Walk Your Way Well

Thought for the day! Be present. Enjoy the moment. Yes, its good to plan and scheme and dream and plot! But don't bypass the magic of RIGHT NOW. Breathe. Pause. Enjoy.

Thought for the day. Do you have a dream? A goal? A vision? Are you fed up talking about it? Take action! The only thing truly stopping you is you. Everything else is pliable!

On Wisdom Wednesday I'd like to share a nugget that my mother-in-law offered me as I take off on my GR20 trek. She's 87 in August and she inspires me greatly in everything I do. She has been walking her way well since her legs could carry her. Her words of wisdom were: "Try to walk in a relaxed manner and don't force yourself too much. Slow down and enjoy the surroundings. It's not a contest." I promise I will try Sjoukje. Thank you for the wise words. Let's all give this a go in life!

Bye for a bit WYWWers. My adventure begins! I've wanted to do the magnificent GR20 route since my friend Lisa said "You should do the GR20 route" about 5 years ago. I was ready to rock 'n Roll in 2020 but things didn't go to plan for anyone that year! And you know how things ni**le and nag away until you succumb? So here I finally am. Ticking a big box on my 50 things to do before I'm 50 bucket list. Thank you SO MUCH to this WYWW community for all the support in the lead up. And for the thoughtful trinkets to take on my journey. So kind and so lightweight! And to everyone who contributed to my boots 'n bits. I'm incredibly touched. Planning done. Prepping done. Now, let's get down to business. See ye all on the other side . https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WYWW

TEEN ACTIVITY WORKSHOP! We just love Vision Boards. This was the BEST fun. Hours of creativity focused fully on positive forward thinking. And the most amazing results. We all really enjoyed this exercise. What's your vision? Where do you see yourself flourish in the future? Ask yourself these questions and then get creative. Make it happen!

THANK YOU to the gorgeous generous Walk Your Way Well Community who contributed a few euros to my new boots! Love them. I've been giving them a hard time on rough terrain again this morning to break them in before I hit my GR20 trail in one week. ONE WEEK! OMG! Still a few bits to buy including a bionic battery bank and a super-dooper water filtration bottle. If you've enjoyed some of my events this year and feel like contributing back then I'd delightfully accept a few quid towards costs. Thanks for all the support gang. It's really kept me going through the training! Niamh ❤️ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WYWW

No walks in July. Too hot! But never too hot for a catch up and a coffee with a fellow WYWWer. Can't wait to get moving again with you all in September. But, in the meantime, I'm always up for a chat to plan our upcoming adventures and muster up new goals.

Let's do something out of the ordinary. Outside your comfort zone. Stop being stagnant! Life is YOURS for the taking. Let's make magic!

Have you enjoyed a Walk Your Way Well coaching workshop or walk 'n talk event? I'd love some feedback. The 5 star ratings (if you feel I'm worthy) help my profile reach more people. And I'd love to see our community grow and blossom. Thank you to everyone who has taken a moment to share a review. I really appreciate you.

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Education comes in lots of guises. Learning to breathe. Learning to connect with ones body. Learning to de-stress through movement. This should be a compulsory subject in school! Who agrees? Wonderful "Magic Mel" spent some great quality time at our Teen Camp. The girls thoroughly enjoyed her vibe and the got to experience some great yoga, meditation and conversation. Thank you so much Mel for bringing this incredible experience to our table. Check out Mel and her outstanding spiritual retreats.

TEEN CAMP ACTIVITIES You're never too old for crafty activities. We made bracelets that represented our STRENGTHS. And we made little momentos for each other to show kindness. A wholesome couple of hours being creative and thoughtful. Phones away and teens will play.

Being a teen is tricky. A time of change. A time to try new things! Well, we have certainly been doing that. Many kids leave sports and hobbies behind in this transitional period. But sport and fitness should still be part of a young person's life. So, we have been experimenting with new ideas. Amy gave a fun, challenging and inspiring class. Every one of the girls enjoyed giving it a go. Thanks Amy. And thanks for being so open minded girls. What a buzz!

A change of scene for one of our "deep work" sessions offered just the trick to get our creative juices flowing. Working together for hours asks a lot from participants. To stay inspired and keep up the good energy, it can be fruitful to shake up the routine and add some novelty to the process.

By taking the girls out of the class room environment, changing the setting and visiting somewhere interesting, ‘a change of scene’ is a tool which acts as a refreshing break. All schools should implement this where possible. Use green areas, use gym halls, use patios and roof terraces. Get them out of the concrete box!

