Begin with Trust
- Laure of Nature
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
REFLEXIONS for January 2026
Hard to believe that this time last year we were visiting my son in Brazil, soaking up the sunshine, warmth, music and dance of such a vibrant and beautiful country. This year looked very different, yet equally nourishing in its own way. We enjoyed a gentle break back home in Normandy, wrapped in the warmth of family time and discovering the stunning landscapes of the Suisse Normande in the Orne department.
As I was filling in my Year Compass (link), one word naturally emerged for the year ahead: TRUST. Almost in perfect timing, a podcast by Dr Chatterjee featuring Dr Shade Zahrai appeared in my feed, centred entirely around “Big Trust” and trusting yourself. She highlights four inner traits that can either support or undermine our ability to trust ourselves: acceptance, agency, autonomy and adaptability. When these are weakened — often through stress, trauma, overthinking or people-pleasing — we can start to doubt our choices, disconnect from our intuition and stay stuck in familiar patterns, even when they no longer serve us. A powerful reflection as we step into a new year and a new cycle.
Here we are now in 2026, and 2025 seems to have flown by. With so much uncertainty and suffering in the world, it’s completely understandable to feel distracted, overwhelmed, or hesitant to step beyond our comfort zones. Yet rebuilding trust in ourselves often begins with small, imperfect actions — choosing to stop overthinking and simply begin.
Failure is not the opposite of trust — it is part of how trust is built. Much like our immune system strengthens through exposure to new viruses and organisms, self-trust grows when we meet challenges rather than avoid them. Once you notice yourself spiralling into doubt or fear, you always have a choice to shift your state of mind.
Creating calm can be wonderfully simple: hold your breath for a few seconds, place your bare feet on the earth, take a walk in nature, dip into the sea or a nearby river, gaze at a candle, or close your eyes and breathe gently into your heart. Choose whatever resonates and, for just a few minutes, let your breath become your centre. It’s often surprising how, from this place of inner stillness, we feel more open to change — and more able to access the courage and strength needed to take action.
After ten days in France, the return of early darkness felt especially intense, with the sun setting almost an hour earlier. For many, this lack of light can be challenging — yet it is a natural part of the cycle of life. Just as a seed must rest in the darkness of the soil before new life can emerge.
It was a deeply nourishing break, though perhaps a little too generous on the cheese and wine! One of my intentions for January is to gently release the extra weight that’s settled around my waist. To support this, I’m returning to Patrick Holford’s Low GL (glycaemic load) approach, embracing a Dry January and enjoying plenty of fermented foods and drinks.
This season invites warming, grounding meals: soups made from root vegetables, beans and mushrooms (we were lucky to find lots of chanterelles in France — rich in vitamin D and beta-glucans to support immunity), as well as comforting morning porridges. I love mine with buckwheat or quinoa flakes, warming spices (fennel seeds are a favourite), nuts, seeds, dried goji berries and mulberries, with a sprinkling of cacao nibs. These are all wonderful Low GL choices.
Don’t forget the power of purple vegetables — red cabbage, beetroot — and dark red-skinned fruits like blueberries and elderberries, packed with immune-boosting polyphenols. I’ve also been loving my Sprouchi (Brussels sprouts kimchi) over the past few weeks. Even if it’s a little pungent, it brings so much life and flavour to meals, especially stir-fries! (see recipe in last month's newsletter)
Movement remains essential through the darker months. A short morning routine combining strength, cardio or HIIT (even just 20 minutes) helps shift sluggishness, with yoga supporting flexibility and flow. And if you enjoy moving in connection and joy, finding 'the expression of your essence', this is a beautiful time to try Biodanza — this month’s course is free for newcomers, so do come along and join us.
My mantra for this month:
I trust the flow of my life
I radiate calm, confidence and clarity
Upcoming Markets
Roath Market: 2nd Saturday of the Month.
Wenvoe: Moved to last Sunday of each month.
Usk Market: 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month; keep an eye on the calendar.
Kenfig Market: 3rd Sunday of the Month.
Absorb Water Kefir Stockist
Our products are available across South Wales and up to Bath, and we choose our stockists with great care. We work with independent, ethos-aligned outlets that share our values—please support them whenever you can.
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Promoting Wellness and Bringing Communities Together
Our mission centres on sharing the enchantment of fermentation with the widest audience possible. This age-old craft is both nourishing and a potent means of uniting communities. If you know of individuals, groups, or organisations interested in fermentation, we’d love to connect with them. We provide engaging talks, hands-on demonstrations, inspiring workshops, and, naturally, delicious tastings! Whether it's for a community group, workplace wellness event, or local gathering, we're committed to making fermentation enjoyable and accessible.
Let’s spread the joy of fermentation—together. Click here to get a glimpse!
The Fermentation Club at Bacareto: Winter Season
Our third 'winter season' gut gathering will take place on Wednesday 21st of January 2026 and will celebrate the theme of Fermented Grains, Flakes and Flours: Breads, porridges, and drinks. The evening will be a delicious blend of tasting, sharing, and learning in a relaxed, community-centred atmosphere.
We’re honoured to welcome our special guest speaker, Mark Stevens, Founder of the Cardiff-based bakery Riverside Sourdough. With years of experience making sourdough breads, Mark will give us a great insight into the art of making traditional sourdough breads and present a 'getting-started' demo.
Bring a small pot or jar if you'd like to take some 'sourdough starter' to take away. There will be time for a Q&A too!
Drinking Water Kefir for Better Health
If you wish to drink our Water Kefir regularly to support your health, there are two money-saving options available.
Join our subscription scheme by filling in this document and emailing it back to us at absorbhealth@outlook.com.
Learn how to make it yourself by attending one of our workshops, or we can sell you some grains, provide a recipe, and teach you all you need to know!
We deliver all around Cardiff and the surrounding area—and further afield too!
Grouped Deliveries Outside of Cardiff
We have two separate delivery runs each month that go East of Cardiff one week and West of Cardiff the next. Please get in touch if you live in or around the areas detailed below and want a Water Kefir delivery:
Gower, Mumbles, Swansea, Swansea Valleys, Pontardawe, and Ystradgynlais: Next runs are Thursday 15.01 & 12.02.26
Newport, Monmouthshire, and Bristol: Thursday 29.01 & 26.02.26
Workshops and Talks on Fermentation and Digestive Health
Here are our workshops for the first quarter of 2026...
St Peters Community Center, Fairwater - Saturdays: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM:
- Sat 24.01.25: Lacto fermentation, make your own kvass, gut health, and immunity.
- Sat 21.03.25: TBC
Gift vouchers are now available to redeem against a Fermentation Workshop and a complementary bottle of Kefir on the chosen day - £30.
Please check out our linktree or my calendar for the latest updates on which markets I’ll be attending in the coming months, along with links to workshops, festivals, and gatherings.
Give Us a Review!
Whether you love our products or have enjoyed one of our workshops, we would be so grateful if you could write a review here so we can spread the word about all the benefits of consuming Water Kefir and learning about fermented food and drinks!
Water Kefir Flavour of the Month
Our immune boosting Winter flavour is back: Elderberry and Hibiscus. High in polyphenols it's a great addition to your Winter drinks and, if you are on a dry January, it even looks like red wine!!
Do your bit for the environment and remember to return your empty bottles and sauerkraut jars—reusing is much better than recycling!
Happy Winter season! Thank you for following Absorb!
Looking for Absorb products?
Local markets and where to collect, check out my calendar: https://www.absorbhealth.org/calendar
Or stockists: https://www.absorbhealth.org/stockists
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