If I had discovered this ancient form of restoring balance during my wild drifting years of my twenties, I might well have found a fulfilling career. But hindsight is wonderful when you want it to be, and a fulfilling career wouldn’t have led me to lead the unparalleled privileged life that the French Alps have given me.

So, how could such an idyllic life require balance enhancement?

Niggling things started to appear throughout the menopause and juggling long hours in a family business which offered 24/7 client service only aggravated the niggles. Poor sleep, brain fog, anxiety, huge lack of disposable me time and constant stress.

I can’t even remember how I fell upon Will Williams and his Beeja Meditation (which did create an awkward moment when I had to fill in such a question on a form in the first day of his course), but his story struck an instant chord with me. And I ordered four copies of his book. I’ve never ordered more than one copy of a book ever before reading it first, but I was so sure I had discovered the cure to all my middle-aged woes, I wanted to share it. And share it I did, distributing them to my daughters and friends.

Now don’t be deceived, Will’s book doesn’t tell you how to meditate (it hints at it, but you need a personal mantra), but it tells you why everyone should meditate. I pretty much devoured the book, made up my own mantra, and started to meditate (in my own way). So profound and quick were the changes, I knew I was on to something really powerful. And I wanted more. Completely out of character, I booked time off work (unheard of in our family-run business), booked Will’s beginner course and headed off to a weekend in London.

Not wanting people to know what I was up to, I remained discreet. I guess I was concerned they would think I had lost the plot and become a hardened yogi. I needn’t have worried. Arriving in London to stay with my cherished nephew and godson, he proudly showed me his own meditation corner and all appearances were dropped. Needless to say, he got a copy of Will’s book for his next birthday.

Now I’m never good in new environments and coming from the mountains to central London and a group meditation course, I got a touch nervy. What a complete waste of energy, as the whole experience was so friendly and inviting, I didn’t want to leave and each session didn’t seem long enough as the pleasure from the experience was so intense. Coming away from the weekend, I knew that meditation would be part of my daily live for evermore. More still, I wanted to part with my newfound knowledge with all and sundry.

Friends and family would endure my ramblings of the endless benefits and encouragements of <you should try it> (meditation hugely heightens your awareness to the struggles of those around you). Discovering Will’s method of twice daily twenty minute sessions of sitting quietly whilst repeating a personal mantra seemed simple enough. But when you have had no disposable time for years and years, how was I possibly going to find forty minutes in the day for this practice? It was so simple - by doing so, you create your own disposable time. As you progress with your meditation, which happens at an alarming rate, you become more focused, more calm and get through your to-do list in record time.

Before I started on this epic journey of self-discovery, I could never have imagined my powers of persuasion would have reached so many wonderful people, including my stubborn French husband.

Maybe they just saw what had happened to me. I have gained much, but I have lost so much more…fear, anxiety, and stress.

I feel complete.