This works really well before major decisions or breakthroughs are made, It refreshes the mind and gives people time and space to ponder over the implications of decisions. Especially in a shady spacious place like my local Riu Rau. Great vibe. Worked an absolute treat during our Teen Workshop Summer Camp.

TODAY AT TEEN SUMMER CAMP: We wrote a love letter to ourselves! You can imagine the giggles and squirminess I encountered when I announced this plan! And yes, I get it. But learning to love ourselves is what it's all about. Its at the heart (excuse the pun!) of our wellbeing. And, as we got stuck in, they responded really well. Two A4 pages each of kind words to themselves and about themselves. The letters were confidential so I can only hope they are as beautiful as each of these ladies deserve. If you'd like to try this one at home here are just a few of the prompts we used:

I am lucky because....
I am loved. These are 3 people that love me....
I love me. Why?
I am grateful for.....
I have talent. I can....
I look forward to summer because....
I make a promise to myself by....

DAY #3 of my GR20 Training was a "rest day" and boy did I need it! I still racked up 12K steps bopping away at a wedding gig. But that's just business busy.

My nutition was spot on. Nothing evil passed my lips and I fasted 18 hours. FYI the sugar withdrawal headache is a real phenomena!

The focus of today was PREPARATION. I"m departing 2 months earlier than planned so there's a rush to break in new boots.

Thank you so much to everyone who has enjoyed my WYWW hikes this year and donated towards my GR20 costs. Equipment, insurance, flights, food. It's not a cheap getaway! Not on body, mind or pocket.

I've decided to play it safe and stick with my reliable Columbia Redmonds. This is my 6th pair! Everytime I research the "latest shoe technology" I get a bad dose of overwhelm. Let's hope these are up for the job. More importantly, let's hope I'm up for the job!

Some of you asked how you can donate? Here's the link. If you've enjoyed the WYWW community and wanna give back I'd be so grateful.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WYWW

TODAY AT SUMMER TEEN CAMP: We focused on finding our character strengths. In the morning we had a gorgeous hike and climbed a small mountain (who doesn't love the mountain metaphor!). At the top of the mountain, a bit breathless but with adrenaline pumping, we could sadly only come up with ONE character strength each. Just one! And even establishing that was a struggle for some of us! Well, it was early in the morning.

I explained, that the plan for today was to rectify that situation. My enthusiasm was met with some cynicism. However, by the end of the day, through creative questioning, fun activities and some great deep work we had all established at least TEN character strengths each that we possess and can harness.

I absolutely love this exercise and I love how empowering it was for these incredible young ladies. I believe their self-awareness has been bolstered and their self-confidence boosted. Mission accomplished!

TODAY AT SUMMER TEEN CAMP: We cooked for 20 people living on the streets of Denia. We considered their dignity and how we all deserve to be cared for. So, we made some "positive pastries". We also prepped, cooked and served a healthy vegetarian curry ready to be delivered. And we had a wonderfully informative presentation by Ian from Project4All who told his true story in a very relatable way.

The move from being a self-centered child to a selfless young adult is part of growing up. It's perfectly normal in the first stage of life to be selfish. Young kids are not emotionally developed enough to see and feel the world from a different point of view. As we mature, we develop perspective. We learn to take others' feelings into account, and we behave in more collaborative and less selfish ways. But how do we learn? Our educators, parents, guardians, and peers lead by example.

Today at our teen summer camp we had a wonderful learning experience. We discussed how people experiencing homelessness are often negatively misrepresented in our society. We realised that people living on the streets are as diverse as any other population. Many people become homeless because they can no longer afford their rent; whether that’s because of job loss, health issues, domestic violence, death in the family, rent increase, or a host of other reasons beyond their control.

Because the relatively small number of people living on the streets who suffer from paranoia, delusions and other mental disorders are more visible, they have become the stereotype for the entire homeless population. And that is a new word we learned today. STEREOTYPE.

I am VERY proud of every single one of the fine young women who participated with enthusiasm and empathy. I am confident that they learned a lot and I hope that they get the opportunity to help others going forward. It's a tricky one to get our heads around but we finished on this thought: “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”

BIG SHOUT OUT to all the families in Jesus Pobre who contribute each month so we can afford to do this regularly. Great gang!

A lovely hikey walky gathering before we take a well earned break for Summer. All ages blending beautifully and enjoying a great leg stretch and pretty sunset. Thanks to everyone who joined. And thanks for humouring me by participating in a section of silent hiking. Gave me a chance to catch my breath! Special mention to Aran, Oscar & Roisin for joining too. My three most precious offspring. Have a WONDERFUL few months all. And see you back in the saddle in September.

