After some reflection, I realised that my three guiding words are creativity, curiosity, and compassion. (And as it turns out, I’ve recently added a fourth: purpose.)

I live creatively through my work, my home, even the clothes I wear. Creativity shapes how I see the world and how I solve problems.

I live with compassion towards others, but also myself. It’s about kindness, understanding, and offering help or guidance when it feels right.

And I live with curiosity, constantly asking questions, listening to other perspectives, trying new things. It’s not just about learning; it’s about being open to possibility, even when things feel uncertain or impossible.

Not long after my dad passed away, that curiosity took me somewhere unexpected. I found an old certificate from a historical walk around the boundaries of Macclesfield, something Dad and I used to do together. I asked myself a simple question: Does this walk still exist? And if not, why not?

That one “what if” became the spark for something much bigger.

Before long, I found myself organising the relaunch of “Beating the Bounds” a traditional 32km walk around Macclesfield’s historic boundary. What started as a personal tribute became a large-scale community charity event.

I didn’t have a grand plan, just passion, grit, determination, and that growing sense of purpose.

I didn’t do it alone, of course. Family, friends, new friends, even someone I hadn’t spoken to in over 25 years all joined in. What began as a Facebook comment “Well, let’s do it then!” quickly became a phone call. The call became a core team of four. The team became a crew of forty volunteers. And somehow, that became a sold-out event of 250 walkers, seven local business sponsors, and a community that rallied behind us every step of the way.

We raised money for six local charities. The local Scouts danced every walker off Teggs Nose with pure joy. People walked for nostalgia, for fun, for connection. Many discovered new paths and friendships along the way.

📸 Will Hey Photography  @willheyphotography on Instagram or Will Hey Photography on Facebook.

It was a powerful reminder of what really matters, community, purpose, connection, and saying yes to the things that make us feel alive.

My background in marketing certainly helped with much of the event organisation, my arts marketing days, getting local press on board, social media, and the print side of things. But the rest? That came from energy, love, and a shared belief in what we were creating. We had no budget, no formal plan just a spark, a story, and a team of people who believed in my vision. (And who showed up at 7am on a Sunday, no less, something I’ll be forever grateful for.)

Sometimes, purpose finds us when we’re not looking.

So, here’s my question to you: If you had to describe how you live your life in just three words, what would they be? (And yes, I know I ended up with four 😊)