Mindful Routes

This day 10 years ago, I fell to my knees in disbelief, horror and incredible heartache when I was told one of my closest friends had taken his life. My life changed… at first for the worst, but I have since grown and healed and understand a bit more about myself now…It’s been quite the journey! I think my friend would be proud!!💫

The world lost an absolute gem of a human and it makes me so angry, sad and frustrated to think that he felt he had no other option, and that so many others since have felt the same! 😢

I still don’t understand why, and I still carry a lot of guilt and sadness around it all, but I try to find peace in the memories, his rants, his laughter, his energy, his kindness, his support and his wisdom! 💓

Im still trying to accept that I’ll never really and truly understand… and for the last few years I felt like I’d let my attachment to him go a little, and avoided talking too much about him… but it turns out, doing a mental health first aid course, has brought it all back… the pain, the sadness, the frustration and anguish as well as the guilt again, quite strongly. Wising I’d known what I know now, so I could’ve maybe, just maybe made a difference to him and changed his course of action 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is not a pity post, but more of a message to anyone who is struggling out there, just talk. Let someone know you need help. PLEASE! 🙏🏼

Whether you’re struggling yourself or you are supporting someone else… You are someone’s bright light and maybe you don’t know it yet, but people love you for who you are right now!!! 💜

Life is not a dress rehearsal, this is it!!

Don’t count the days, make the days count!!

I’m trying…

Jen 💕

So… I’ve said for ages I wanted to feel the freedom of a trail runner… running loose amongst the hills, but I assumed I couldn’t do it… too overweight and I don’t run regularly (at all)… but then other day, I just felt like doing it! So I did!!! 🙌🏼

It was a beautiful sunny day, I grabbed my trail running shoes (which have only ever been used for walking), my “running” shorts and my evoc water pack… I figured if I dress like a trail runner, I’ll become a trail runner!! 😂

I planned a wee 8km loop that I would mostly walk but throw in the odd run interval… I aimed for 5 min blocks of running and I stuck to this regardless of the uphills… 👏🏼 Go me!! 👏🏼

To my surprise, I found running up the hills, FUN… I was giggling to myself thinking, who even am I?! 😅

I got to the end of a path and gate to start returning home… but was lured by more hills and sunshine… so I kept going up! I got to the next check point… and decided to keep going up again… 🆙

It ended up being just over 10km with 280m climbing… I ran about half of it in 5 min blocks. Which compared to actual runners is nothing… but f**k comparison… I was buzzing. I made my own wee trail walk/run into an adventure and it felt amazing! 🤩

I was buzzing that my legs could do this. No hip pain, knee niggles or calve twinges (like when I run on the tarmac), I was so delighted with myself! Slightly sore legs for a couple of days… but aaaaah that felt so good, so free… I think I want to be a trail runner!!! 😬😂 watch this space… 👀

Anyway, what thing have you always wanted to do, but felt held back because you think you can’t, shouldn’t… ?? What one thing could you just try this month, towards that idea… ??

And any real trail runners out there… feel free to drop me some handy tips!! 🫶🏼

Aaaaaah THE OLD GHOST ROAD is one of those journeys, that’s hard to put in words…

I made a wee reel over on but had a wee play at this collage to share some of the pics…

I fell in love with the freedom, the beauty and the joy of this ride and it’s safe to say I want more of this kind of adventure…

Anyone else done the Old Ghost Road in New Zealand?!

March has been a mix of ups and downs… perhaps not a surprise really, after having been in NZ for a couple of months!! 😬 (More to share on this another time)

So although I’ve been feeling a bit low for most of March, I loved looking back through the month to pick out highlights… and as always, there’s so much to be grateful for!! 🫶🏼

🚲 Riding on my hardtail again, felt so good!! Getting back to a bit of training… easing myself back in!l for now…

🛞 New rear tyre on the full suss also felt incredible!! Thanks 👌🏼

🎵 Awesome fun out in Glasgow seeing Tinlicker with Lee & Meg on a feckin Wednesday!! 🖤

💡 Supporting the Light up the town event in Hawick

💓A weekend away in Pitlochry with Allan and Angus, Catching up with Heather & Al too!!

🎭 Local meal and theatre show, Sunshine on Leith, last night was brilliant 👌🏼

And now surely spring is here?!? ☀️ 🤷🏻‍♀️

End of year reflection doesn’t have to be about fixing yourself, or all about the highlights (although I do love a highlights montage).

So much growth happens in the moments we don’t measure… like the choices you made, the fears you faced, the way you kept going… it all counts towards learning and evolving… 💫

Flick through these images for some journaling prompts and have a read of my blog for a bit more on this… (link in bio) ⬆️

And, maybe save this for a quieter moment and come back to the prompts when you need them 🤍🤍🤍

Jen 💕

You’ve got some bike riders or some outdoorsy folks in your life and you want to give them a slightly different kind of gift this Christmas?!

Why not gift a transformational and empowering experience…

2026 dates are now out for my GUIDED MINDFUL RIDES - this could be the best gift ever… even if it’s to yourself!!! 🫶🏼

🗓️ Saturday 28th March 2026
🗓️ Saturday 23rd May 2026
📍 Tweed Valley area (Glentress or Innerleithen)

You can book directly on my website, link is in my bio, or message me directly to book 2 places with 10% discount!!

Mindful rides are one of my favourite things to do with clients, and I’d love to share this with more of you! Please share on your stories and tag me, or with anyone you think would love this, or tag them in the comments…

Any questions, just ask

Jen 💕

You don’t have to keep up with everyone all the time… just keep going in the best way you know how! And I don’t just mean riding bikes, I mean in general…

Stay in alignment with what matters to you, your values and what you need… rather than comparing and trying to “keep up” with everyone else!!

You’re good enough just as you are!! And when you start making conscious choices based on what you need and want, everything falls in to place and FLOWS!!

Who doesn’t love that flow state!?! On and off the bike…

We’ve all just got to keep on keeping on… 💫

Jen 💕

personaldevelopmentcoach