When Home No Longer Feels Like Home

Navigating Political Shifts in My Seaside Town

I’m Nahid, “the nervous system whisperer” an Author and somatic movement educator. I’ve been teaching for twenty years and help clients move out of burnout, anxiety, stress and trauma-related issues with The Soothe Programme

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What a difference a week makes...

I never thought I'd be writing this. Our little corner of Kent - this idyllic seaside town we've poured so much love and work into - no longer feels like home. The recent county council elections that saw Reform UK candidates sweep into power have transformed the atmosphere in ways I wasn't prepared for.

There, I've said it out loud.

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For those of us from minority backgrounds, the political shift isn't merely about differing policy views. It's about safety. It's about belonging. The recent racist incidents across the country, fuelled by inflammatory rhetoric, have shown that ordinary people can become targets simply because of their appearance. When you're brown or Black, you don't get to hide. You don't get to blend in when tensions rise.

You might say, "But your area isn't that bad - it's a liberal enclave." Perhaps. But our local councillor is now from Reform UK, and what this does is embolden those with extremist views. I don't mind living somewhere that feels edgy if the tide is moving in the right direction. But when progress reverses, hope dims quickly.

I want to be surrounded by cultured and compassionate people. People whose conversations don't constantly circle back to punching down on traumatised and vulnerable refugees seeking safety. This political shift comes at an already heavy time - I'm still processing the global inaction toward humanitarian crises happening elsewhere. The cognitive dissonance is exhausting.

The houses are significantly more expensive where I'd prefer to relocate. We likely won't make money on our current home after all the renovations we've invested in. But somehow, I'll find a way. Some things are worth the financial sacrifice.

One hesitates to voice these inner concerns publicly. Will people think I'm overreacting? That I'm unstable? But I've learned that listening to the signals your body gives you, alongside rational thought, is a more connected way to live and make decisions. For me, regulating fears and emotions happens through deliberate action.

A phrase we keep using in our house lately is "HOLD STEADY" - borrowed from the sailing world when you have to keep a boat steady through a storm.

That's become my practice: stay steady, root myself in presence, and strategically plan my next steps.

How I'm Staying Grounded

This is my daily practice for maintaining equilibrium while navigating these uncertain waters:

1. Morning breathwork followed by meditation with intention setting

2. Writing down three things - from Dr Chatterjee:

   • One thing I'm grateful for

   • The most important task for today

   • How I want to show up in the world

3. A daily walk outdoors, regardless of weather

4. Moving worries through my body with strength training lately

5. Writing out my thoughts - listing pros/cons and naming what I'm actually afraid of.

I'm also chatting to friends locally to get their perspectives, I won’t set a deadline nor rush into any rash decision but have also scheduled a home valuation next week to understand my options better.

Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing

Leadership coach Dr Margie Warrell says that it isn’t that we don’t know what to do, it’s that we don’t do what we know.

Having the courage to face your fears requires you to manage those fears through regulation, recognising that our perceptions of what could go wrong are often distorted.

I don't have all the answers yet. Moving would be complicated, expensive, and emotionally taxing. Yet at the same time, I have also been craving more culture and being closer to London as my next step. I’m in process and I am okay with that.

Sometimes the most important steps we take in life are the ones that honour our need for safety, community, and alignment with our values.

Have you ever faced a similar crossroads? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments below.

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LAST CHANCE to book onto The Soothe Day Retreat in London on Saturday 17^th May - we’ll look at how your spine is connected to your emotions and free up your movement. Nab your spot here.

Rewire Your Brain & Brunch: Cultivate a Resilient Nervous System at The Elder Press Cafe by the river in Chiswick. it’s one of my favourite cafes. It’s on the 12th June at 10.30 am - 12 pm. A light brunch, a talk and discussion, practical strategies that you can implement right away, you’ll also receive a signed copy of my book, Soothe, the book your nervous system has been longing for. Tickets are £27 I’d love to see you there - click here to book.

The Soothe Weekend Retreat on 10th - 12th October at The Quaives, a lovely retreat space in Kent, 51 minutes from St Pancras. I’ve already sold the cottages and the rooms in the main house. Rooms still available:

• Dorm: 3 beds in the scandi-style dorm @ £650 pp

3 minutes drive up the road staying at The Tor Spa

• 3 x ensuite rooms 5 minutes car drive away @ £1150 pp

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Have a lovely weekend.

Stay human,

Nahid x