VERY much looking forward to our 3 day Teen & Tween workshop here at Headquarters. Vision Boards, Yoga, Resilience training, Games, Arts, Crafts, Creativity, Music and lots of connection and wholesome food. The kinda school I wish we could all go to all of the time! I have ONE PLACE LEFT if your daughter is at a loose end in the coming days. She will grow, develop and have a blast!

Can't wait to work with Melanie & Evie next week. Three days of wonder will unfold for sure. If you have a daughter age 12 to 14 this might well be the most fun and learning they will have done all year!

Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness with Mel
Arts, Crafts & Creativity with Evie
Resilience & Self-Development with Niamh

JUST TWO PLACES LEFT
1st 2nd 3rd July
9am until 3pm
€99 including all materials & food

What's the plan for your tweens this summer? We are trying hard to play the "gadgets away" game. Focus on art, nature, fun and creativity. So far they love it! There's TWO PLACES LEFT on next week's teen & tween resilience and self-development course. Message me for more info.

Thanks to Female Focus for the editorial space this month to allow me explain a little more about my coaching approach. I'd love your feedback. Tell me what you think about what I do. I'm eager to reflect and learn. And drop me a line if you'd like more info.

Walk Your Way Well by Niamh O’Sheehan Hello readers. Did you know I'm a positive psychology coach? I've been writing this article about the amazing benefits of walking for four years! But did I mention we walk in my coaching sessions? Walking coaching, also known as

JUST ONE PLACE LEFT! Do you have a tween or young teen daughter? Are they ready, emotionally equipped and confident as they face into the excitement and teen challenges of the summer holidays? If you'd like them to pick up some great life skills, learn some coping mechanisms and improve their emotional intelligence, then this fun 3 day course is perfect. Using art, music, games and other creative coaching and learning methods we will enjoy a great journey together. I have children who are 13, 15 and 19 years old. I know a trick or two! And I'm passionate about equipping them for life, not a career. I'm a qualified positive psychology coach and I have been running resilience workshops with teens regularly for three years. These courses have very limited places. Fun guaranteed. Price €99 including food and materials.

LAST HIKE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2024. Bring yourself, bring a friend, bring the family! Lets see the season out in style with a great gathering. This is a short hike. But it is a HIKE nonetheless. Steps, ascent, descent and uneven terrain. Drop me a line to book in.

BIONIC BREAKFAST at the Donativo Diner. Great company. Great food. Great service (thanks Oscar!) Colourful vegetarian delights and lots of laughter. After a hike this is the BEST reward! Mostly locally grown, produced and baked products. Thanks to everyone for another fully booked fun day in the Diner.

I'll be focusing on my GR20 training in July. I'm getting very nervous. Oh, and excited! That means no more flat walks and lots of strength training. So it was a BIG pleasure today to enjoy a delightful 7km easy flat walk through the lanes of my neighbourhood. Such a FANTASTIC group of seriously nice people too. Thank you sincerely to the walkers who donated a few € today. I'm gonna need a MIGHTY pair of hiking boots (and other fancy gear!) to get my through 15 days of jagged, rugged Corsican trail. And your generosity is making that happen. Some of you asked how you can donate? Here's the link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WYWW

Humans NEED connection. Friends, acquaintances, colleagues and family. We aren't lone wolves. Join our WYWW community to help fulfill a basic human need. Increase your sense of happiness and worth. This is not a business "networking" opportunity. This is much deeper than that. It's human connection to feed our souls. Our community is a safe space. A welcoming world. Let us be your tribe!

Connections can be just as important to physical and mental health as exercise and healthy eating. Research has shown that the psychological and physical health benefits of social contact are so great that they have been shown to boost life expectancy.

Special shout out to a special lady. A regular participant and contributor to our WYWW events is the much loved Usha. This week Usha and family kick started her 40th birthday by joining us for an early morning hike. After a longish ascent we stopped to catch our breath on the edge of a cliff and gazed out to sea. The perfect moment for the fourteen of us to sing happy birthday. Magic moments are made of these! Thank you so much to Usha for allowing us to be part of your big day. Honoured! Looking forward to more of your yoga calm in my life again soon.

We love to share our positive experiences with others to encourage people to join us, or to go seek these magical routes alone. We took so many amazing photos of this magical muggy morning. Each bend. Each view point. Each smiling face! Thank you to Oscar for being my backwalker on this tricky path. And a big hug to Anna for being so brave and buoyant when she grazed her knee. Thank you to everyone you puffed and panted their way along this glorious path. Great crew.

"Nature is imperfectly perfect, filled with loose parts and possibilities, transcendent hands-on moments and skinned knees!" Richard Louv.