How do you DO? #DOWales2022

For those of you who aren't aware of The DO Lectures, it is a brand that encompasses courses, events, talks, emails and books founded by David and Clare Hieatt (who also own Hiut Denim). They are about Ideas + Energy = Change and I am here for it. All of it. Always. So when their big event, DO Wales was set to return to their farm this year after a three-year break, I was applying and I was over the moon to get a place.

The event is so truly remarkable and has so much going on that it's really hard to describe what it's like or to even begin to process what happened or how it made me feel, especially a couple of days after returning, but I really wanted to write down a few things for me to remember and to give those interested a taste of it from me.

The only thing I can compare it to is Glastonbury meets TED meets my wedding day.

So if there was ever any doubt if it would live up to the hype. There wasn't. But it did. And then some. And then some more.

It’s not about the talks.

It's about the attendees. The talks create the dynamic, the permission and the joy between the people. The speakers are also the attendees and so are the volunteers and that makes for something very special.?

It’s about meeting people. It’s about having the best conversations of your life. It’s about listening. It’s about cramming your head full to burst and then making space for more ideas.

The talks were so good though. There were 17 in total and I went to all of them.

Peter Komolafe | Financial Expert | @ConversationOfMoney

I barely saw my or anyone else’s phone for three days.

We were never asked to not be on our phones. We weren't given any direction whatsoever apart from an agenda, things to choose to do and told when the talks were starting and dinner was served. But apart from the odd snap being taken, there wasn't a phone or thumb scrolling motion in sight.

It’s quite simply stunning.?

The venue, the food, the entertainment, the people, Wales. All jaw-droppingly stunning. This is the tooth brushing station (this was one of the first places I was shown and five days later I'm still struggling to get past it).

I met my first random reader in the wild.

He mentioned he was a freelancer, I mentioned I made a mag for freelancers and he was like 'no way, I subscribe.' The fact he was a freelance designer for Finisterre, based in Vancouver, choosing to be at DO Wales confirmed what I always knew about Freelancer Magazine readers - they have amazing taste.?It was a great moment for me but serendipity seemed to be everywhere.

I had one shower in six days.

Was I going to miss a morning sea swim or breakfast (featuring the biggest sausages I've ever seen) or the first talk for a shower? No, I was not. Although it was tempting as the corrugated iron rain showers were filled with huge bunches of mint and had the most beautiful vegan Scandi products.

But no, I couldn’t miss anything. Consequently, I only had one shower in six days (I topped and tailed the trip with extra nights in the van). Hopefully, the sea swims and baby wipe washes over my van's mini sink meant my body odour wasn’t too overbearing.?The shower I did have was cold (naturally)... out of choice, not necessity.

You will cry.

Possibly down to the hangovers, I mean if I had a raging hangover after spending that much money on a ticket, I’d cry too.?But even before I’d even had a drink, about three hours in on the first day, it crept up on me when I didn't even see it coming and all of a sudden I'm sobbing in front of 200 strangers. (That was the first time.)

It made me value myself more.

I had made the choice to apply, to buy the ticket and put myself in a place where I would be surrounded by lots of truly incredible people who were smart, creative, believed in the power of community, were curious about creating change and were probably already making it in some form (even if they didn't fully realise it yet). It has made me feel more committed to the change I want to create in the world.?

First, you have to believe in yourself.

Look for the people that believe in you, there are loads of them out there. They will help you.

I prayed it was a cult.

I felt like I was going to be ready to leave. That my mind couldn't possibly fit anything else in. But when Sunday morning came, I kept putting off leaving. Just mooching around on the hay bales hoping they were about to announce that it actually was a cult. Just as I was about to say my this-is-actually-the-last-time goodbyes, the most ridiculous cheese toasties were served. Surely this is going to be the food with the drugs in and I'll be taken to the factory to make Hiut Denim jeans by day and DO books by night. But no, sadly, I was free to leave.

It’s about stealing responsibly.

Thank you for the Manifesto of a DOer that I stole off the back of the toilet door as I left which is now on my wall where I will read it every day.

I left with an overwhelming sense of calm.?

For all the input and stimulus, on the last day and for a day or two after I had a sense of complete tranquillity. I can only compare it to how I felt immediately after my wedding day. After all the emotion and excitement, the outpouring of love and being surrounded by friends, I just felt wonderfully serene. ?

I had the biggest nose bleed I've ever had when I left.

It felt like my old brain was falling out to be replaced by my new improved DO one.

I saw a dolphin.???

Of course I fucking did.?Every tiny detail of DO Wales is so carefully curated?that you barely notice how every tiny detail has been so carefully curated. I decided to stay in Wales for a day after and I should've been knackered after the late nights, early mornings and three of the most intense days of my life but I went for an 8-mile hike on the Welsh Coastal Path. Around 6pm and still not tired(?!), I made my way to Mwnt Beach. What. A. Beach.

I was lying on my stomach writing in my notebook when I heard?people saying (in their glorious Welsh accents) 'oh, look, he's blowing water out of his blowhole.' No fucking way, I thought as I flipped over and watched the dolphin swimming around the bay for half an hour leaving me completely mesmerised.

After seeing everything they did at DO, I can’t put it past Clare and David strategically placing Rolf the Dolph in the bay to seal the deal with a dolphin-shaped cherry on top of the already enormous and most delicious, morish cake that ever existed.?

Hats off to David, Clare and the team?(actually hats, trousers, tee shirts, pants, socks, everything off.)

This is beyond once-in-a-lifetime stuff. They’ve achieved the seemingly impossible. Putting my brand/marketing glasses on, you will never ever experience this level of immersion and love from a brand nor the loyalty and commitment in return from the community anywhere else, ever. (I realise I've used the word 'ever' a lot. But seriously, EVER.) And they are doing a lot of good.

By hook or by crook, I will get back on that farm.

I will be applying to volunteer in the future. I would love to be part of that volunteer tribe one day. (And I really like lifting things, especially heavy wooden benches, in case any of the selection committee are reading this.)

These are about 5% of my thoughts, feelings?and experiences from my DO days. If you don't DO and are curious, subscribing to their newsletter or buying one of their fab little books are good places to start > thedolectures.com .

#DOWales2022