Coastline Conversations and Riviera Reflections

Imagine cruising along the French Riviera Coastline in a blue 1970s 2CV Citroën, with the rooftop open and the wind blowing through your hair. On your right, the glimmering turquoise Mediterranean Sea stretches out, and on your left, the rolling hills of the Alps rise up. As you pass by the charming villages of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, people wave, smile and snap pictures of the car.

Now, add the smell of gasoline, the sound of honking, the sensation of sweat dripping down your legs as they stick to the leather seat, and your hair tangling into knots that may never come undone. Pictures may speak loudly, but they never quite reveal the full experience. 

Let's try another one. Imagine yourself on the beach, your towel carefully placed on the soft, round pebbles, and a feel-good novel in your hands, waiting for you to turn the pages. You have just returned from a refreshing dip in the ocean and now you're watching the waves roll in towards the shore, just a few feet from your toes. 

Now, add the sound of screaming children, the smell of sun screen and someone smoking pot. On your right, a couple is arguing and on your left, a group of teenagers just turned up the volume on their loudspeakers. Right behind your towel, an elderly man smiles proudly as he sets up his umbrella, shading you from the sun you have travelled over 2,000 kilometres to enjoy.

Ah, such holiday bliss.

While Instagram snapshots may differ from reality, I actually had a great time in France. I really needed to press pause for a while and spend some time just being, rather than always doing. 

After the coastline adventure and a minor heatstroke quickly remedied with coconut ice-cream, I decided to cool down with some morning yoga. I signed up for a class in the Parc de la Colline du Château, and on that day, there was only one other participant. "I love sports!" was one of the first things she said, and I laughed as it reminded me of my younger self. I still love soccer, floorball and volleyball, but due to joint pain, I can't play as much as I used to. Instead, I've had a to create a new identity for myself.

After the yoga class, Madison and I went for a stroll through the Marché des Fleurs, and she told me that she works in marketing and travels the world. Her belongings are stored in London, but she is free to live and work anywhere, which is also my dream. I felt so inspired after our meeting; it made me realise that there are many different ways of living - we just need to find the one that makes us happy. 

On the way back to my Airbnb, I stopped in a bookshop where a friendly Algerian, half-hidden behind a pile of used books, greeted me. "Vous lisez qu'en anglais? - Do you only read in English?" he asked as I picked out an English novel and handed it to him. "No, I also enjoy reading in French," I said with a smile. He then offered me a laminated French poem about domestic violence, which brought tears to my eyes. Unsure of how to respond, I passed it back to him, at which point he launched into a monologue about equality. "Si vous êtes pressée, je ne veux pas vous embêter... - If you're in a hurry, I don't want to bother you..." His eyes met mine, searching for permission to continue. "Non, non, je ne suis pas pressée - I'm not in a hurry," I said politely, though half an hour later, I did start glancing at my watch. 

Still, I truly appreciate the conversation we had about literature, life and politics. How often do we take the time to chat to a stranger for 30 minutes? Perhaps we should do it more often; it can leave us with a new perspective and some valuable insight. Before I left, the Algerian man gifted me another poem along with a parting phrase: "Nous ne passons pas travers à le temps, le temps passe à travers nous - We don't pass through time, time passes through us."

Even though I was in France, I adopted the Japanese concept of Yutori for the rest of my holiday. Yutori means living with spaciousness, slowing down to savour the world around us, and intentionally creating space to reflect, without being under constant pressure. Following in the footsteps of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Pablo Picasso who found tranquility and inspiration for their work in the charming town of Antibes, I relaxed my pace and allowed my mind to calmly shift from one thought to another, as if I were living in a poem.

Natural High Healing

On Midsummer Day, my nephew and I went for a morning stroll through the forest towards a nearby beach. All of a sudden, we stopped in our tracks as an eagle came flying straight towards us. Instinctively, I held out an arm to protect my nephew and we both watched in amazement as the majestic bird changed direction and soared out across the water. 

The eagle is an impressive creature, capable of reaching heights other birds may only dream of. As a spirit animal, it can inspire us to view life from a broader perspective, allow our hearts to guide us, and remain open to unexpected opportunities. While unafraid of the unknown, eagles also have four toes on each foot, which helps them stay grounded and connected to the Earth.

With this in mind, I impulsively accepted an invitation to volunteer and cook vegan food at the Natural High Healing Festival two weeks later, in exchange for a free ticket to the workshops. Even though those guided by the eagle spirit are said to welcome challenges with courage and determination, I had many questions and concerns before the festival. Would I manage to sleep in a tent for four nights? What would I eat? Who would I spend time with? What if I wanted to be alone? 

