Walking with Barrie Thomson, encourager
The co-founder of Feasts & Fables on the superpower we can all tap into: encouragement
“There are plenty of voices that create doubts that end up limiting folk, especially creative souls. We wanted to redress that imbalance.”
Barrie Thomson is a scribbler, adventurer, enthusiast and all-round lovely human. Together with his wife JoJo, he founded Feasts & Fables – a celebration of people, place and purpose; an encouragement to stay curious, optimistic and adventurous. (JoJo brings the feasts and Barrie brings the fables.)
We met in the way that everyone seems to meet these days: through the magic of social media – specifically, Substack where we’ve been following each other’s newsletters. Not only was Barrie one of the earliest subscribers to The Writer’s Walk, he was one of the first people to sign up who wasn’t one of my mates, another copywriter or someone I knew in real life – a sure sign that I was on to something here! But he’s been so much more than that. When I took some time out from writing for personal reasons, he listened when I hesitated about restarting and gave me heaps of enthusiasm to get going again.
Everything Barrie does is about celebrating people and encouraging the very best in them. So much so, that he and JoJo created an Encouragement Manifesto. He gives so much to other people, without expecting anything in return, that I thought it was high time he was the one being celebrated.
Hiya Barrie, thanks for chatting with me! Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
I’m Barrie. I am lucky to live with my love, JoJo, on our tiny farm in a very quiet rural corner of the Vienne in France. After long careers in the world of work, we opened a deli/coffee shop in mid-Wales, creating the sort of place we wanted to hang out and a community that celebrated amazing food producers. We closed the deli after nearly five years to make space for new adventures. After a couple of years of van life and European travels, we decided to establish a base camp, and here we are, living seasonally, cycling everywhere, and making time to read, write and encourage others.
“The Encouragement Sessions set out to lift people up, to find reasons why they can do more of what brings them joy and fulfilment.”
The heart of what you do is about celebrating others. Can you tell me more about the encouragement manifesto, why you wrote it and why you decided to offer encouragement sessions?
When we closed the deli, we had time to reflect on the values at the heart of it, and the reasons why folk warmed to what we were trying to create. The list of values seemed like a good hand rail to guide the way we wanted to live going forward, so I wrapped them up into a personal manifesto. We asked some creative souls to write about a value that resonated with them and we ended up with a beautiful archive of words and ideas, a manifesto brought to life, I guess.
But I also had untapped capacity and an inclination to help folk so the idea of the Encouragement Sessions grew into a free mentoring programme. They are one-hour Zoom calls that set out to lift people up, to find reasons why they can do more of what brings them joy and fulfilment. There are plenty of voices that create doubts that end up limiting folk, especially creative souls. We wanted to redress that imbalance. Recently, we had the opportunity to take the idea to the Love Trails Festival where we offered face-to-face sessions and encouraged other people to see themselves as encouragers.
You’re into cycling, wild swimming and travelling in general. What role does walking play in your writing – and encouragement – if anything?
On reflection, I see that many of my best ideas – the ones that have taken hold and become a ‘something’ – have emerged from moments of movement. Whilst I am happiest on two wheels (we cycled to and from Wales for the Love Trails Festival), we have had some memorable walks, including the West Highland Way and the Garganta del Cares in the Picos de Europa. The peaceful mindfulness of putting one foot in front of another really does kickstart my thinking. Maybe I should explore Encouragement Walks!
If you do an Encouragement Walk, I’ll be the first to sign up! Speaking of walking, what’s your style?
Happy Hiker
Reluctant Rambler
Sunday Stroller
Wild Weekender
I am a rambler when it comes to the woodland we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep, always stopping to listen to birds or to peer at flowers and trees without knowing what any of them are. When it comes to hiking, I am way more purposeful and I love to stride out.
“Many of my best ideas – the ones that have taken hold and become a ‘something’ – have emerged from moments of movement.”
Headphones or head in the clouds?
Head in the clouds.
Tell me about the best, weirdest or funniest walk you’ve ever done
The most memorable has to be the West Highland Way – we set aside eight days for a leisurely hike. Two days of incessant October rain soaked everything and dampened our spirits but we arrived on the banks of Loch Lomond to unexpected evening sunshine. We swam and dried our clothes by a campfire. Poor JoJo succumbed to awful blisters so the last three days became a trail running adventure for me. JoJo took the heavy gear in the van and met me at the prearranged campsites while I walked/jogged as the mood struck me. Magical.
If you could take a walk with anyone, real or fictional, alive or gone, who would it be? And why?
What a great question. I have to say JoJo and I feel there is ‘unfinished business’ when it comes to walking trails together. I love that we can adventure together and relish the shared experiences, both the tough moments and the enjoyable ones. So I am going to say JoJo.
“The peaceful mindfulness of putting one foot in front of another really does kickstart my thinking. Maybe I should explore Encouragement Walks!”
One word round
One thing you always take with you on a walk?
Water!One word to describe how you feel about encouraging others?
EncouragedOne word to describe how you feel about writing?
Passionate
Can you share a walking-inspired writing prompt for our readers?
Halfway through the hot dusty walk, my thoughts began to drift, vivid daydreams of…
Thanks for chatting with me, Barrie, for sharing some of your adventures with JoJo and for your overall joy, enthusiasm and encouragement.
For a regular dose of encouragement from Barrie and JoJo, check out Feast & Fables and follow their Substack, Encourage Meant.
Happy walking and writing until next time,
Sarah
More from The Writer’s Walk
If you want some tips for braving the weather like Barrie and JoJo on their West Highland Way adventure, check out Walking in the rain.
We love Barrie... I think Encouragement Walks could be a great spin-off! I wish I could record some of the words I've spoken and listened to over the years with long-unseen friends; some of the best encouragement and sharing.
Encouragement walks! What a great idea!