The Creative Journey Begins

Today kicked off our creative adventure. I woke up in my cozy mosquito-netted cocoon to the soothing sound of the morning call to prayer. I caught the sunrise from the balcony and then joined the group for some freshly French-pressed coffee before we hopped on a boat for a morning swim. Swimming in the warm Indian Ocean for the first time felt like a rebirth. It was inspiring being around so many strong women, and when I got back on the boat, they asked if I was a gymnast because of my muscular legs.

After our refreshing morning swim, we were delighted to be led in yoga by a wonderful local instructor. She gently guided us through soothing breathing exercises, helping us stretch our bodies, which had been feeling the weight of our jobs and the stresses from home. It was such a calming experience!

Once we finished our yoga session, we treated ourselves to a light breakfast of delicious local fruits, such as watermelon, mango, papaya, and dragonfruit, along with some tasty eggs. What a lovely way to start the day!

Although we had already accomplished so much, the day had just begun, and we settled in for a heartfelt and inspiring talk from our leader, Autumn. She shared with us the profound journey she has been on, revealing how she courageously tore up the program she had meticulously prepared and instead crafted a new one just last week. Autumn's story is one of resilience and transformation; three years ago, she faced a life-altering diagnosis of cancer, which led her to make the brave decision to leave her job and dedicate herself to travel, adventure, and writing.

In the beginning, the outlook seemed bleak as the cancer spread throughout her body, yet Autumn's spirit remained unbroken. Recently, she received the uplifting news that her cancer is primarily contained. Her journey has become a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of embracing life fully, even amidst adversity. Through her experiences, she has discovered the beauty and purpose in every moment, inspiring us to seek the same light in our lives.

Our theme for the week is "Begin Again, " in honor of her strength and courage. We will focus on the nature of suffering and explore paths to move beyond it. While suffering can indeed be transformative, it is essential to recognize that it can also hold us back if we become too attached to our pain. Together, let us learn to acknowledge our struggles while finding ways to rise above them, embracing the possibility of new beginnings.

Autumn inspiring and guiding us all

Our physically and emotionally packed day was far from over! Local artist Maggie Otieno joined us to discuss her background and work as a sculptor. She inspired us to listen to the objects around us and gather those that resonate with us. Tomorrow, we will each create personal sculptures. Maggie believes that materials have a language and naturally gravitate toward us if we connect with them. She urged us to consider the stories our materials convey or the stories we wish to tell through them.

Before dinner, we wandered through Lamu's streets, popping into little shops and eventually ending up on the beach, where we watched locals handcrafting a mahogany boat.

Tonight, we're sailing across the channel for a seafood dinner, and hopefully, I'll squeeze in some time afterward to work on my homework assignment, "Write an essay about your name."