Gentle Giants, Quiet Minds:

Reflections from Tonga

Mornings in the water with humpback whales, quiet afternoons to take it in, and time to remember what is truly important.

There are moments in life that ask nothing of us except to be present. Floating in the deep blue waters of Tonga, as a humpback whale moves slowly beneath you, is one of them.

This year our group joined Scott Portelli's Swimming with Gentle Giants tour in the mornings. In the afternoons we gathered for our own Blissful Balance Gentle Giants, Quiet Minds wellbeing retreat, with meditation, mindfulness and time for reflection. The pairing felt just right. The mornings filled us with awe, and the quiet afternoons gave us space to take it all in, reflect and re-evaluate.

Awe, and a gentle shift in perspective: It's hard to describe being in the water with an animal so vast and so gentle. Everything else seems to fall away for a moment: the lists, the rosters, the background hum of responsibility that many of us carry home from work. Researchers who study awe describe something similar. Encounters with something much bigger than ourselves can quiet our usual self-focus and help us feel more connected to the world around us. We didn't need a study to tell us that, though. We all felt it.

Returning to nature's rhythms: Life in Tonga followed the ocean and the light. We rose early, went out with the sea, and came back in the afternoon to rest, breathe and listen. Our sessions included deep listening to whale song and crystal singing bowls. These were simple practices that let the morning settle into the body. For those of us used to the clock-driven pace of hospital life, it was a gentle reminder that we belong to nature's cycles too.

Time to reflect on what's true: Space like this is rare. Away from screens and the steady demands of our working lives, there was time to ask quieter questions. What matters most? What feels true? What would I like to carry home? There were no right answers, only the opportunity to listen inwardly with kindness and curiosity, the same way we listened to the whales.

With gratitude: None of this happens by chance. Swimming alongside Scott, Rosie and the team was a privilege. Their expertise, wisdom and professionalism made every moment feel safe, respectful and unhurried, for us and for the whales. We're deeply grateful.

I came home with salt in my hair, a fuller heart, and a renewed sense of what blissful balance can feel like. My hope is that each of us keeps a little of that ocean stillness with us, in the theatre, at the bedside, and at home.