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Hello, beautiful people,
As we prepare for the end of the year, many of us feel a powerful, much-needed desire to bring this cycle to a meaningful close. I’ve been sensing it too. And I would like to share a reflection, hoping it might resonate with you as well.
This year was absolutely amazing. And when I say amazing, I mean it in the true sense of the word: extra-ordinary, outside the ordinary. The projects we brought to life, the encounters I witnessed in my own journey and in others’, the transformation we experienced together… truly remarkable.
And yet, something kept calling my attention.
So much happened, so quickly, that I didn’t always manage to digest it. I didn’t always allow myself to assimilate or even fully enjoy everything that unfolded. It was abundant, yes, but abundance without integration can leave us strangely empty, as if more becomes less. But here is the beautiful truth:
It doesn’t have to be that way.
If you believe, as I do, that there is something unique, even sacred, about our existence, then life is not meant to be a blur of moments we cannot remember. We deserve to inhabit our days, not just pass through them. And the year is not over yet. We are still in November.
There is still time.
I want to offer an invitation, something I am committing to myself:
I want to slow down.
There are seasons when it feels wonderful to walk fast. I had many of those moments this year. Moving with energy, purpose, and clarity can be exhilarating. But now, as we approach the final stretch of the year, I don’t want to go faster. I don’t want to go anywhere.
I want to be here. I want to honor what is happening now.
You have probably heard that… I will never have this version of me again. So, let me slow down and be with myself.
I want to honor this day and every day that remains in 2025.
Here is a gentle practice, an invitation to walk slower:
Sometime between now and the end of the year, go back to January 2025.
Open your agenda, notes, and diary, if you have one.
Month by month, ask yourself:
What happened in my life?
Who entered my path?
What did I learn?
What surprised me?
What deserves to be acknowledged, celebrated, or released?
Please write it down. Let it land in your hands and in your heart. Allow the year to become part of your wisdom, not just your memory.
If it helps, we can share a simple way to take these notes, a structure we can use together to close the year with intention. Just let us know. You can send a message to contact@walkingmentorship.com, and we will be happy to walk that path with you.
Until our next newsletter, keep walking with us, changing the world one step at a time, one person at a time.
Joao Perre Viana
Partner, Walking Mentorship
* The picture at the top was taken in November at one of our last programs of the year near the Atlantic Coast of Portugal, a moment where everything truly slowed down.
Are you ready for 2026?
If you think it is about time to take yourself for a walk, we invite you to join one of our carefully designed upcoming programs 👇
🔹 Fishermans Trail – Portugal
[27 March-4 April] Start here
🔹 Camino de Santiago – Spain
[30 May-6 June] Start here
🔹 Parents & Kids – Spain
[5 July-11 July] Start here
🔹 Via Francigena – Switzerland and Italy
[21 August-29 August] Start here
🔹 Camino de Berobreo – Spain
[17 April-25 April] Start here
[18 September-26 September] Start here
🔹 Kumano Kodo – Japan
[10 October- 17 October] Start here
[24 October- 31 October] Start here
What have we been doing?
November was truly a month of gentle closure, a moment to start bringing the year to a close. We spent more time at home, ran fewer programs, and focused on preparing for what lies ahead in 2026. Much like nature in winter, which appears to be resting while in fact working quietly and deeply beneath the surface, this month felt like a period of inward preparation for the year to come.
Still, November held some beautiful moments. We walked along the Atlantic coast with a wonderful group of alumni from the Ukrainian Catholic University, entrepreneurs who were visiting companies in Portugal and attending Web Summit. A very special program, made even more meaningful by our deep, longstanding relationship with the university and its community. Watch the video here.
We would also like to share something that fills us with great hope for the future. We are about to close a new cohort of our Walking Mentorship training, dedicated to forming the next generation of walking mentors, whose journeys will begin in early 2026.
This step will make our programs more accessible — reaching more people in more places across different countries. Slowly, consciously, and with great care, we continue to expand and share this beautiful experience, one step at a time.
And finally, after some time away due to our busy road days, we returned to our podcast. We had the privilege of interviewing an extraordinary human being, Aziz Abu Sarah, whose work and voice feel more critical than ever. We strongly invite you to listen to his words. Listen to the podcast here. Next up, we look forward to meeting you at our year-end program.
You can watch the videos of our previous programs on the YouTube channel here.
How can we walk together?
Walking Mentorship is a labor of love that helps you gain deeper insight and equips you to create a meaningful impact on your life and those around you.
How can we work together? We keep things simple by offering Individual, Group, and Corporate programs. You can also give vouchers as gifts to the people you love. Find the best fit for you and book a call with one of our mentors.
In the meantime, keep walking with us 🚶♂️, changing the world one step at a time.
