Sometimes You Need to Step Away to Move Forward with Carol Clegg

Welcome And A June Update

Well, welcome to Connect, Inspire, Create. And I know that my podcast has not been out and about for the month of June as I am currently and still in Portugal. I left on the 1st of June to go on an adventure that I am so proud of that I actually managed to complete and enjoy and challenge myself.

The Alentejo Horse Riding Adventure

I went on a horse riding adventure in the Alantejo area with five other women, and we rode every day. Some days, the first day was pretty long. Five hours was the expected time, but most days were just over four hours. We stopped for lunch in gorgeous areas. The host of our riding adventure, his wife, did all the cooking and she met us at these out-of-the-way places and brought us a picnic lunch and full-on Portuguese style with red wine and cheese and olives. One of them was on the beach, and then that was the absolute highlight for me was the beach riding, cantering on these wide open beach spaces.

Restoration And Healing Through Challenge

So June has been a month for me of restoration, of exploring, of being brave, and many other things. And so today, as we reach the end of June, I'm not sure when this episode will go live. I am today for the first day opening up my computer. I am still here. I am just outside Lisbon in an area which I shall try to pronounce correctly, Uerash, practicing my Portuguese, and we are getting there. But I am living in a neighborhood for

Grief, Birthdays, And Learning Solo Life

a handful of days. I belong to Home Exchange and managed to do a home exchange with a lovely family who have an apartment here in Uerosh. I can walk to the beach. It's about a 15-minute walk to get to the beach. There is a local grocery store and little shopping center within walking distance. The wonderful thing, this entire trip, I have not needed to rent a vehicle. I have managed to get myself around from A to B. I actually use bolts when I'm in Europe as opposed to Uber. Occasionally I have used Uber, but Bolt has been my preferred mode of transport while I have been here. But there has been a lot of healing taking place, and I think that yeah, there's something to be said for engaging in an activity, a strenuous activity, as the horse riding was, which required an interaction of so many parts of me, and that at the end of each of those days I could sit back and reflect and go, wow, I actually accomplished that. And had wonderful company on the journey, each woman from a different place, a different contribution that they brought to our group. And so that certainly will be a highlight for me for 2026. It was partially to celebrate my birthday and partially as a brave step to continue my healing process of grief. And I think that is something that we will never have a pure map on how to do that and what to do and what comes next. But I am grateful that the moments of deep, deep sorrow and grief are easier to move through at the moment, and that I can treasure precious memories and look back fondly and move into the scary new season of doing things alone, but getting more comfortable with doing

Being Present Alone In Portugal

things alone. So it's quite different here in Portugal because I kind of get the feeling that not many women, there are a lot of women on their own, but I'm eating out at restaurants, you know, sitting at oceanside bars and having a drink in the evening and waiting for the sun to set. And it's been it's been a little challenging, but in the bigger part, I've been very comfortable. And I haven't needed to pull out my phone and absorb myself in distraction. In fact, I've just spent time being present, watching what's going by. And I've noticed a greater sense of appreciation in my visual, which has been so interesting. Just the colors of the ocean, the colours of the plants and the trees. And it's just that I stop for a moment and go, wow, these colors are actually rather beautiful.

Podcast Pause And What’s Next

So this is just a moment to stop in and say hello and explain why there has not been, I think my last episode that went out was episode 207 with Jordan Blair on why hosting a podcast. And I guess I, yep, it's time to open up my computer. I am still here, but I am spending today getting back in touch as I slowly prepare myself to be heading home soon. So thank you for listening to this episode. And there will be a full episode with a guest coming out soon. So until the next time, take care and enjoy your day, each day with ease and flow.