and I continue to create my commissions in my quirky cocoon style and have completed 12 in the last year.

There is no doubt our style of life has changed – more so relating to money and expenditure as we are no longer earning a full time salary. Both me and my husband work for ourselves. He used to work in Iraq as a close protection officer and he’s now a passionate earth warrior and keeper of the garden – he’s a gardener. However having become more money aware I feel better off – with my life, my health and my creativity.

With hindsight, I wish I would have taken the leap and gone on some creative retreats sooner. Especially when I was working full time. If I had attended workshops even when I wasn’t ‘doing what I loved’, I would have nourished my creative soul. I went to Portugal in May last year to do a ‘Flora Bowley, Bloom True’ workshop and I wish I had done it years before. It was so releasing.

I now realise that travel and removing yourself from your familiar environment really does get creative juices flowing.

Having my own mentor early on to focus my creative business would have been a good move, to help me plan things a little more. I didn’t have a marketing plan, and still need to develop this side of me.

My big dream is to have my third book published called Healing ME Healing You, all about how I healed myself from ME/CFS when I was in my 20s; have an exhibition of my 44 Wisdom Card Paintings at a wonderful venue in Liverpool; and to illustrate and publish my mum’s poetry. She’s 76 and a poet, now doing what she loves! Big dreams! But then you did ask.

[Images courtesy of Julia Dolowicz Harvey.]

To find out more about Julia visit her website]

This used to be my studio…

Posted on 2012-03-13 at 1:59 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

100 boxes and bags in storage, empty rooms, suitcases ready, and a huge to-do list still staring at me, but slowly, slowly, it is starting to feel like we are actually going on this big adventure…

It’s like I don’t have time to get emotional about moving but I am sure it will hit me when I eventually slow down in a couple of weeks’ time and stop to sip green tea under a cherry tree somewhere, gentle blossoms falling all around me… ahh can’t wait (although I actually can as I have far too much to do in the coming days…)

Please forgive me if the blog feels a little empty, like my studio, over the next couple of weeks. I promise it will be worth the wait once I have found a new temporary home somewhere in the Far East and I can get back into sharing photos and telling stories of far-away adventures!

Life as a designer-in-progress: Petra Kern’s story

Posted on 2012-03-12 at 7:48 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from Slovenian designer Petra Kern.

I would say my story is very basic and simple. It really is. But as I look back I consider myself quite lucky that things came to me in exactly this order and in this shares. I was journalist for women and lifestyle magazines since I was 19. As a friend said the other day, “Those were the dreams of that life.« But to become pattern designer suddenly became the dream of the life I am living now, and for the future”.

Yes, I always loved art I always longed to make it but I really never had the courage to actually paint and share my things. And I never really knew that a profession such as textile designer or surface designer even existed!

We all know those little nagging voices inside of us: ‘There are so many better than you. Oh, how would you do the art, you do not, repeat do not, have any art education. So we really need another artist anyway … ?’ Luckily the other »do what you love« voices were louder.

One day in 2009 I went shopping and my eyes were caught on set of cheap sparkling markers for kids. With those I created my first patterns.

These were my very first patterns and they made me drunk with joy and happiness.

It felt so good, that one glorious day when I was still on maternity leave (in 2010) I decided that I have to do this every day of my life or I am going to be very, very unfulfilled and miserable by the time I am eighty. Of course lots of fears came with my decision to do whatever it takes to live from my art and designs. I guess I can count myself lucky that every time I get down because of worries and self doubt those spirit-lifting voices suddenly appear with super strong power and scare those fears away for a while.

In two years my hand painted portfolio of patterns has grown, and I have tried every technique I’ve learned along the way.

I am still searching for my place in the world and right now I would describe myself as designer-in-progress who is ready to offer designs for licensing. I had to discover the whole new world of painting, mixed media, pattern design and computer skills in those two solid years. Now is time to find people and companies that will license my designs.

In your own business you overcome a lot of laziness and self doubt. I got through them with new computer pattern designing skills. I am totally self taught.

The greatest lesson my new business is teaching me every day is that once you have your own business nothing is too hard. You suddenly find a great amount of will inside you and a giant hunger for knowledge. Suddenly your little world become so much bigger and when you look around yourself you find that you are among your people who also do what they love. And one more thing – since I am doing what I love I am a person who loves Mondays. For me they are a beginning of a five day creative process. Totally worth it!

[All images courtesy of Petra Kern.]

Find out more about Petra and her designs on her website, Etsy shop, or Zazzle shop, or connect on Facebook.

