Rich Monday Paper- How to Walk Tall When Asked to Shrink

Edition 61 of Rich Monday Paper – your weekly invitation to live richly, rise boldly and reclaim your joy in a world that often asks you to shrink.

This week, we explore what it means to walk tall—not in arrogance, but in quiet confidence. From wellness awareness to celebrations and whispers worth listening to, here’s what to reflect on this week. Inside this inspiring issue, you’ll find your toolkit to course correct your destiny:

Good News That We Love This Week

Because hope is a form of resistance. From grassroots wins to global milestones, this week’s round-up is proof that progress is possible.

EU Focus – Virgin Set to Transform Train Travel Across Europe

Exciting news for rail lovers: Virgin is gearing up to launch new high-speed train services between the UK and mainland Europe, aiming to rival Eurostar.

With plans to connect London to Paris, Brussels, and potentially Amsterdam, this move promises more choice, better fares, and a fresh travel experience for those who love exploring Europe by train. Stay tuned—rail adventures just got a lot more interesting.

A New Chapter for Peace and Democracy Alliances

As global tensions rise, Europe chooses collaboration over conflict. We unpack what this bold diplomatic shift means for the world—and for you. The first Central Asia – European Union Summit was held in Samarkand.

Celebrating the Week Ahead

Here are a few celebrations happening across Europe this week:

• Zermatt Unplugged (April 8–12, 2025) – Zermatt, Switzerland– This acoustic music festival takes place in the picturesque alpine setting of Zermatt. It features a range of international artists performing in intimate venues, offering a unique experience for music lovers.
• Brussels Art Deco Year (Ongoing throughout 2025) – Brussels, Belgium– Brussels is celebrating its rich Art Deco heritage with a year-long series of events, including exhibitions, conferences, and guided tours. Key landmarks like the Villa Empain and the Centre for Fine Arts are highlighted during these celebrations.
• Orthodox Easter Preparations (Week of April 7, leading up to April 20, 2025)– In countries with significant Orthodox Christian populations, such as Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria, the week leading up to Orthodox Easter is marked by various religious and cultural preparations. This includes traditional activities like dyeing eggs, baking special breads, and participating in church services. ​
• King’s Visit to the Vatican (Scheduled for April 2025) – Vatican City- King Charles III is scheduled to meet Pope Francis during a state visit to the Vatican in April. This visit aims to strengthen ties between the Catholic Church and the Church of England and includes events in Italy and Rome.
• Spring Flower Blooms Across Europe– April is a prime time to witness vibrant spring blooms across Europe. Notably, the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands showcase millions of tulips in full bloom, offering a spectacular display of colours and fragrances.

Feeling Good and Happy Every Day

A wandering mind is triggered by a range of factors, including stress, fatigue, boredom, or both internal and external distractions. We look into the signs that indicate that you live on autopilot & how to stop drifting and mind- wandering.

Joy isn’t a luxury, it’s your compass. Learn simple, science-backed ways to lift your mood and cultivate happy moments daily.

We explore the reasons Self-Discipline Builds What Validation Can’t. Craving validation is a dopamine trap. One post. One like. One comment. And suddenly, your self-worth is hostage to someone else’s attention span. Real progress requires doing the work when no one is clapping, when no one is watching, and when there’s no guarantee it’ll even be seen. Self- discipline means showing up because your vision is real to you, even when others don’t get it.

Happy Table-Foods That Heal

No guilt. No extremes. Just nature doing what it does best: restore, rebalance, and rejuvenate. Chronic inflammation is at the root of many modern ailments, fatigue, joint pain, bloating or brain fog. But before you reach for the medicine cabinet, head to your kitchen shelves for turmeric, ginger and berries. Energy doesn’t have to come in a can, it can come from your plate.

• Oats are complex carbs that release energy slowly and sustain you throughout the day.
• Bananas offer natural sugars, potassium, and fiber—a perfect pre- or post-workout snack.
• Lentils are protein-packed and rich in iron, supporting circulation and stamina.
• Beetroot juice can enhance athletic performance and blood flow, giving you a natural energy lift without the buzz and crash.

A Gentle Reset- Sometimes, it’s less about what you add and more about what you take a break from. Consider a 3-day period of reducing sugar, processed foods, and caffeine to let your body recalibrate. Pair that with healing broths, warm lemon water, herbal teas, and gentle movement.

In a culture that often seeks quick fixes, let this be your reminder: true healing starts with what you do daily, not occasionally. Your kitchen is a sanctuary. A place to restore yourself, one bite at a time.

Hormone Hacks

Balance isn’t a myth. Our experts share small tweaks that help harmonise your hormones and boost your wellbeing. Hacking your hormones is about aligning your lifestyle with the natural rhythms of your body. From what you eat to how you move to how you sleep, your daily habits either support or sabotage hormonal balance. When you get it right, you don’t just stay in shape—you feel stronger, more energized, and in control.

Returning to Rich Destinations

Where luxury meets meaning. This week, we spotlight mindful travel spots that restore your spirit and expand your perspective.

How Glamping Helps Executives Reconnect with Family, Nature and Inner Peace

Our increasing reliance on technology, combined with a global trend toward urban living, means many of us are spending ever less time outdoors—even as scientists compile evidence of the value of getting out into the natural world. But a growing movement is seeking to reverse that trend: luxury camping, or “glamping,” has emerged as a way to immerse in nature without sacrificing comfort.

