Dear readers and my listeners, I'm very excited to share this with you. It is time to reconnect.
Over the past few weeks, I have been writing on Substack about something that many of us feel deeply,
and that is the pandemic of disconnection.
It's something that Kasia and I have been talking about for months,
and it really hit home when I read it clearly expressed in Meredith Miller's book,
The Real Pandemic is the Pandemic of Disconnection.
And the book that I'm talking about is Becoming Whole by Meredith Miller.
And this pandemic of disconnection, it actually predates COVID.
You know, we've all seen it unfolding before our very eyes in the last few decades.
People are on their phones, couples in restaurants, not even talking to each other,
friends, not meeting face to face anymore, just sending text messages.
And alongside that, a growing sense that you cannot always say what you really think,
whether that's at work, socially, or even with friends and family, and even your partner.
Because you never know, it might hit a nerve, it might trigger someone,
it might cause a fence, or simply you're just misunderstood.
And the pandemic kind of accelerated that.
Many of us have woken up to what's going on in the world.
There are so many lies, whether it's what they're spraying in the sky,
whether it's the pills and the vaccines, and whether it's net zero and the climate agenda.
You know, you start talking to your normal friends and normal acquaintances
and they just think you're a crazy person.
Many of you have written back to me, sharing your experiences,
and you tell me what it's like feeling surrounded by people,
yet some have still feeling very much alone.
Wanting that deeper conversation, wanting more honesty and real connection with people
who understand where you're coming from.
And over the past few weeks, many of you have also shared
how strongly the idea of connection and reconnection resonates with you.
The truth is, many of us have been searching for spaces where we can be ourselves again.
Spaces where conversations are honest, curiosity is welcome,
disagreement can exist without hostility,
and people can still laugh together without walking on eggshells.
A place where you do not have to explain yourself all the time,
because the people around you simply understand
because you're surrounded by your tribe.
And that's why my friend Kasha and I have created the connection retreats this year.
After the success of the two retreats that I ran last year,
I felt the need to go a little bit deeper.
To create something that's more than just a weekend away,
but a genuine experience of reconnection.
And don't get me wrong, the feedback from the retreats last year was incredible.
And I'm not going to share all of it, but here are just a couple of reflections.
I love the experience and would definitely attend a future retreat.
I love the extra touches and have so many great memories. Thank you.
Someone else said, I'm so pleased you're doing this with Kasha.
I absolutely loved her when I met her last year,
and I know it will be another beautiful experience.
And finally, this was a life-changing experience for me.
I cannot tell you what profound impact it has had on my life. Thank you.
So you might be asking, why change anything?
Because I've been listening to what many of you are telling me,
and that's about the fact that we need reconnection in our lives,
whether it's connection to yourself, connection to others,
connection to nature, connection to truth.
A space where you can slow down, put your phone away, breathe, and simply be.
It's magical.
So over three days together, we're going to share meals,
movement, nature, conversation, play.
People have forgotten how to play.
Fire circles and experiences designed to allow connection to emerge naturally.
This is not about performance or pretending.
It is about being your true authentic self.
It is about presence.
At the very beginning of this journey, Kasha and I did something very simple,
but meaningful. We made a little pinky promise to each other.
A promise that we would not let ego, money, or distractions
interfere with what we were creating.
A promise that this retreat would be built with integrity,
presence, honesty, and heart.
And a promise that we would deliver something truly beautiful
for every person who joins us.
This treat is our offering.
It is not just something we are hosting.
It is something we deeply care about.
We will be running two retreats this year, the 26th to 28th of June,
2026, and the 4th to 6th of September, 2026.
Both are going to be small, intimate groups to ensure
a genuine experience of connection.
So if you feel the call, we would love to welcome you.
Spaces are limited and you can find full details
and book your place in the substack newsletter.
If you're listening on the podcast, it will be my substacks.
So please make sure you're signed up.
Visit docmalic.com and sign up to my newsletter.
And for my paid subscribers, you're going to have first access to the bookings.
And then a few days later, it will be open to everyone.
The retreat will be open to free subscribers,
like I said, in a few days' time.
Early bird tickets will include a 75 pound discount
which will expire at the end of this month.
Sometimes the most important thing we can do
is simply come back to ourselves and to each other.
I really hope to see you at the retreat.
Lots of love, docmalic.