We live in extraordinary times. Never has there been a greater need for more authentic connection, deep breaths and belly laughs. Let's get through this together.

Hello...

My name's Melissa Noble and these wellbeing sessions are my antidote to modern life.

In 2018 I trained as a Humanist funeral celebrant. If there’s ever a job that really lets you see how precious life is, this is it.

I’d been asking big questions for a while but this work led me even more deeply into a journey of personal discovery -

what did I need to do, to make the most of my life? What conditions did I need in order to thrive - to really come alive?

A mid-life crisis is no laughing matter.

Once I’d (mostly) figured myself out, made some big changes and found some ways of keeping myself steady -I began to wonder - could I find a way of making my experiences useful to other people? Could I turn my deeply uncomfortable dive into grief, loneliness, the search for purpose, meaning and connection - could I take this experience and use it to help other people feel less alone in their life?

Because yes, life is brilliant. And it can also feel quietly brutal.

We need a personal tool kit in order to survive & to give us a chance at really coming alive. And this is where I think that I can be of service. I have assembled a very well-stocked kitbag and I'm really happy to share what I've learned and create spaces for other people to share their experiences.

Mine doesn’t contain any magic wands. No over-inflated promises. For me, wellbeing means ‘feeling more alright, more of the time’ and I’ve designed these sessions to create a space for other people to find a little of what makes them feel more alright.

At the heart of it all are two beliefs:

We are all born creative

(but often get disconnected from this or decide that we are only 'good' at one thing or another)

Wellbeing practices can be down-to-earth

(and don’t need any fancy kit or special space to practice them in)

The Sessions

We all need different things at different times, and the sessions reflect that.

NURTURE sessions are for people who want to feel better right now.

EXPLORE workshops are for people who want to learn more about specific subjects and build their own personal kit bag for responding to life's challenges.

The TRANSFORM course is for people who are ready to make changes to the life they have.

NURTURE

There are two types of session: Creative+ and Wellbeing+.

Creative+ are mostly creative with the option of some relaxation practice.

Wellbeing+ allow more time for sharing our stories and focus upon the down-to-earth relaxation practices but there’s space for creativity too.

Sessions are run as drop-ins and 6-week courses.

EXPLORE

Workshops offer a 2 hour deep-dive so you come away with a better understanding of a topic and some ideas for responding to your own personal situation.

6-week EXPLORE courses build on the workshops so you develop a deeper understanding of the topic and a wider range of responding to the challenges it presents.

TRANSFORM

TRANSFORM is a 12 week course for people who are ready to make changes in their life. It is perfect for anyone who is curious about really connecting with their creativity and using it to help them get unstuck.

Here’s what other people have said:

“A relaxed, entertaining, eye-opening and fun session in which you will be encouraged to express your creativity during lots of short and varied exercises and challenges. Melissa is a wonderfully warm host, welcoming and reassuring. I didn’t know what to expect and was a little nervous but there was no need. It was fascinating and fun - we all laughed a lot and I left feeling like I had done something worthwhile, that stayed with me.”

“Over zoom it is hard to gauge emotion and you’re able to do that. I think that it’s quite rare. As for the practical side -I feel like what you do is take these kind of airy things - meditation, breathwork or whatever and bring it down in a grounded, practical accessible way - making it easy and unintimidating”

“Melissa is an incredible facilitator; the perfect blend of playfulness and compassion with a deep integrity for the work which shines through. She is sensitive to the power of the journey and held the space for us all to explore some of the more challenging areas of our relationships with creativity in safety.”

Qualifications and Experience

I’ve had a rich and varied working life! Many moons ago I studied for a BSc in Social Science (Health Studies), going on to work in social care, firstly for London Borough of Islington and then as a residential unit manager for Sense, the national DeafBlind association.

In my late 20’s I took a break from care world to run a busy pub in Lancaster Gate before going off travelling. I moved to Brighton and returned to care work. I began exploring in a different way - I took courses in everything from Indian Head Massage to stained glass. I volunteered for Oxfam and for a local advocacy charity. I fell in love. Set up home. Kept exploring.

In 2008 I started a year long Certificate in Training Practice with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development. I began designing and delivering training programmes in subjects such as Communication Skills and Dementia Care and began working freelance.

In 2015 I did the Artist’s Way and became part of the New Venture theatre family. A whole new world began opening up to me. I completed a City & Guilds in Art and Design. I began Counselling Studies and gained my BACP Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills in 2019. I began my funeral celebrant practice. And then Covid hit.

Spending time being creative and remembering to breath have been fundamental to me getting through this time. I'm now settling into a new life in Devon and really looking forward to bringing these sessions to life and sharing my experiences with other people.

In creating these spaces, I am saying "yes, it is really tough, I know. But there are things you can do to make it feel less tough."

This is about you taking control. It’s about giving yourself permission to be kind to you. It’s about taking a step towards becoming who you want to be and creating a life in which you can thrive – rather than staying with feeling stuck or overwhelmed or lost or being who you think you ought to be.

Nurture. Explore. Transform. Come and see where it takes you.

If you’ve any questions or want to chat about the courses, please email me at notyouraverageactivities@gmail.com

With love,Melissa