Why I started eight8
I have been thinking a lot about eight8 recently. Not about what it is, but why I started it in the first place. The answer surprised me, and perhaps it is something you might relate to too.
Not what is eight8, but what were my reasons?
At 56, I found myself in a career that no longer aligned with who I was. I was unhappy, it was making me unhappy. So I made the huge decision to leave that role, with no idea how or what I would be going to, it felt incredibly scary. But it also felt right.
The day after I left work, my mom had a fall and sadly passed away just 12 weeks later.
My children had both left home and moved abroad, and I felt completely lost. My identity was changing, I really did feel lost and I had no idea who I was.
There was another feeling that hit me like a train.
Did I matter?
I still want to matter. I want things to matter.
My family and friends matter to me. My health and wellbeing matter to me. Eight8 matters to me.
When I first started thinking about eight8, I thought it was about creating financial freedom. Being able to travel and share amazing experiences. Being my own boss and managing my own time. Creating something of my own that I could continue doing for many years to come.
All of these were the practical reasons behind eight8.
But in essence, I think the real reason was simply to matter.
To discover experiences and create trips that you will truly find inspiring. To share beautiful places that create amazing memories and fill your senses. To introduce you to incredible artisans and small business owners who are creating amazing things. Not just because there is an opportunity to learn from them, but because they bring joy, pleasure and in many cases are making a positive impact.
Why - Because it matters..
We all have the ability to plan a trip or an itinerary, to take ourselves on experiences and discover new things, and eight8 is no different in that respect.
Where eight8 perhaps makes a difference is in the desire to seek out places, people and experiences that you will relate to and resonate with.
An environment where you feel comfortable, safe, calm and relaxed, and where you can simply be yourself.
Small groups that feel like travelling with friends. Places that make you feel alive, where you can grow and feel energised. Space to be yourself, without the need to organise or make decisions on behalf of everyone else. Just yourself.
So, what is eight8?
Quite simply, eight8 creates carefully curated experiences designed to help you discover beautiful and unique places, try new things and share the experience with others, without having to organise it all yourself, and where you truly matter.
Some will be longer trips, like the French Alps, while others may be a weekend away, a day spent somewhere special or an experience closer to home. They may look different, but they will all have the same eight8 approach.
I seek out the places, people and experiences that I believe are worth discovering and bring them together in a way that feels special. Beautiful places to stay, wonderful food, interesting people and experiences that you may not necessarily find or organise for yourself.
The French Alps is the first example of this. It has been purposefully curated around these things that matter, beautiful surroundings, wonderful places to visit, great food, interesting people and experiences that I hope will create memories that stay with you.
But the trip itself is only part of it.
It is the feeling of arriving somewhere special, like a chalet designed by a renowned interior designer, and knowing everything has been taken care of. Of discovering somewhere you may never have found yourself. Of sitting around a table with people you have only just met and finding that, by the end of the stay, you feel like you have known them for much longer.
It is about having the space to relax, explore, be yourself and perhaps try something new, without having to make all the decisions or do all the organising.
It is about discovering somewhere where you feel you belong. Somewhere you want to keep returning to. Building your confidence, making friends, taking yourself to places and trying new experiences that you may not have considered before.
The places we visit matter. The experiences matter. The food matters. The people we meet matter.
And so do you.
Eight8 is about belonging. You are invited to be part of our journey, to join in when you are able.
Whether you simply enjoy the ‘sharing with you’ experiences in my newsletter on the 8th, whether you come with me to a workshop or event, whether you just like the book recommendations, or whether you want to come along on a longer trip.
It is entirely up to you.
You choose what matters to you.
And if you thinking about joining Kelly and I in the French Alps in September, visit the Travel Experiences page for more information. Alternatively, simply reply to this email and I can send you the booking link or chat through the details with you.
We would love yo to join us.
Come with Me - If you would like to discover future trips, then visit our Travel Experiences page for more details.
We invite you to join our community and sign up to our monthly newsletter, sent to you on the 8th & 18th of each month with new experiences and places to discover.