There’s a quiet attraction across Europe, not in its capitals or cathedrals, but in its forests, coastlines and hidden valleys. It’s not marked by speed or noise, but by stillness, intention and the crackle of a fire under stars. In the world of mindful glamping, where the luxury is not found in thread count or room service, but in the art of slowing down and seeing again.

Here, mornings begin with birdsong and the scent of pine, not email notifications. Evenings stretch into conversations by candlelight, the kind where no one checks the time. From the snow-blanketed hush of Lapland to the sun-drenched silence of Portugal’s Atlantic coast, these retreats offer more than comfort—they offer clarity. In places where Wi-Fi wavers but connection deepens, the wild becomes a teacher, the night sky a storybook, and each breath a kind of homecoming.

This travel attractions are not designed for escape, but for return; not to a destination, but to yourself. Join us as we journey across Europe to discover glamping spots that don’t just restore your spirit—they expand your sense of what it means to truly live.

Your London Capsule Wardrobe – Fab Shirts

Spring in London calls for a capsule wardrobe anchored by the timeless appeal of well-cut shirts. Why not feel inspired by the Roman Ivory Floral Broderie Collar Cotton Shirt? Feel elegant in this blooming floral broderie shirt. Designed with a stylish shirt collar and front button detail, this shirt embraces a peplum silhouette in a soft woven cotton fabric. The intricate floral broderie adds a touch of femininity while the long sleeves keep it versatile and perfect for the Spring Summer season.

These classics are endlessly versatile, equally chic layered under a blazer for a brisk morning commute or worn solo in the afternoon sun, adapting effortlessly as the weather shifts. Together, they exude an elegant ease, marrying city-smart polish with modern wearability.

Shirts have a special place in every wardrobe. Season after season, we return to them, not just for their ease and versatility, but because they offer a timeless foundation that evolves with us. We never stop wearing them, perfecting them, reinventing them. When chosen well, a shirt becomes your signature.

This week, we focus on elevating the everyday shirt. Think crisp tailoring, relaxed silhouettes, subtle textures, and timeless tones that can move effortlessly from work to weekend, from solo statements to layered sophistication.

Polished, powerful, and practical. Say hello to your new wardrobe heroes—tailored shirts that transition from meetings to martinis.

This Week Corner Office Whispers

• Jigsaw secures £5m funding from Carphone Warehouse founder
  British fashion brand Jigsaw has received a £5 million cash injection from David Ross, co-founder of Carphone Warehouse. The deal sees Ross become the majority shareholder, positioning the brand for strategic growth and stability in a competitive retail climate.
• New Look owners inject £30m to accelerate digital transformation
  In a move to strengthen its online presence, fashion retailer New Look will receive £30 million from its major shareholders, Alcentra and Brait. The investment aims to fast-track the chain’s digital capabilities and modernise its customer offering.
• Temperley launches Vintage platform
  Temperley London steps into the resale market with Temperley Vintage, a new platform allowing customers to trade in pre-loved pieces for store credit. The brand joins a growing list of labels embracing circular fashion.
• Co-op lost £80m from shoplifting in 2024
  Despite investing over £200 million in security and prevention, Co-op revealed it lost £80 million to shoplifting in 2024—a 14% increase from the previous year—highlighting the growing retail crime crisis.
• Boux Avenue back in the black, bolstered by M&S and Next tie-ups
  Lingerie retailer Boux Avenue has returned to profitability, thanks in part to its elevated product range and third-party partnerships with major players like M&S and Next. Chairman Theo Paphitis credited the strategic collaborations for the business turnaround.
• Guess sales propped up by Rag & Bone acquisition
  Guess Inc. posted an 8% sales increase for fiscal 2025, reaching $3 billion. The brand’s Q4 performance was boosted by its acquisition of Rag & Bone, signalling the value of portfolio diversification in a volatile market.
• Job cut fears spark jump in retail staff working while unwell
  New data shows a worrying rise in presenteeism across the retail sector, with 46% of staff working while unwell—an 18-month high—driven by job insecurity and declining workplace wellbeing.
• BFC cancels London Fashion Week’s June edition
  The British Fashion Council has cancelled the June edition of London Fashion Week, citing a renewed focus on creating more commercially viable opportunities for UK designers amidst industry shifts.
• Theo Paphitis says business rates “will kill the high street”
  Retail mogul Theo Paphitis has spoken out in support of Labour’s proposed reforms to business rates, criticising the previous government’s lack of action and warning that the current system is unsustainable for the high street.
• Trump ends duty-free treatment for cheap shipments from China
  President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order ending “de minimis” duty-free exemptions for shipments under $800 from China, directly affecting retailers like Temu and Shein. The new rules will take effect from May 2.

The Reading and Writing Room

From books we love to voices worth listening, our Reading and Writing Room is your inspiration fix. The winners of the 2025 Pulitzer Prizes have not yet been announced.

Until May, when we will learn who won for excellence in journalism, literature and musical composition, at the top of our list this week is 10th Anniversary Edition of The Gifts of Imperfection – Your Guide to a Wholehearted Life: by Brené Brown

A gentle but powerful reminder that you don’t need to shrink yourself to be loved, accepted, or successful. A must-read for anyone learning to embrace their full self with courage and compassion.

Whether you’re navigating boardroom politics, social pressures, or internal doubts, this edition is your reminder: you do not have to dim your brilliance to blend in. Remember who you are when the noise around you grows loud. Stand firm in your values when others try to chip away at your light.

Do you want to share your story and inspire our readers ? Know that  YOUR EXPERTISE is paving the way for a fairer, happier society.