Just finished a 3 day retreat, no phone, no speech, and a 24 hour dry fast (no food, no water). It was intense in a very simple way: silence, mindfulness, prayers, reading, reflection and prostrations, and just staying with whatever came up.
The hardest part wasn’t only the hunger or thirst, it was my mind. At certain points, especially on the second night, my thoughts got dark and loud: worries, fear, worst case stories, and that “I can’t do this” feeling. But I made it through, and I came out realizing something really clear: so many “problems” are created in my mind. When I stop feeding them and just let go, they don’t really exist in the same way, or at least they’re not as scary as they feel in the moment.
Another unexpected lesson was patience. Food was offered at set times (only 1 meal) but you can’t ask for extras or request things. That sounds small, but it confronted my usual impatience and the habit of wanting to fix discomfort immediately. Having to simply wait without negotiating, without distraction, showed me how much calm is actually available when I don’t react.
I’m tired (my back and hips definitely felt it), but I also feel purified, rebooted, and strangely calm. A quiet reminder that I can handle more than I think, and that peace is often on the other side of not chasing every thought.
Istanbul has always been high on my bucket list.
Finally planned a visit this year and it didn’t disappoint.
Not chasing highlights or ticking boxes,
just walking, sitting, watching, and slowing down.
The vibe is warm, the people are genuinely friendly,
and everything feels far more budget-friendly than expected.
Not to mention the Turkish breakfast and simit, both absolutely worth it.
Still not a fan of Turkish coffee though, and that’s okay.
You don’t have to love everything
to love a place.
#istanbul #europetravel
🎄Celebrating Christmas and the almost end of 2025 this week
Feeling super grateful to be surrounded by these gorgeous humans and all the good vibes
#ChristmasParty #英國生活
Beamish Museum – hands down one of the best museums I've ever been to! It feels like jumping into a time machine and being in a movie
#英國生活 #weekendtrip
El Teide is breathtakingly mesmerising and mind blowing, one moment it felt like exploring Mars, and the next it felt like stepping into Dune, also caught a glimpse of a forever sleeping volcano, and a sea of clouds…
#nature #tenerife
