she knew her soul had adventures.
life with its serendipity of journey
was at times complicated and challenging...
it wasn't without its laughter and love,
but the energy to keep moving, keep feeling, keep going
was a hike...
it required spirit, it required support, it required soul...
she knew she had more adventures to travel,
she knew she had a tribe,
she knew she had her soul...
the answer lay in her step
in her surroundings
...in her mountains, in her hills and in her trails...

she looked into her soul,
she sought her tribe,
and as she scaled her hills, trails and mountains

she listened to the winds of nature,
the whisper of the wind,
the words of her soul, her girls, her tribe...

she listened with an ear that heard,
she felt with a heart that embraced,
and she stepped with her Soul Girl Tribe.

Last year I came across a Post on FB about ‘Soul Girl Adventures’. Kelly wanted to connect with her Tribe of women and in the last year, she has, I have, we all have!

My journey of Grief recovery started its journey of healing with a ‘3 Peak Challenge’ with the Rowing Ladies 3 years ago, then I learnt to row, my next challenge was to run a marathon, and then during the Summer of 2019 I decided I wanted to return to the hiking and trails that Gary and I had always done during our family life together…to gain my confidence I needed a group…my Tribe of Soul Girls Adventures found me…

During my first hike with them I had the wonderful opportunity to lead a creative writing session…for Kelly the Tribe is about embracing the unique talents of each and every female…

but it was what happened on that trail back to the car down Binevenagh that touched my Soul…it was a connection with the ‘woman within who walked my way’… Each female brought with her a story, a shared emotion, and a strength which radiated with richness and resilience. I knew these women… I was these women and I wanted to become these women. I met my fellow widows, my fellow alone females, the mums, the wives, the artists, the runners, the hikers, the walkers and the daredevils.

We each have our own lineage of life at which we lament, laugh and love.

I have written before in this Blog about the ‘Wonderfulness of Women’… the Women who have carried me, supported, and given me life to live…

All my life I have walked trails and hills with my parents, my friends, with Gary and the Cups, on my solo travels around the world, and here in NI (especially over the past five years) as I have navigated the sorrow and healing of my soul and heart…

nature and my steps have filled my lungs with air,

my body with energy

and my head with space,

The Soul Girl hikes over the past year

have filled my steps with spirit,

my conversations with craic,

and my adventures with awe…

thanks for your inspired insight Kelly and to my fellow Tribe, you are inspirational…

Thankyou xox