I left the city to build a slower, truer life. A homestay and a café in the mountains. It wasn’t an escape; it was a choice to live with more meaning and fewer compromises.
First steps and small lessons
The early months were messy and beautiful. There were logistical puzzles, weather that surprised me, and evenings when I wondered if I had made a mistake. And then there were mornings of wild light, guests who became friends, and the quiet pride of work done with my own hands. Those small, steady choices – planting a garden, making tea for someone who needed a listening ear, began to shape a life that felt honest.
What the homestay taught me
Running a home taught me how to welcome others into a safe space and how to befriend my own solitude. Over time I learned that meaning grows not from one dramatic moment, but from many tiny ones. The rhythms of hospitality, the care of daily routines and the joy of simple work.
How Barry Barry Happy began
Barry Barry Happy grew out of these ordinary moments. It wasn’t a plan on paper but a desire to share what I’d learned: how to slow down, how to choose purpose, and how to build a life that feels like home. If you’re thinking of a change, start with one small, kind step. The rest reveals itself.
What helped me most: daily rituals (tea, slow walks), gentle routines, and listening more than planning.