My journey with ADHD began long before I decided to seek a diagnosis. Like many, the forced slow down of the pandemic gave space for me to notice that certain behaviours were exacerbated. Seeing this and growing weary of the extreme obstacle course that I had turned our living space into or finding cups of tea in the fridge, my partner at the time prompted me to finally investigate what I, many a friend, and therapist already suspected I have – ADHD. 

Despite having self diagnosed for a long time and often saying the words ‘I have ADHD’ I realised I didn’t actually know that much about it, I had gotten this far with it so what did I need to know? However with more time on my hands than ever I found a new desire to learn more about how my brain works. So I thought it was time to look at why I thrive at problem solving at work yet I have things like crippling indecision, racing thoughts, chronic fatigue and lack of concentration in my personal life…AND perhaps why my flat is sometimes so messy that if a burglar turned up they would literally assume it had already been burgled and move on. 

During this journey of self-discovery I am continually learning and understanding which has truly been transformational. One crucial lesson I’ve learned is the importance of intentionally taking time out from our distractive world, especially for those of us already prone to distraction. Yet! I am not very good at deciding to actually…just do it, which is why I feel so passionate about creating this retreat. 

I have sometimes found difficulties with things like masking, concentration, RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) and people pleasing in traditional wellbeing spaces and currently feel a deep need to connect others who might be having similar experiences. A place where we can share evidenced based activities and practices to help optimise the power of our brains, be our whole selves and bring that into our everyday lives. 

I am so lucky to have Lou who often ”body doubles” for me and has helped me through countless anxious periods through her depth of knowledge and teachings whether that be pranayama (breathing) techniques, getting me moving and much more, so it feels like a no brainer to be doing this with her. 

I truly believe that my neurodiversity has been a fundamental asset in many ways and is something to be celebrated and nurtured. With a decade plus career in the set design and events industry, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a myriad of brands and individuals across the globe. I absolutely thrive on creating memorable experiences that bring people together and I am excited to bring that same energy and passion to our retreats, where we focus on making meaningful connections and driving positive change.