Adventure planning

Posted on 2012-01-22 at 12:41 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

These days, in the quiet moments between the rushes of work, my mind drifts to the Orient, and to the adventures that are to come this year. Over the weekend we spent several happy hours shuffling through journalled lists of places we want to explore, things we want to do. Mostly we are just going to wait and see, but there is a delicious anticipation in the planning, and I am savouring that for now.

The Fire Within – a guest post by Christine Mason Miller

Posted on 2011-12-06 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Images via christinemasonmiller.com)

Way back when – in the fall of 1995 – I started a business called Swirly with no earthly idea what I was doing. The internet was just beginning to come into its own, but had yet to become the now-indispensible tool it is for creative entrepreneurs. There were no e-courses with step-by-step instructions on setting up a business, there was no Etsy, and it was not possible to instantly spread the word about my work to a global audience the way I can today with Twitter. I took one adult education course on the basics of the wholesale gift industry, and marched onward from there with no long-term plan, no start-up money, and no experience. In other words, I had to figure it out on my own, make it up as I went along, and pick myself up again and again after all of the slips, stumbles, and missteps that were impossible to avoid.

All I had was an idea I was wildly passionate about, and the belief that I could make it real.

That is all anyone who has pursued their creative passions and built a meaningful life ever started with – an idea. Whether the idea is to create a close-knit family, learn how to bake the perfect cupcake, open a ceramics studio, master the art of juggling, travel across the country, re-unite with a long-lost friend, or get back on a bicycle after a bad accident, it is the ideas that make our hearts sparkle (you know the ideas I’m talking about) that have the potential to transform our lives, and, in turn, the world. The ideas don’t have to be “big”, and they don’t have to involve international travel, Fortune 500 goals, or New York Times bestseller lists. They don’t need to go farther than one’s own backyard. If they are sincere, and made real with integrity, their light will travel beyond those boundaries without our having to do a thing. That is the funny thing about our creative passions – they are capable of traveling at the speed of light all on their own.

I think it is extraordinary how much information, guidance, encouragement, and practical support is available here in 2011. No matter what the dream or passion, it is possible to find and/or create a community for that passion, to promote and/or share it, and to learn how to integrate those ideas that make our hearts sparkle into our day-to-day lives. The availability of resources is truly endless. But beyond all the opportunities we now have to plan, prepare, educate ourselves, and organize our lives, it is important to remember that there is also value in the stumbles and gifts in the mistakes. There is something to be said for learning, researching, and prioritizing, but even more for the commitment to getting up each day and doing the work our passions require. My ability to create a passionate, meaningful life has absolutely been supported and furthered by classes I’ve taken, mentors I’ve trusted, and advisors I’ve hired, but if all I did was look outside myself for the answers I was seeking and the direction I felt like I was missing, I wouldn’t have gotten far.

Sixteen years ago, I secured a business license on the foundation of an idea, and the idea was to inspire others. Ever since then, this deep desire has taken me down dirt roads, to dead ends, across oceans, up winding staircases, and in hot air balloons. It has carried me, held me, thrown up roadblocks, and provided me with gifts that were far greater than I had ever imagined. Through it all, I have learned to trust my dreams, and to let them lead the way. And it is the day-to-day experiences of this journey, rather than any final goal, that have provided me with the ongoing inspiration to keep doing the work I am doing – the most important work of my life, my most meaningful work in the world.

***

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica-based artist, writer, and explorer. Her next book – Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is now available at bookstores everywhere and Amazon.com.. Follow her adventures on www.christinemasonmiller.com

Do What You Love is one year old!

Posted on 2011-11-30 at 4:44 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

This month we celebrated one year of Do What You Love as a registered company (although the dreams have been in the works for much longer than that!) So much has happened, including the inaugural Do What You Love retreat a full six months ago – as I was reminded by one of the lovely participants who sent me a note recently saying,

“It’s lovely having that moment in time as a kind of benchmark for change and evolution (or even revolution!) It will always serve as a beautiful milestone in my life.”

I have to be completely honest and say that before Do What You Love I never thought for one moment I could create something that would have that kind of impact on an individual, and it is what makes everything feel so right – and makes me so grateful to everyone who has helped me make the choices that brought me right here, right now.

(Image: NavyBlur)

These past few weeks I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the Do What You Love journey in preparation for sharing it (highs, lows, finances, warts and all!) in January. I have trawled through a whole stack of journals, seeking the moments of sparkle and darkness, the whispers of intent and the hesitant recognition that it might just be working! I don’t normally read my own journals and they certainly aren’t written with the intention of showing them to anyone else, so to open them up to the class so completely makes me more than a little uncomfortable – but I am so intrigued by the story they tell that I know it is worth it in order to share them.