I had no answers, only questions. Nonetheless, I embarked on a five-day adventure with three strangers who kindly provided transportation and taught me everything I needed to know about food preparation, cooking and serving. They even helped me to set up my tent, and camped right next to me.

Our vegan Peanut Stew was very popular

On Friday morning at eight a.m., I attended a workshop called "Manifesting Money through Kundalini Yoga." I squeezed my mat into a tiny corner of the crowded room, and took a deep breath - several, in fact - as we started with some powerful kriyas (movements) combined with breathwork. As the session progressed, the exercises became increasingly intense, raising our energy to a higher frequency. "Stay true to yourself, and do your best on the path that is yours," our teacher advised when she invited us to lie still for a while. "By resting in between, you teach your nervous system that it is safe to go for it."

My most significant takeaway from this workshop was the mindset that we live in a world of abundance and by vibrating on the same frequency as what we desire, we can attract what is meant for us. 

Later that day, I participated in another workshop called "The Forgiveness Journey." Once again, we began with breathwork and meditation, grounding ourselves in the present moment. After a bit of movement, our teacher invited us to find a partner. The tall blond girl in front of me turned around to ask if I would like to work together, and I nodded. We were instructed to stand close and gaze into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity, but may have been around fifteen minutes. I don't know my partner's name, but I still remember every detail of her clear blue eyes. In them, I saw love and kindness. There were moments when I could glimpse the hard times she had been through, and other moments when I sensed that she could feel my pain. We quietly repeated: "I forgive you. I love you."

Finally, the teacher encouraged us to step closer and embrace one another. It was the longest hug of my life, but also the most healing. As we leaned in closer, I could feel the other girl's heart beating in the same rhythm as mine. "Allow yourself to relax into this embrace," the teacher said. "Allow yourself to be held and supported. What if there are no mistakes? What if everything happened exactly according to plan, so that you could be here right now? What if you could start over and rewrite your story with courage and authenticity?" I wiped a tear from my cheek, and reached out to touch my partner's hand. "Thank you," we both whispered softly, and then never spoke again.

On Saturday, I worked throughout the morning, and by the time I could join a dance workshop in the afternoon, I felt exhausted. I was not in the mood to observe and be aware of sensations, and I kept looking at my watch and the door. How long would I have to stay? And where would I go if I left? There were people everywhere.

As if sensing my state, the teacher said: "There might be agitation and irritation in your body. What if you stayed anyway?" So I did. Slowly but surely, we started to move. He guided us through a two-hour conscious dance journey, and I have never experienced anything like it. In a hypnotic voice, he spoke to our subconscious minds. 

Tell the truth. Be honest. Be you. Stop caring so much about what others think. If somebody saw you right now and asked why you're moving this way, just tell them that you don't know. Why are you moving? I don't know. Tell the truth. Be honest. Why are you moving? I don't know.

When, at the end, he invited us to lie down on the floor, I was already there, my whole body trembling. The headache was gone. The agitation was gone. Fatigue remained, but so did joy, contentment and bliss.

Closing ceremony and last dance at the Main Stage

On the final day of the festival, a storm swept in, challenging us as we attempted to pack up our belongings and dismantle the tents. The French vendor who had been selling chocolate came to assist us and the Indian chefs prepared refreshing mango lassis for everyone. Instead of competing, we had built camaraderie over the past few days and with big smiles, we shook hands and said "See you next year!"

I wouldn't say that my heart feels full after this experience, but rather that new space has opened up. I am ready to see and be seen, hear and be heard, love and be loved. I feel free, and like the eagle, I am ready to fly, with new questions on my mind. How far can I fly, and how high? And where should I go first?

An Australian Adventure

My whole body trembled and sweat poured down my face as I walked up the stairs at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Sydney, Australia on 7 March 2024. My head was buzzing with nerves and excitement. It marked the first day of Neuro Transformation Therapy, the training that I had traveled all the way across the world for. At the top of the stairs, 110 unknown faces awaited me, along with one familiar face that I had only seen on Zoom. 

I always said that someday, I would go to Australia to fulfill my lifelong dream of hugging a koala. So when my other plans for this year were suddenly cancelled, I decided to turn "someday" into "now". Only to quickly realise how little I know about Australia. The visa requirements and the sheer vastness of the continent took me by surprise, and much to my dismay, I learned that holding koalas in New South Wales is illegal.

