Unpacked by AFAR · Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Emma John reflects on how her journey has broadened her understanding of wellness, moving beyond a perceived "selfish activity" to something that can foster greater generosity towards others. She now recognizes the value in mindfulness and being present, acknowledging that these practices, often associated with relaxation, might indeed have merit.
“Well, I think the main thing has been to flip this idea that I had in my head that it was a very selfish activity. Because I now have sort of realized that the times when I relax and then walk out of a spa with a smile on my face, being much more generous to my fellow human beings. Actually, maybe they've got a good point.”
“And maybe that's something that I don't need to dismiss so quickly.”
“So I suppose that's one of the key lessons is that actually, it turns out that all those people who bang on about mindfulness. And being in the present, maybe they've got a good point and maybe that's something that I don't need to dismiss so quickly.”