I will be sharing a few sneak peeks here over the coming weeks. For now I just want to acknowledge that this has been one of the best years of my life so far, and none of it would have been possible without the support of others – including YOU! So thank you. Truly, thank you so much.

***

Stay tuned for an exciting new project being unwrapped and announced here tomorrow! You are going to LOVE it!

On the right path: Jozica Rade and Christy Nimeh share their stories

Posted on 2011-11-14 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from art therapist Jozica Rade in Slovenia and artist Christy Nimeh in the US.

Jozica Rade

For me, ‘doing what you love’ means expressing yourself the best way you can – freely, and with an open heart… It means going with the flow, forgetting about time, hungry stomachs, or even about where you are. You just do it, without really knowing why (and from where this need comes). And guess what? You don’t really worry about the answers. Doing what you love is enough.

That’s how I feel when working with clients attending my art therapy or phototherapy sessions. I forget about myself and my needs, and I feel like I’m in a trance whenever I’m with them. They are my teachers, my inspiration, my way of learning about Life. I’m very thankful for them, for their open hearts and shared sad stories. It is not easy to tell your deepest thoughts to a stranger. I’m really thankful for their trust.

My journey to here is a long story, but there were moments in my life when I just knew I was on the right path. 17 years ago, miles and miles away from my home (in the US), I heard about art therapy for the first time. At that very first moment I knew that it was something I would like to do for life! But the circumstances at that time didn’t allow me to get into it then, and in fact ten years had to go by to make it happen – to begin my journey to become art therapist.

Studying a post-graduate program of art therapy was not easy. Not only because of all the books and texts and workshops, but rather because of the work we’ve had to do on ourselves. Lots of self-analyzing, observing our inner Selves, exploring our limits, revealing and working on our weaknesses… Sometimes it’s not easy to face all the little pieces of our-Selves, is it?

And just when I thought I was ready and happy to swim with the art therapy flow, another powerful idea hit me and I have gone through another wave of “I-know-what-I-(would)-love-to-do”! This time it is phototherapy. At one of the workshops I discovered this therapy technique and fell in love at once! How did I not know about it? A whole new world has opened to me and this river of energy pushed me in a new direction, learning all about this new therapeutic field. So I ended up choosing phototherapy for my final dissertation and research, and I even found mentors from abroad to help me out. Nothing can stop me now! I can’t even stop myself from thinking, breathing and ‘swimming’ in the river of art and phototherapy!!

Sometimes I’m sorry that I didn’t start studying art therapy in the US seventeen years ago. Maybe I didn’t try hard enough to make my dream come true – I would love to have started this journey sooner. But… who knows? Maybe I was not ready, maybe I didn’t understand the purpose of that mission, maybe I didn’t understand people the way I do now?? I believe everything happens for a reason, at the right time and in the right place. That’s why I believe that my journey is the best journey for me. I go with the flow…

The only thing that makes me sad is that I can’t work as art therapist full time. Social support and understanding of this field are lacking here in Slovenia. The projects I have proposed to the government – projects working with vulnerable people like victims of crime, women in shelters and people on very low incomes – have all been turned down. Every project needs funds, but social ones rely on the good people who are willing to help and support them. The current model of the social field doesn’t generate its own money, so it is always struggling, always begging… That’s what makes me sad as I know quite a few people who would give their hearts to make a change and help all the people in need.

That’s why I have a dream (no, I won’t give up!). I have a dream of a beautiful place, a special place for those people who need our help. A place where they are able to get themselves back on their feet again with the help of art therapy, phototherapy or other therapies. And angels in the shape of good people will support our projects and our mission. They will trust us and believe in us. I dream… I know I dream big, but you know, I can wait another seventeen years to make it happen. It’s not ‘long’ for me if I know I’d be blessed to help a person or two or three…

I’m following my calling, I’m on a journey… I hope your journey is as special, inspiring, fulfilling and yours as it is mine. Enjoy the ride and… do what you love!

[Images courtesy of Jozica Rade.]

Find out more about Jozica on her website ‘Creatissimo Lab’ here.

***

Christy Nimeh

I have always thought of myself as a sort of “secret artist.” One who only dares to show others the very best that I have to offer. I have been creating in one form or another since I was a little girl. Painting was always my passion, but with no formal training or an art degree, I didn’t think of myself as a ‘real artist’. Over the years I painted less and less because the fear of rejection grew bigger and bigger. I found myself completely shutting down. Still needing to be creative, but fully aware of that ‘secret artist’ that wouldn’t go away, I dove into other avenues such as interior design, jewelry making, styling, extravagant parties, and a little gardening. Not to mention raising a family. While learning a lot during this time, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so empty and unfulfilled creatively. I remember saying to my husband that I felt like I was clawing the walls down inch by inch in search for something bigger… my true voice.

