As we move towards 2026, many of us start reflecting on how the years have passed and how often our own health and well-being have quietly slipped down the list. Not because we didn’t care, but because we got used to coping, managing, and carrying on. We often tell ourselves we’ll focus on ourselves once the children are grown and have left the nest. Then one day that moment arrives, and many women find themselves standing there alone, wondering what comes next. If that’s whe

There comes a point where saying no stops protecting you and starts shrinking you. It doesn’t happen all at once. It happens quietly, over time. You tell yourself you’re being sensible, keeping the peace, and putting everyone else first. And before you realise it, years have passed and your world has grown smaller while everyone else’s has kept moving. Those years aren’t wasted because you were weak. They’re wasted because you learned how to survive by putting yourself last.

When your life blows up—divorce, heartbreak, or one of those moments you never imagined you’d have to survive, it hits every part of you. You don’t just lose a partner. You lose your best friend, your travel person, your routine, and the version of you that made sense. The silence lands differently. Weekends suddenly feel never-ending. Even walking into the kitchen feels like stepping into someone else’s life. And that’s usually the point where most women shut down. They stay

For the past five years, Mending Hearts has grown into one of the leading divorce and grief retreats  in the world, helping people...

Now that our September Morocco retreat has sold out, I’m back on the hunt for the next venue this time in Thailand. Phang Nga bay...

My Divorce Recovery Journey and Learning To Only Look Forward

Grief isn’t just an emotion; it’s a full-body, full-mind experience that changes how you see the world. Whether you’ve lost a partner, a...

The truth about mental health, taking that leap of faith, and remembering who you are When I moved to Thailand four months ago, I imagined a fresh start. I was ready for warm mornings, vibrant culture, adventure, and the excitement that comes with changing your life. But soon after arriving, I faced an unexpected health challenge that slowly began to affect every part of my life. It wasn’t the move that overwhelmed me—it was everything that followed. What started as bronchiti

When you’ve reached that point where you’re backed into a corner, where nothing you say or do changes anything, and you’re left feeling...

Villa El-Goute Marrakech Mending Hearts Retreat | Grief and Divorce Recovery Retreat | Morocco 2025 Grief doesn’t look the same for...

At some point in life, we all hit that wall, the one where the past keeps showing up, no matter how badly we want to forget it. But...

I’ve just returned from another amazing Mending Hearts divorce & grief retreat in Portugal. I got to know some wonderful new women, and...

It's easy to get caught up in past regrets and forget the value of the present moment. Here’s your gentle reminder to prioritise...

Our retreat couldn’t come any sooner, as it was a relief to escape the clutches of the dismal rain back in the UK and bask once more in the welcoming arms of our beautiful Moroccan villa, El Goute, where the sun always shines! The Moroccan dishes were nothing short of divine; we dabbled in light lunches but went all out for our evening meals with huge tagines and puddings. And yes, the staff—always the paragons of hospitality—went above and beyond, bending over backwards as i

Going into a divorce when you’re too emotional can be a disaster. Instead, give yourself time to heal, travel, and meet new friends. Join groups to keep you active, whether it be a gym class or a social event or even a divorce retreat . For you to recoup and receive some emotional support and inspiration. As we all know, time is a good healer, and if you don’t plan and get prepared for it, you could end up in a fight, and the only ones that will win will be the lawyers. Tr

I've just returned from a two-week trip to Morocco, and I am now finally stepping back down to Earth. After meeting such strong,...

I have just returned from yet another fabulous retreat but this time in Spain. It was only our second time abroad, the first...

After just 2 years of launching Mending Hearts Retreat and with a pandemic hopefully behind us we finally got to have our first ever international retreat back in May. For the past 2 years, we've been hosting Mending Hearts in the beautiful English countryside of East Sussex. No retreat is the same, some can be more challenging than others, but as long as we keep going we become stronger and better each time. March was so much fun, we had a lovely bunch of women 10 in total,

Being with my ex-husband for twenty years, I felt restricted with the type of holidays we could book, he wasn't big on the sun and he certainly wasn't into outdoor sports or adventure. But then due to my vertigo I also felt held back on some of the trips I had constantly dreamed of. I have suffered from vertigo all my adult life it can be so bad and disabling, sometimes just walking up a set of steep stairs would set it off. I remember visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia some yea

After months of anticipation and stress in the hope, that the retreat would go ahead, we managed to scrape through. This was primarily due to all the attendees that stayed committed and supportive. Everyone had either been tested or vaccinated before their arrival which provided the group added reassurance throughout the weekend. For our first day, we had our favourite artist back Dave Randall, who gathered the group into the main bar to paint a self-portrait of themselves in