When I was growing up in Surrey, long before I crossed the Atlantic and eventually joined an industry which took me to every part of the world, landscapes and their imagery were my gateway to the destinations I longed to visit. I’d see images of globetrotting archaeologist Harrison Ford and imagine I too was deep in the South American jungle. Or I’d flip through my dad’s archival National Geographic and dream of the virtually uninhabited ice-covered landmass of Antarctica.
Much like a great novel or art exhibition can introduce us to new worlds, there are many ways for the mind to take flight. The methods by which we get away from it all are evolving. The rise of transformational trips that help us make sense of our lives – whether that’s redefining our purpose, finding balance or planning out a new career path – seems to tap into the uniquely post-lockdown phenomenon of trying to put ourselves back together. As the psychodynamic coach Nick Hatter says, “Sometimes we are so busy working in our lives that we forget to work on our lives”. We speak a lot in our school about identity. This used to be defined by place or by age or by role. But we live in a world now where we are not leaving things to chance – we’re choosing to define and redefine ourselves and what it means to live our “best lives”.
A great escape can be a valuable mental journey as much as a geographical one. One early morning just a few years ago, I found myself peering out of the window of a tiny propeller aircraft, watching the sun rising over the vast scenic expanse of the gentle rolling African savannah plains. The air was warm and the magnificent cloudless sky left me breathless. As we approached the dusty airstrip, I could see hundreds of school children’s faces eagerly awaiting our aircraft’s descent, their teachers nervously attempting to shepherd their students’ palpable excitement over meeting us. To say that our arrival to their school was joyous would be an immense understatement.
Our immersive itinerary focused on key areas of life in a foreign, extreme, beautiful setting – community, sustainability and wellness came into sharp focus in a new environment, offering a fresh point of view. As our time surrounded by nature’s epic masterpiece of animals, birds and geology unfolded, so did my self-knowledge. It was the golden moment when I dared to grab onto something more. It disrupted my sense of normal. It challenged boundaries and guided me through a process of self-discovery and self-renewal. Time away from the day-to-day, focusing on what really matters, woke me up, forcing me to face those important questions, decisions and life whispers I’d avoided for so long. Going to a new place physically helped to provide a space with new perspectives. It opened my eyes to a new sense of possibility while leaving behind what weighed me down.
We’re heading into travel season – the days are longer and summer holidays are finally in sight. Wanderlust underpins the educational experience at this point in the school calendar. Many of our students are enjoying trips to far flung destinations. And every summer, there is a magic in the moment we set the ‘out of office’ and head off for a few days of sand and sea.
What I have learnt is that – even when you’re in paradise – going on a journey of transformation requires faith to think bigger, be audacious, identify and overcome limiting beliefs and trust the process. Our Junior School’s unique Human Intelligence curriculum offers children the opportunity to challenge the norm, to question society’s views and to celebrate their individuality. Self-belief is a powerful force, and that is just part of what clicked for me aboard that tiny plane in the middle of the Masai Mara.
We live in an always-on, plugged-in society. So whether you find yourself on a plane, beach or garden sun lounger, I hope this summer gives you the sweet escape you deserve.
Nisha Kaura, Head of The Abbey Junior School