WEBVTT 00:15.060 --> 00:22.240 Dear readers and my listeners, I'm very excited to share this with you. It is time to reconnect. 00:23.200 --> 00:29.640 Over the past few weeks, I have been writing on Substack about something that many of us feel deeply, 00:30.400 --> 00:33.140 and that is the pandemic of disconnection. 00:33.560 --> 00:37.260 It's something that Kasia and I have been talking about for months, 00:37.480 --> 00:42.640 and it really hit home when I read it clearly expressed in Meredith Miller's book, 00:43.160 --> 00:46.300 The Real Pandemic is the Pandemic of Disconnection. 00:46.460 --> 00:49.840 And the book that I'm talking about is Becoming Whole by Meredith Miller. 00:50.100 --> 00:53.680 And this pandemic of disconnection, it actually predates COVID. 00:54.260 --> 00:58.600 You know, we've all seen it unfolding before our very eyes in the last few decades. 00:59.300 --> 01:03.360 People are on their phones, couples in restaurants, not even talking to each other, 01:03.760 --> 01:07.060 friends, not meeting face to face anymore, just sending text messages. 01:07.060 --> 01:12.180 And alongside that, a growing sense that you cannot always say what you really think, 01:12.600 --> 01:18.420 whether that's at work, socially, or even with friends and family, and even your partner. 01:18.980 --> 01:22.500 Because you never know, it might hit a nerve, it might trigger someone, 01:22.780 --> 01:26.500 it might cause a fence, or simply you're just misunderstood. 01:28.040 --> 01:31.660 And the pandemic kind of accelerated that. 01:32.700 --> 01:35.360 Many of us have woken up to what's going on in the world. 01:35.360 --> 01:39.220 There are so many lies, whether it's what they're spraying in the sky, 01:39.620 --> 01:44.500 whether it's the pills and the vaccines, and whether it's net zero and the climate agenda. 01:44.760 --> 01:48.460 You know, you start talking to your normal friends and normal acquaintances 01:48.460 --> 01:50.040 and they just think you're a crazy person. 01:51.420 --> 01:54.920 Many of you have written back to me, sharing your experiences, 01:55.380 --> 01:58.680 and you tell me what it's like feeling surrounded by people, 01:58.760 --> 02:01.840 yet some have still feeling very much alone. 02:01.840 --> 02:07.560 Wanting that deeper conversation, wanting more honesty and real connection with people 02:07.560 --> 02:09.620 who understand where you're coming from. 02:09.920 --> 02:13.340 And over the past few weeks, many of you have also shared 02:13.340 --> 02:17.880 how strongly the idea of connection and reconnection resonates with you. 02:18.600 --> 02:23.080 The truth is, many of us have been searching for spaces where we can be ourselves again. 02:23.460 --> 02:27.560 Spaces where conversations are honest, curiosity is welcome, 02:27.560 --> 02:30.460 disagreement can exist without hostility, 02:30.660 --> 02:35.040 and people can still laugh together without walking on eggshells. 02:35.040 --> 02:38.080 A place where you do not have to explain yourself all the time, 02:38.400 --> 02:41.020 because the people around you simply understand 02:41.980 --> 02:44.480 because you're surrounded by your tribe. 02:45.220 --> 02:49.280 And that's why my friend Kasha and I have created the connection retreats this year. 02:49.820 --> 02:52.860 After the success of the two retreats that I ran last year, 02:53.200 --> 02:55.320 I felt the need to go a little bit deeper. 02:55.320 --> 02:57.920 To create something that's more than just a weekend away, 02:58.040 --> 03:00.280 but a genuine experience of reconnection. 03:00.960 --> 03:04.580 And don't get me wrong, the feedback from the retreats last year was incredible. 03:04.920 --> 03:08.200 And I'm not going to share all of it, but here are just a couple of reflections. 