Nevertheless, I happily boarded a long flight to Sydney, arriving one week before the NTT event. As I navigated customs, my sister's warnings about Australia’s strict border control echoed in my mind and when a security guard waved me in a direction where no one else was going, I swallowed loudly. Would I be fined for the chewing gum and aspirin in my bag, or denied entry for some unexpected reason? Luckily, he led me towards an exit, where friendly blokes and sheilas greeted me with "G'day darling." 

Hoping to defy jetlag, I immediately went for a long walk, taking in the large city and strangely feeling at home. With six months of winter behind me, I eagerly soaked up the sunshine, and then finally, I saw it - The Opera House, as white as my skin, shining brightly against the blue sky. I had to pinch myself several times to make sure I was awake. As the sun slowly set, the hustle and bustle continued, with people strolling around and live music filling the air. 

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbour Bridge

The next morning, I crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which reminded me a lot a of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. After the walk, I sat down at a French café to devour a delicious galette, which fuelled me with enough energy to continue my stroll through the beautiful Botanical Garden. Despite my fears, the only "spider" I saw in Australia was the large bronze statue outside the art museum. And I only saw one snake, a live one up in the mountains. I did see many, many bin chickens though (a local name for the Ibis birds that use their long beaks to pick up food from bins).

My third day was one of pure bliss as I finally got to meet the koalas. Not only that, my guide had an arrangement with the family-run farm so we could enter before other visitors to help feed the animals. The biggest smile spread across my face as I saw their cute little eyes and soft leathery noses. We were also allowed to play with the adorable wallabies and kangaroos, who enjoyed a firm belly rub when they weren't too busy munching on grass or surveying something in the distance. 

Koalas

Kangaroos

After the wildlife park, we visited other areas south of Sydney, such as Wollongong and Morton National Park, and despite the windy and foggy weather that day, I fell in love with the coastal towns framed by mountains. Believe it or not, they looked exactly like the places I see when I visualise my dream future! The tour ended with a wine tasting at a local vineyard where I enjoyed meeting and chatting with other travellers. 

Somewhere along the way...

The following day, my friend from Canberra joined me for an exploration of Newtown, where we discovered the stories behind the exquisite murals and tasted food from all over the world. I really enjoyed digging into some vegan gluten-free tacos at a Mexican restaurant, while Mark preferred the meat pies at a local café. Our favourite, however, was a Turkish ice-cream with a sticky bubblegum texture and a strong rosewater flavour. 

In the evening, we were warned about a thunderstorm and considered canceling our tour to the mountains, but fortunately, we didn't as the clouds passed over night and we ended up having a gorgeous day in the Blue Mountains. The smell of the eucalyptus trees reminded me so much of Ecuador and the breathtaking views and cascading waterfalls filled my soul with joy. 

With my friend Mark

The Blue Mountains

Mural in Newtown

As if hiking in the mountains wasn't enough exercise, I embarked on a coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte the next day. Arriving at Bondi beach, Australia's most famous beach, was a surreal moment. Seeing the massive waves rolling in, the suntanned bodies, the surfers, the lifeguards and the warning signs for dangerous currents made me feel like I was in a movie. The coastal walk was extremely picturesque, with spectacular views at every turn. 

Bondi Beach

Coastal walk

Before I knew it, the week had flown by, and it was time to ascend the stairs at the Stamford Plaza, unaware that every other person there was just as nervous as I was. Yet within hours, we were high-fiving and hugging one another, helping each other through transformative exercises and staying side by side for 12 hours a day, taking in every word from our teacher Luke Hawkins.

Towards the end of the last day, I could barely stand nor keep my eyes open. My body was exhausted. But when my name was called, I danced my way up on the stage and my new friends clapped and cheered, just as loudly as I did for them. We made it! We healed ourselves, so that we can go out and heal others. We showed up, daring to be vulnerable and we took risks, desperately craving the rewards.

Two weeks after my Australian adventure, I still catch myself wondering if it was just a dream. The truth is that reality may not always align with our expectations. Reality is a little messier, a lot sweatier, a bit more awkward, more intense, more colourful, and way more fun. If we can overcome our fears, our doubts and our limiting beliefs, then we can unlock the potential for an extraordinary life. Even if it includes encountering a couple of bin chickens along the way.

 

With the legendary Lukes of Australia

Australia's most hated bird?