38 Comments

Delightful! With Nature as your guiding force, you need little else to live a full, satisfying and complete life. Nature is us and we are part of this ongoing cycle of regeneration. The more we're "in touch" with Nature, the more in touch we are with ourselves. The long term results of our neglect and poor treatment of Nature is not a pretty picture. So, this may be our last chance to turn it around, one by one, until there are millions everywhere with a deep respect for Nature, source of life.

Expand full comment
author

Truth! And so glad you enjoyed Leyla's beautiful answers!

Expand full comment

YES Gary, you've got it!!

Expand full comment

Another great interview and intro, Jane! Leyla, lovely to meet you. I dig your vibe and the way nature guides you. I’ve lived in a van for the past few years, which is afforded me the opportunity to be closer than ever to the earth and to the rhythms all around us but often concealed. Just subscribed to A Day Well Spent. Looking forward to checking it out.

Expand full comment
author

Another beautiful comment, Holly! I always appreciate your take on the world! I think you will love Leyla's newsletter. She also has a thoughtful take on the things around her!

Expand full comment

I suggest ur Leyla’s page a A Day Well Spent it’s simply awesome! 🤩

Expand full comment

Holly, this is so lovely to hear. And what an adventure that must be, the things you must have seen! Thank you for subscribing and welcome!

Expand full comment

A great post, Leyla and Jane!

Expand full comment
author

So glad you enjoyed it, Jeanine!

Expand full comment

These pleases me greatly, Jeanine :)

Expand full comment

It took me a while to get through this interview because each answer was a rabbit hole! Layla is a wonderful person to spend Monday morning with, especially when I'm avoiding my 80% bullshit job. (To be fair, 20% of I do at work actually helps people and when I get to do that piece I feel great!!)

Expand full comment
author

I know! A series of beautiful, delightful rabbit holes! I feel like I just went on an adventure! Leyla is the perfect anecdote to bullshit work. I'm so glad 20% is enjoyable!! I wish I could change the 80%. ❤️

Expand full comment

Hello Kate and this is so lovely to hear! I'm so glad you had a nice Monday morning with me. And 20% of it making you feel great is a lot more than most, so that is pretty good going :)

Expand full comment

This is perhaps the most uplifting and positive post I’ve read in a long time. Full of possibilities that inspire me to live a more purposeful life myself. Thanks so much Leyla and Jane. What a great way to begin the day.

Expand full comment
author

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, CeCe. I feel exactly the same way!!

Expand full comment

This is so joyous to hear CeCe! I'm so thrilled it resonated with you :)

Expand full comment

Profound and inspiring. ❤️

Expand full comment
author

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! ❤️

Expand full comment

Thank you Paolo! 🙏

Expand full comment

Delightful!

Expand full comment
author

I agree!!

Expand full comment

I'm so glad you enjoyed it Shelley

Expand full comment

Extremely inspiring interview

Expand full comment
author

I agree, Jimmy! So glad you enjoyed it!

Expand full comment

The only shame is that we don’t live in the same city, because if I would have liked to know the Leyla teenager, the girl that wrote that A4 I would stressed ur parents until they would back home with a dog.

With my mum it worked even if it took me 5yrs but after my 18yrs there was my little girl Lucky in my life. It’s true that small apartment aren’t the best for dogs even if girl ur house I think it would be perfect, but u have simply to organise ur time and travel like in the winter every time I had free time me and Lucky were on the beach to have a pootling, or I brought her to the mountain or to every place where she could have her space and running like there is no tomorrow. I loved each part of this interview, I would love to visit that park with u ti discover all the plants and flowers or looking all ur books to take inspiration and of course to spent all rhe day looking the foxes. The part on Matt always make me giggles because I talk in the same way of Davide. Have a wonderful day everyone and thanks Jane for this interview with a really incredible soul.

Expand full comment
author

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Laura. And I agree, Leyla is a really incredible soul!

Expand full comment

'to have a pootling' - Laura!! 😍😍😍

Expand full comment

Loved the interview, the photos and the dance! Thank you…

Expand full comment
author

I'm so pleased! 🌸

Expand full comment

Thank you for your kind words Anne, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Expand full comment

It was a pleasure and delight to answer these questions - thank you for asking me Jane!

Expand full comment
author

I'm so happy you said yes, Leyla! I adore your answers!!

Expand full comment

What a wonderful interview. The whole thing made felt like a long exhale, and now I’m left feeling calm and relaxed.

The science part of my own brain got stuck on the ‘ideas in the shower’ bit and almost typed out an answer, but this piece does a better job if anyone wants to nerd out for a few minutes: https://www.headspace.com/articles/shower-epiphanies

Expand full comment
author

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jillian! I feel the same way. And that's so fascinating about the science behind showers! Thanks for sharing.

Expand full comment

Not sure why I did this, but glad I did. After the first few 2-liners, I thought I'd commit. 😆 It's a summary in poetry!

--

An interview with Leyla made me go yay(la)!

Living life a little bit more simply by the day(la).

For instance, you can wash your clothes with cleaner made from conkers,

That impressed Kazim despite her knowing it sounds bonkers.

Turkish Cypriot/Mauritian and from London "born and bred";

Writing, hosting, making, judging, reading books all "Nutrient-Dense".

A colour-junky clothing fan, eye-popping clothes, not prim.

"To die before you die" is an ambition of Kazim.

Lacking any pets, despite affinity with creatures

Is something that this interview promotes, explores, and features.

Leyla's husband shows great kindness, though he also makes a mess,

Yet despite untidy habits, I'm sure she doesn't love him less.

In Layla's simple living, lots of fruit and veggies thrive,

And to reach a self-sufficient life's a goal in which she strives.

So thank you to Jane Ratcliffe for eleven first-rate questions,

Now I'm off to make some conker soap, as per Kazim's suggestions.

Expand full comment
author

Martin! This is wonderful!! I love this line:" Leyla's husband shows great kindness, though he also makes a mess." We need more Substack Summary Poems!

Expand full comment

Hehe, challenge accepted! You're right, hopefully more peeps will join in the poetic summarising.

Expand full comment

OH MY GOD MARTIN THIS IS AMAZING

Expand full comment