MY STORY
My hope is that we give ourselves the best opportunity to have ‘Big Lives’. Whatever that looks like to you.
If you’d asked me in my 20s, I’d have said I wanted a career, to travel and a fairly ‘traditional’ life.
Since then, some exceptional people have nudged me off my straight line and onto a path full of forks, new countries, and the occasional lion detour. I’ve found big shifts are often sparked by people who don’t set out to change your life, they just show up in mysterious ways and only hindsight shows you that was a pivotal moment.
I’ve spent 20+ years choosing financial safety and fitting in over possible embarrassment at truly walking my own path. I’m still one foot in, but also, one foot has taken the first step to break free of trying to follow the societal constructs and programming that have gotten me this far. Watching friends be brave (like the one and only Kate Wilson who has created something beautiful in Mulberry Mongoose and should always be celebrated) has been incredibly inspiring.
I look forward to sharing this journey - wherever it takes us.
I chose this photo because it so beautifully illustrates my journey. I was so embarrassed that I'd gotten the wheels stuck and didn't know how to engage the 4WD so I panicked. My friend (another incredible woman who owns a family pub in the UK The Kentish Rifleman) laughed her head off at me and proceeded to make a sundowner drink nearby and watched me with a gin & tonic in hand...I didn't think it was so funny, but Comedy = Tragedy + Time. Now when she sends it to me every year on the anniversary of the event, I think it's hilarious.