THE MIRACLE I
WAS WAITING FOR…
Some people buy the Ferrari.
Some change their entire wardrobe.
Others? They buy a pair of walking boots and decide to cross an entire country on the JOGLE path.
In the summer of 2024, I walked from John o’ Groats all the way down to Land’s End (JOGLE) — across the length of the UK.
I wasn’t an ultra-marathoner or a hardcore adventurer.
I was just a day hiker at best — someone who loved being outdoors on sunny days, especially when near water to recharge.
So what made me think I could walk the entire length of Britain?
Honestly…
It wasn’t about whether I thought I could.
It was about where my head was at.
And the truth was: I was struggling.
Why I Needed to Walk the UK
In winter 2021, I underwent minor surgery to remove potentially cancerous cells from my cervix.
While many women recover quickly, I wasn’t one of them.
Physically, my body struggled.
Mentally, I was wrecked.
I’ve always been very connected to my body — maybe it’s the dancer in me — but after the surgery, I felt completely disconnected….Like a stranger to myself.
And soon, a stranger to the world around me.
Starting my own dance fitness business was my saving grace.
I poured my heart and soul into it, and for a time, I felt whole again.
But when the cost of living crisis hit, people started cutting classes.
Almost overnight, I lost my clients — and my business.
I returned to employment.
Underpaid. Undervalued. Overworked.
And something wasn’t right inside me.
Fighting For Answers
Doctors brushed off my symptoms.
They told me nothing was wrong.
But I knew something deep down was off — my hormones, my energy, everything.
Desperate, I sought medical advice again.
One doctor flippantly suggested I should just “get pregnant” — that it would “reset everything.”
(It’s an appointment I don’t enjoy revisiting.)
By winter 2023, my health was rapidly deteriorating.
I could barely walk to the GP without needing to lean against walls to catch my breath.
At long last, I found a doctor who listened.
Tests were ordered immediately — two years after I had first asked.
My Pilgrimage: Walking from John o’ Groats to Land’s End
In the middle of this frustration, I decided I needed a reset.
Not the kind that involved pregnancy or buying a flashy car.
I needed a pilgrimage — a personal mission to reconnect my body, mind, and spirit.
Walking across the UK wasn’t just about physical endurance.
It was about survival.
It was about finding myself again.
And maybe, along the way, I would walk through a sacred Scottish forest and find those elusive fertility fairies I had always hoped for.
In January 2024, I finally announced my plan to walk JOGLE.
A dream I had kept buried for years — often laughed off by others.
But this time, with the support of the right partner (and my number-one cheerleader), I set off on my journey.
And I did it.
I completed my walk from John o’ Groats to Land’s End.
You can start watching the journey on Youtube at LeahInWanderlust.
Life After JOGLE: Something Magical Happened
Since completing the journey, I’ve been sharing my adventure, episode by episode, over on my YouTube channel.
But if you noticed I went a little quiet for a while… there’s a good reason.
After walking the UK, I came back a completely different person.
I was more confident.
Understood my worth.
And could clearly see what truly mattered to me.
It was like the journey had stitched me back together.
And maybe, just maybe, those sacred fairies did sprinkle a little magic after all.
Because the reason I took a break?
I needed to take care of myself again — but this time, for the most wonderful reason.
After years of tests, frustration, tears, and being told my hormones were “belly up” and during the time of being lined up for a referral to a fertility clinic…
it happened.
The magic happened.
I’m pregnant.
Yes, I did four tests — because I couldn’t believe it myself!
All I needed, it seems, was a mid-life crisis, a pilgrimage across the UK, and a little bit of faith (maybe fairies?).
And if my story resonates with you, feel free to leave a comment or share your own journey.
We’re all walking our own path — and sometimes, it leads somewhere truly magical.
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