Adventures in a (mainly) Wonderful World
May into June | adventures that get you out of your comfort zone, and sometimes make you want to live again!
Dear Aspiring Adventurers | Fabulous Friends
My monthly newsletter is adventuring into your inbox this morning with news of adventures present, past and future.
Starting with adventures present. Become a member of my ‘Big & Brave Family’ on Substack today!
What do you get?
Exclusive (and free) opportunities to come on micro adventures with me (we did one yesterday on Hampstead Heath - 30k+ steps with a top tour guide (even if I do say so myself), two dips (lido & ladies pond) and naturally the best brunch, and cake to be found in the heath-hood. Plus, there’s no small talk on any of my adventures - just deep, sometimes difficult, always delicious conversation. Because that’s the way we roll in my Big & Brave Family…which leads me nicely onto…
A chance to attend my monthly online ‘Shit into Superpower (SIS) sessions’ which I co-host with Dr Tara Lal – there’s one coming up this Tuesday when we’ll be talking about the ‘Signpost’ on ‘The Shape of Change’ which is ‘Sparkle’ (one of my new favourite words, and surely one of everyone’s favourite things). And if you want to know what any of that means then sign up to receive the link.
Plus, weekly inbox inspiration including my most raw and vulnerable writing which I reserve exclusively for my paid subscribers. I feel a post about Me and Mara coming soon…And if you don’t know who Mara is then my Big & Brave Family is the place to be, and be seen!
Now to adventures past. Below is a pic of me at The Fertility Show @ Olympia last Sunday – where I was interviewed by the Show’s director and my dear friend Laura Biggs about coping with the emotional ups and downs of IVF. This year there were quotes on the floor around the exhibitor stands including one from me – ‘Live Big & Brave. Whatever the outcome, your fertility story will change your life.’ I was in good company – just along from a quote by Michelle Obama!
My fertility story did change my life, but it’s ‘Adventure’ that has changed it for the better. Which is why I’m an Ambassador for AdventureMind and passionate about advocating the mental health benefits. It’s the mission behind my new ‘Adventure Retreats’ which I co-lead with Alice Todd, Co-Director of SwimQuest who writes the Substack
and Caroline Stafford – Founder of the Kitsch Hen Biscuit Bakery, Yoga Teacher, Health Coach and writer of the Substack Seeking Silver Linings. We’ve just completed our first week-long retreat in Formentera. Check out my insta reel below and book now for Formentera 2026 (there’s a 20% / £300 off early bird price if you book before the end of June). Or if you can’t wait that long join us in Scotland in December for our three day retreat (colder water, higher hills, roaring fires and wee drams a plenty).
I think it will always be hard to explain exactly what the Adventure Retreat is but if you come it’s important to know that it’s MORE than a holiday. It’s a transformational process. It’s for people who have been through stuff (big stuff, little stuff, all the stuff), and want to live a bigger, braver, more beautiful life in this, still, mainly wonderful world! If you love the arts (music, words, visual art, theatre); and you love nature (the sea, the mountains, the earth). If you believe in the benefits of stretching your body, as well as expanding your mind; and if delicious food and drink is your joy / reward. Then this could be the adventure for you. Here’s a review from one of our Adventure Retreaters who came to Formentera this year. Reviews don’t get much better than this:
“My adventure to your retreat gave me more than I ever dared to hope for.
It gave me hope, joy and love, and made me want to live again.”
Jane Pritchard
And finally to June future. Following the new paperback publication of Save Me From The Waves, 21 Miles and The Pursuit of Motherhood, I’ll be adventuring round the country doing my talking-thing again. Here’s a little list of events coming up this month…maybe see you there?
30 May – 1 June - Love Her Wild Weekend, Lancashire - I know some of my newsletter subscribers are coming! Looking forward to seeing you!
4 June - Diane Chandler’s Book Club – Words with Wine on A Wednesday - thank you Diane for inviting me!
12 June – Women in Residential Property Lunch Event, Brown’s, Covent Garden
12 June – Sturminster Literary Festival, Sturminster-under-Newton, Dorset
15 June – Borders Book Festival, Melrose
17 June – Collected Books, Durham
So that’s it for this month! Wherever you are in the world, whatever you’re going through – remember that an ‘Adventure Mind’ can change your life for the better, and help you see all the colours again. And on that subject, here’s my colour palette from May – the sea and sky in Formentera (no filters)!
With love
Jessica x
PS. If you’ve read to here, I’d love a happy heart (ie. press the ‘like’ button) or even a crafty comment - it helps more people find my adventures on Substack, and makes me feel your love, as well as know that you’re out there which is nice to know xxx
You're coming to Dorset! Hurrah!
❤️