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People have been curious about what I’ve been up to since my early retirement announcement after a 20-year corporate career, spending unusual amounts of time in the forest, sometimes playing my spirit flute, making the decision to sell everything and travel the world. To say they are curious is a bit of an understatement. Many have commented on my courage, there have been a few jokes, and some think I’ve fallen completely off my rocker.
This journey started several years ago while on a 10-day yoga and meditation retreat with my daughter in Bali and noticing that I could take a deep breath without feeling pain in my chest. I didn't fully realized how much anxiety had been affecting my life until that moment in Bali. I made a decision that would change the course of my life. I promised myself that I would find a way to feel this way—grounded, focused, connected to source and my true authentic self—every day. For the next few years, I learned as much as I could by reading, attending workshops, taking courses, listening to podcasts, studying and becoming a certified teacher of meditation, yoga nidra, restorative yoga then deeper by becoming a forest therapy guide and even deeper still by becoming a reiki master. Physically, spiritually, emotionally…I began to flourish. By slowing down, I noticed my nervous system began to regulate, moving from the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) into the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). With more time spent in a liminal state and in what Buddha referred to as metta (loving kindness toward all beings), my outlook on life changed beyond just finding peace of mind—to feeling joyful.
And on October 31, 2021, I took an early retirement to commit fully to the pursuit of flourishment. For 30 years, I had been driving the metaphorical car—controlling its direction and speed. On November 1, I let go of the steering wheel and allowed myself to be guided. My partner Andrew and I spent the month in Costa Rica. It was a trial for us in some ways of an untethered life and a digital nomad life for him. For me, this time of transition was about landing the plane with no agenda, no meetings, no to do list. Just to be. This was so foreign to me that I really didn’t know how I would adapt to this new state. I found the Peace Retreat Centre, owned by two Canadians, next to our Airbnb and was lovingly welcomed into their daily programing of three hours of yoga, kriyas, chanting and meditation almost every morning. I spent the remainder of the day walking, making meditative mandalas out of stones and shells on the beach, eating simple meals and sleeping….a lot. I felt healthy, balanced, relaxed. I felt like Me.
Today, I’m excited to launch The Flourishment Collective—an offer of services and a community committed to helping individuals, businesses and others flourish and thrive.
On my travels around the world, I meet people who share the same values and perspective of living a purpose-filled life. Love over fear. Respect for the planet and all beings. Reciprocity. Gratitude. Together this growing collective of like-minded people is shifting the energy and consciousness of our planet. Members of The Flourishment Collective are committed to helping humans flourish and I'm honoured to share their stories, collaborate on projects, and provide mutual support.
This is the path I am on today and I invite you to join me on this journey. To learn more visit www.flourishwithmonique.com.
Monique Giroux
Founder, The Flourishment Collective
Email: monique.f.giroux@gmail.com
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