Fast forward to about two years ago, I had an explosive breakthrough. My husband was ill and needed to have heart valve replacement surgery. The thought and fear of the unknown lit a fire inside of me that I thought was long gone! Thinking about my two children, (one of them having autism), and the future, led me to face many fears and the ever present ‘secret artist’ head on. On a whim, I enrolled in Kelly Rae Roberts’ ‘Flying Lessons’ e-course. Let me just say it changed my life. I remember shedding a lot of tears during that time, but it was in the peeling back of all those layers that I realized that it’s the process, not the destination that matters. That was a big concept change for me – the first of many changes that I have made on the road to Doing What I Love.

Now I make time for myself and my art. I am more open to anything and everything that the universe is telling me. This next lesson is a work in progress, but I am learning that it’s OK if the laundry and cleaning isn’t done from time to time, and that it doesn’t make me a bad mom or wife. I have also learned that I am forever learning, and it’s OK to not have all the answers. Mistakes will be made, but I now view them as a learning tool and a necessary part of my success. Since I believe in the journey, unfolding as it’s supposed to, I wouldn’t change anything, except maybe for listening to my amazing Grandma Eileen and my dear friend Leslie. Both encouraged me all along to never stop painting and they believed in me as an artist.

Now I listen to my dreams and give them the honor and power they deserve. While I have many dreams and goals swirling around in my head, I have currently set my sights on opening up an art store that specializes in the most current products.

[All images courtesy of Christy Nimeh.]

Find out more about Christy here.

***

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor starts TODAY!

If you sign up now you can still squeeze in! Don’t miss out, register here

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone: Claire Maguire shares her story

Posted on 2011-10-03 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from Claire Maguire.

To do what you love means each day is a joy. An adventure. A discovery. Being able to see the world with fresh eyes. To be thankful that the moment is a gift to be cherished. It’s when work loses meaning. You’re in flow. Work, life is harmonious, it’s easy, effortless. You become lost in that which you do.

It sounds so romantic. And is it even achievable? For a duality of life in doing what you love means leaping with faith and that can evoke fear…yet to quote Neale Donald Walsche “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”.

For me the leap is saying yes to pursuing the pleasure I gain when I teach women about the sensuality in food, in particular raw food; to give women the ability to re-connect into their purpose; to release old pain and to say yes to innermost desires. To be able to put yourself first and lose the guilt. And I have the absolute honour of doing that through running retreats.

The realization that this is what I wanted to do, could do, even dare to dream of, hit me over 4 years ago. When I discovered that raw food can literally change your life it sparked within me the passion to share this information. I became a coach and in doing so, my life and the path I had followed made sense – what a relief! I visualised the sound of women laughing as I showed them how to make sense of their lives, dreams and desires. I knew that I loved creating experiences and events and so the seedling of an idea to run retreats was planted.

It’s been a slow process of seeing that dream become a reality. I started a coaching practice initially which finessed my craft. I run on-line coaching programmes and I have participated in courses and worked with mentors myself.

I fortunately had a supportive family who saw the value in my dream and together we renovated an old farmhouse in North Yorkshire (UK) into a luxury boutique retreat centre.

It’s been a monumental journey; I left a marriage, moved with my children, was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. I had to make a ‘comeback’ with my coaching practice. I had to re-inspire myself and my passion for food, I learnt more and more deeply about the importance of self-care on all levels – mind, body, spirit and the impact our emotions play in our well-being.

It’s been an eventful 4 years. But with the loyalty of my clients, the faith of my family and the support of my friends, the opening of The Retreat at Split Farthing Hall was a treasured event. I was living, breathing, doing what I love.

With hindsight I realise that everything takes much longer than anticipated and a plan of working 6 months ahead instead of reacting in the moment would have been beneficial. I could have held more belief and networked like crazy. Yet I do believe everything happens when you’re ready. And it’s only now that I’m ready to take the next big leap and see The Retreat at Split Farthing Hall become an in-demand; much loved boutique retreat; featured in the glossy magazines and Sunday supplements; to build a community of passionate women and to touch the lives of the women that come here to experience the magic.

[Images courtesy of Claire Maguire]

Find out more about retreats at Split Farthing Hall here. To find out more about well-being and food coach Claire visit her website here.