It didn’t start with a plan. It started with a moment. Over a decade ago, in a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas, a Brazilian backpacker was selling handmade necklaces to get by. One piece stood out, a deep blue lapis stone, imperfect and worn, with a smaller bead wrapped around it like a moon orbit. I was at the end of my trip and couldn’t afford it, but something about it stayed with me. Later that night, he found me again. Without saying much, he placed the necklace in my hand and said three words – pay it forward.
I didn’t realise it then, but that moment would quietly shape everything that followed. What began as a simple exchange became a way of moving through the world, collecting moments, following curiosity, and learning what it really means to feel at home.