How would I describe the past few months? Inspiring, diverse, enjoyable and challenging at times. Overall, enlightening. Here are a few potted highlights of the journey so far.
Forest Bathing
In June I began the certification process with the Forest Therapy Institute in becoming a forest bathing and forest therapy practitioner based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku. I live in the forest, I find peace in nature and doing the course seemed a perfect fit to enable me to help others deepen their nature connection and their connection with one’s self. A walk in the woods can open the senses, help us slow down and de-stress. Read more about the practice and how it came about here in an article I wrote for Tomorrow Algarve magazine.
Hiking in the hills keeps me healthy and happy and so I set up Forest Bathing Algarve offering guided walks and Forest Therapy programmes in the hills of Monchique, I also travel to other destinations to create trails and walks for groups, companies, and individuals.
Writing
I continue to write and in August I headed to London and Covent Garden to cover the development there for The National, looking at retail and property developments and how this part of London is now one of the most sought after areas in the capital. I loved looking around the Piazza and dining at some of the trendy restaurants. In the days when I worked for the Perrier Comedy Awards, I worked from an office in the attic of the Duchess Theatre so it was really nice to be back in the old stomping ground. With a keen eye for nature and greenery, it was lovely to see how the old flower market and fruit veg market still has influence today. It was a joy to see designer Sophie Ashby incorporating this within the interior of the Penthouse at No 1 Floral St.
Read the article:
For a rundown of the Best Bed and Breakfasts in Lisbon, I put a listicle together for Culture Trip.
Closer to home I have been getting to know the local area interviewing people and writing articles for Tomorrow Algarve. Here are a couple of examples:
Ceceira Tasting Lounge
How One Charity is Helping the People of Monchique
Time to Summit
It was a pleasure to be back in Dubai at Gulfood as Master of Ceremony for the Gulfood Manufacturing Innovation Summit. The hot topics included next-gen technologies like AI and robotics and how the 4th revolution is impacting the food industry. Always thought-provoking to hear from keynote speakers about the food chain with lots of discussions this year about food waste and safety and producing and distributing food more effectively. I dropped into the Web Summit in Lisbon on my way back which is so impressive bringing the world of technology together under one roof at the Altice Arena. So much going on and great ideas to process I was ready to retreat to my mountain and the forest for a little downtime.
I am thankful to have so many great opportunities to work, create and interact with interesting people and explore ideas. I’m looking forward to 2020 to write and create more, and walk and explore new pathways…“to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.” (from Mary Oliver’s poem, When I am Among Trees)
Happy New Year
Suzanne.x