We all know the saying: monkey see, monkey do. And when it comes to parenting, nothing could be truer. Our children are watching. Constantly. Not just listening to what we say, but absorbing how we live. And when it comes to wellbeing, that’s either a gift or a ticking time bomb.
Let’s be honest, things feel a bit wobbly right now. Even if you’re not glued to the news, you’ve probably felt the rising tension. The economy, the climate, the general sense of not knowing what’s next… it all builds up. It filters into our workplaces, our families, and our sense of personal stability. And while a bit of caution is certainly warranted, what we don’t need right now is more panic or pressure. We need calm. We need clarity. And we need to focus on what we can control because there is so much still within reach.
In a world of growing burnout, constant connectivity, and increasingly commercialised wellbeing strategies, it’s time to pause and ask: what actually helps people thrive? Slowing
There’s a mood many of us know but can’t always name. Not depression, not burnout, just… blah. A kind of foggy, flat, unmotivated middle space where things aren’t falling apart, but they’re definitely not lighting you up. It’s that sense of aimlessness, of going through the motions, especially in the depths of winter when light is low and energy is lower. Psychologists call it languishing, and it’s more common than we realise.
There’s something about walking along the edge of a country that brings clarity, with the sea waving at you from one side and the ancient landscapes supporting you on the other. This June, I had the absolute joy of guiding more small groups along one of the most breathtaking stretches of the UK: the South West Coast Path. It’s a place rich with stories, steeped in legend, and carved by time. But more than anything, it’s a place that mirrors life and its highs and lows, unexpected turns, and quiet moments of wonder.
We talk a lot about resilience in workshops, wellbeing plans, and leadership programs, but what does it actually look like when things go wrong? Well, as we all know, the highs and lows are the parts of life we recall the most, because they make the strongest emotions and memories. A lot of these memories we call ‘adventures’.
I used to think wellbeing was about balance. Eat well, move often, sleep more, breathe deeper. You know, the usual prescriptions. And for a while, those things were enough. But over the years, especially since starting a hiking and adventure company, I’ve realised that wellbeing isn’t just about managing stress or feeling calm. It’s about doing hard things on purpose. It’s about choosing the path with the hill, even when the flat trail looks tempting. Because on the other side of that hill… something changes.
This is a question I hear from time to time, not so much from the people out on the trail because they clearly already know the benefits, but from social media commenters who may not have ever experienced a paid hike before. But honestly, I get it. The trails are open to everyone, and yes, walking is free. However, there are some key differences between an independent hike and a group organised hike that these commenters aren’t aware of.
Let me just say it straight: getting old is not easy for me. There, I said it. It’s not the final statement of life, it’s not definitive or exclusive to all else, nor should it be taken as the entire value of my worth. But for anyone who has hit their mid 40s and maybe creeping into their late 50’s, there is research to support the fact that we decline faster around 44 and 60.
You know that feeling where everything is technically okay? You’re not sick, you’re not falling apart, you’re showing up, but something just feels… off? Welcome to the land of “fine.”
Consider this your digital welcome to Sri Lanka, where misty mountains meet golden coastlines, elephants roam freely, and warm smiles greet you at every turn. Our inaugural TSA tour through this incredible country was nothing short of extraordinary. In just over a week, we explored ancient temples, climbed sacred peaks by moonlight, swam in remote waterfalls, and ventured deep into rainforests. We sweated, laughed, stretched our limits, and grew closer both to each other and to Sri Lanka itself.
or most of my life, I moved fast. Productivity was my superpower, and I wore busyness like a badge of honour. My days were packed with work, training, studying, and adventuring. No matter what I was doing, I was constantly chasing the next goal, the next task, the next challenge. It felt good, like I was achieving something, but in hindsight, I can see the pattern I was trapped in.
I wasn’t making conscious choices. I was running on autopilot. I pushed myself hard, often to the point of burnout, making decisions out of habit rather than intention. I was great at getting things done, but not always great at making the choices that truly served me.
Most of the people that come on our tours come by themselves. Our community is built on friendships that have been made on our trips, experiencing something life changing together, the shared memories and also goals to do more in the future! We encourage people not to be anxious about coming on these trips by yourself as we promise you will leave with some like minded friends and be really glad you made the decision to get out of your comfort zone and join in.
Our community is our backbone. We have had so many people start with no hiking experience, basic fitness and not knowing anyone on our trips. These same people have gone on to do some incredible multi day hiking trips with us and their friends they have met in our community. Witnessing the development of their fitness, confidence, experience, friendships and happiness is why we do what we do. Come join us and let us help you get from the couch to the top of the mountain!
Experiences, not things. The moments that take your breath away. The feeling of accomplishment and the realisation that you are capable of so much more than what you thought. The views that blow your mind and the ticking off of bucket list items. We take all the hard work out of it for you. We organise the lot so you can just turn up and get the best of your experience without all the headaches of organising/logistics. We make it easy for you to do all the thing you want to do – you just need to turn up and be ready to jump into life!