The Clearing with Katherine May Melissa Hemsley’s calm chaos
Jan 3, 2026
Join cook and food writer Melissa Hemsley, known for her nourishing recipes and insightful writing, as she shares her idyllic vision of a retreat. Picture a landscape of wild animals, gentle communities, and calm chaos, all while seeking a haven from everyday anxieties. Melissa explores finding time for rest amid parenting and discusses her desire for boundaries with neighbors. She envisions communal cooking, cozy interiors, and the freedom of nature, revealing her journey toward embracing safety and presence in her daily life.
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Prepare Meals To Reduce Stress
- Prepare food in advance and use your freezer as rescue meals to reduce mealtime stress.
- Melissa values communal cooking slowly when possible, but also pragmatic freezer shortcuts.
Do Mini-Retreats Daily
- Melissa uses mini-retreats during the day: small rituals like hand cream, chocolate and hydration to reset.
- She commits to gentle practices like pregnancy yoga or somatic classes when full retreats aren't possible.
Bucolic, Safe Coastal Retreat
- Melissa imagines a retreat five minutes from the sea with rolling hills, evergreen foliage and red squirrels roaming freely.
- She emphasises a warm, safe landscape where animals and neighbours coexist like a bucolic, Silvanian-family world.