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Well, here we are. This is our September newsletter. Although if we’re being completely honest, it’s also the August newsletter that we never published.
And perhaps that was exactly how it needed to be. August was a good time to stop. To slow down. To breathe. But anyway, here we are.
September.
In many places around the world, September means returning. To work. To school. To routines. It feels like the beginning of a new cycle. I’m writing these words while walking through the valley near home here in Portugal.
One of the things I love most about living in the countryside is being able to witness the seasons changing. And somehow, by watching the seasons change, I also get to notice how I change. How people change. Because change is such a constant in our lives. And nowhere is it more visible than in nature.
Here, the vineyards are telling the story very clearly. My neighbours are harvesting the grapes. Hopefully, it will be a good year. There was rain when we needed rain, and heat when we needed heat. So hopefully, the wine will be good.
In a few weeks, the fluorescent green that has accompanied us for so many months will slowly give way to an extraordinary palette of colours, until the leaves are trimmed and the fields appear to go to sleep.
Apparently.
Because I often think winter is actually when the most important things are happening, quietly, silently, deep underneath the earth.
And what about us? What about this moment in your life when it is time to harvest?
If your life were a vineyard, what would you be collecting right now? What did you plant way back in the winter? What are you harvesting today? Is it the result of your effort? Is it luck? Hard work? A little bit of both?
Lucky work. Whatever you want to call it.
And as one cycle comes to an end, what comes next? What were the lessons, especially the hard ones? Where can you fine-tune? Where is your heart? What are you still in love with? Are you still in love with life? With yourself? With the people around you? Take a moment to think about it.
September is a wonderful time for this. Maybe take a couple of hours. Half a day. Perhaps even a whole weekend. Find a quiet place. Take a walk. Open a blank page.
A white page can be a blessing.
And if you’ve created an action plan with us during one of our programs, perhaps this is the perfect moment to go back to Kilometre Two (check here) , our checkpoint, to ask:
What happened? And what needs to happen next? Is there a book still waiting to be written? A song? A trip? A conversation? That difficult talk you’ve been postponing? What is still waiting for you?
We are now entering the last part of the year. Hard to believe, isn’t it? But there are still a few beautiful months ahead and opportunities to walk together.
We have last-minute places available for our Kumano Kodo program in Japan, on our second date. And as the year comes to an end, we are heading to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, where we still have places available for the year-end program. And that’s about it for 2026. So perhaps the most important thing I want to leave you with is very simple:
Keep walking, because we learn as we walk. And if we stop walking, we stop learning. And if you keep learning, you’ll never have time to get old :) You’ll simply be too busy living. Living the life you want.
In the meantime, keep walking with us, changing the world one step at a time, one person at a time.
Until our next newsletter,
Joao Perre Viana
Founder, Walking Mentorship
* The image at the top was taken last week while walking in the vineyards near home in Portugal.
Ready to walk?
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. 2026 has plenty to choose from 👇
🔹 Camino de Berobreo with Jodi Morris – Spain (last call)
[18 September-26 September] Start here
🔹 Slow down – Croatia (last call)
[27 September-29 September] Start here
🔹 Kumano Kodo – Japan
[24 October- 31 October] Start here
🔹 Year-end (Alumni only) 2026 – Morocco – Marrakech + Atlas
[9 December-13 December] Start here
Seeds we planted this month
July and August brought us not only a much-needed time to rest, but also some truly special moments. At the beginning of July, we joined the Sacred Journeys in Quebec, Canada, for the first time, an incredible gathering of people, projects, scientific research, pilgrimage routes, and inspiring conversations. And, of course, the chance to meet so many wonderful people.
At the end of July, we were in Galicia, Spain, walking one of our most beautiful programs: Parents & Kids. Perfect weather, beautiful landscapes, and the joy of walking again with our kids, who, somehow, are not kids anymore. A beautiful reminder that these moments are precious and unrepeatable.
Then, after some time off, we headed to the high mountains, walking the Via Francigena through Switzerland and Italy with another wonderful group. More unforgettable moments to carry with us.
And finally, we want to share a new episode of our podcast with Ian MacIntosh an incredible conversation that we hope will put a smile in your heart. Listen here. How special it is to walk, to connect, and to share these journeys. In the meantime, you can watch the videos of previous programs on the YouTube channel here.
That’s been our journey over these past weeks. In the meantime, you can watch the videos of 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.
