Thanks to Say Yes More, I am spending my summer in the south of France, managing a B&B in the heart of the Pyrenees.
Rewind to October last year, I was living in London and had just been made redundant from my job. Whilst it came as a bit of a shock, I decided it was time to shake things up and live life on my own terms, which meant escaping the big smoke and the regular 9-5. I hopped on a plane to South America - a continent I’d always wanted to explore - to have some time out, and while pondering ‘what next’, Say Yes More’s Facebook advert for a chalet manager came to the rescue.
I’d thought about running a B&B for some time, but working my way up the career ladder in a completely unrelated industry made it all seem a pipe dream. Luckily for me, I’d spent a year living in France during my degree and did a chalet season in the Alps post-university which meant I had the relevant key skills for the role. Steve Jobs was right when he said that the dots can only be connected by looking backwards!
What I thought was something for the ‘maybe one day’ list has turned into reality. I’ve redressed my work-life-adventure balance and my days are spent welcoming guests, managing bookings, cleaning, prepping dinners and I’ve got the mountains on my doorstep for hiking, climbing and cycling in my down time. The owners are fellow YesTribe members to boot.
Four weeks into my summer adventure and I’ve already learnt loads - not least how to perfect a Gazpacho soup and hospital corner bedsheets! But more seriously, saying yes to the job (and the unknown) has led to new opportunities, new friends and unexpected adventures. From wild swimming in glacier lakes to summer solstice sunrises and climbing the highest mountain in the Pyrenees.
So here’s to escaping the comfort zone, embracing new challenges and saying yes more!
You can follow my adventures! Find me at here on Instagram.
If you find yourself in the Pyrenees this summer, come to Papilio (or @papilioluchon) in Luchon. There’s adventure aplenty on the doorstep to satisfy your thirst for the outdoors: rafting, hiking and climbing, mountain biking, canyoning and paragliding.
