From July 2020 - March 2022, I worked really, really hard on achieving a big goal and having a huge impact on the world. By March 2022, when we’d achieved that goal, I was tired. I was burnt out. I wanted to set my next goals and really inspire myself.

So I started looking for bootcamps, retreats and vision quests I could join.

I didn’t find one that fit all my criteria and really resonated with me. So I decided to design my own.

I started designing. After I started designing, I sat down to do my course.

It was really hard to sit down and do my own vision quest or life purpose course by myself in my own time. I decided I needed community - to gather some friends together over a weekend and sit and do my life purpose course with them.

I told some friends about it. They said it sounded great! In fact, most people I told thought it sounded great - and the friends they told also thought it sounded great. It was great, great, great, all around. :)

A friend of mine was going to Europe for a month so she said, “let’s do it when I get back”. So I waited for her to get back. When she got back, I asked my other friend when she was free in July. “Before 13 July” - she was going away to Europe after that. So on 1 July, we decided we would hold the event on 8-9 July.

It was super fun.  Just 5 people.  People could share as much or as little as they wanted.  Chatham House rules.  We curated a series of questions and a variety of activities.  And over 23 hours, with vulnerability, comparison and curiosity, we each reflected on our pasts and explored our paths going forwards.

I think one of the biggest things I got from the event, was community and connection. Being seen, feeling heard.

I’m reminded of the quote, “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!” ― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

I’m reminded of the most authentic and compassionate people I’ve met in my life. Just random people I met at various conferences who’s willingness to be unabashedly themselves made them the most charming people. To reveal yourself to others and be accepted as you are and to accept them in return for who they are. Those are the kinds of people and relationships I’m hungry for in my life. That’s the kind of person I want to be.

I decided that the “Life Purpose” name ideal of the retreat was too lofty a goal, and decided instead people coming away with action items for the next year and a general life direction for the next 5 years would be achievable. So that’s what we did.

I highly recommend everyone organise a “Life Purpose” event with their friends to bring connection and community to your lives. Everyone wants to be seen and loved, just as they are.

Now the 5 of us are going back into the world and into our lives with just a bit more clarity, more confidence and more purpose.  I had a lot of fun, feel closer to my 4 other friends, and I look forward to holding one of these again in a year!