03:09.040 --> 03:12.340 I love the experience and would definitely attend a future retreat. 03:12.640 --> 03:16.040 I love the extra touches and have so many great memories. Thank you. 03:16.740 --> 03:19.680 Someone else said, I'm so pleased you're doing this with Kasha. 03:20.080 --> 03:22.220 I absolutely loved her when I met her last year, 03:22.220 --> 03:24.620 and I know it will be another beautiful experience. 03:25.340 --> 03:27.920 And finally, this was a life-changing experience for me. 03:28.160 --> 03:32.880 I cannot tell you what profound impact it has had on my life. Thank you. 03:33.540 --> 03:35.880 So you might be asking, why change anything? 03:36.440 --> 03:39.260 Because I've been listening to what many of you are telling me, 03:39.980 --> 03:44.140 and that's about the fact that we need reconnection in our lives, 03:44.340 --> 03:48.300 whether it's connection to yourself, connection to others, 03:48.300 --> 03:51.580 connection to nature, connection to truth. 03:52.460 --> 03:57.980 A space where you can slow down, put your phone away, breathe, and simply be. 03:59.000 --> 03:59.680 It's magical. 04:00.480 --> 04:03.220 So over three days together, we're going to share meals, 04:03.660 --> 04:06.400 movement, nature, conversation, play. 04:07.120 --> 04:08.240 People have forgotten how to play. 04:09.020 --> 04:13.200 Fire circles and experiences designed to allow connection to emerge naturally. 04:13.980 --> 04:16.840 This is not about performance or pretending. 04:16.840 --> 04:20.260 It is about being your true authentic self. 04:21.120 --> 04:22.060 It is about presence. 04:23.040 --> 04:25.780 At the very beginning of this journey, Kasha and I did something very simple, 04:25.780 --> 04:28.220 but meaningful. We made a little pinky promise to each other. 04:29.340 --> 04:32.980 A promise that we would not let ego, money, or distractions 04:32.980 --> 04:34.780 interfere with what we were creating. 04:35.380 --> 04:37.880 A promise that this retreat would be built with integrity, 04:38.340 --> 04:40.120 presence, honesty, and heart. 04:40.740 --> 04:43.200 And a promise that we would deliver something truly beautiful 04:43.200 --> 04:44.740 for every person who joins us. 04:44.740 --> 04:47.220 This treat is our offering. 04:48.120 --> 04:49.800 It is not just something we are hosting. 04:50.140 --> 04:52.100 It is something we deeply care about. 04:52.620 --> 04:56.800 We will be running two retreats this year, the 26th to 28th of June, 04:57.080 --> 05:00.560 2026, and the 4th to 6th of September, 2026. 05:01.200 --> 05:03.800 Both are going to be small, intimate groups to ensure 05:03.800 --> 05:05.940 a genuine experience of connection. 05:06.640 --> 05:09.540 So if you feel the call, we would love to welcome you. 05:10.100 --> 05:13.580 Spaces are limited and you can find full details 05:13.580 --> 05:16.340 and book your place in the substack newsletter. 05:16.920 --> 05:19.080 If you're listening on the podcast, it will be my substacks. 05:19.380 --> 05:20.980 So please make sure you're signed up. 05:21.160 --> 05:23.400 Visit docmalic.com and sign up to my newsletter. 05:24.200 --> 05:27.820 And for my paid subscribers, you're going to have first access to the bookings. 05:28.040 --> 05:30.500 And then a few days later, it will be open to everyone. 05:31.300 --> 05:33.500 The retreat will be open to free subscribers, 05:33.840 --> 05:35.380 like I said, in a few days' time. 05:36.120 --> 05:38.720 Early bird tickets will include a 75 pound discount 05:38.720 --> 05:41.200 which will expire at the end of this month. 05:41.920 --> 05:44.220 Sometimes the most important thing we can do 05:44.220 --> 05:47.300 is simply come back to ourselves and to each other. 05:47.960 --> 05:50.080 I really hope to see you at the retreat. 05:50.680 --> 05:52.260 Lots of love, docmalic.