Having worked an unfulfilling desk job for five years, Caroline Kelf believed she was destined for more. The mum-of-one had felt dissatisfied in her role for some time and was desperate to find her true calling in life.
So, on one day in 2018, she decided to quit her executive personal assistant position and do a bit of soul searching.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
Knowing she wanted to work in the wellbeing industry, the 46-year-old spent a year exploring different sectors before trying her hand at DJ’ing.
And it was love at first spin for Caroline, from Wilmslow, who says it instantly rekindled her passion for raving. “I just absolutely loved it from the moment I pressed play,” she told the Manchester Evening News.
“It was like I was rekindled with the energy I had when I was in my 20s. I kind of lost that when I became a mum.
“Someone told me if I wanted to find my purpose and joy I needed to think about a time I was happiest in life.
“For me, I was happiest when I used to go clubbing in the 90s and early 2000s – getting everyone back at afterparties, being in charge of the sound system and creating a vibe.
“I thought, right, that’s it – I don’t know how this is going to go, but I’m declaring to the world that I’m now going to become a DJ.”
Caroline announced her new role as DJ Flourish on social media just before the pandemic in January 2020 and was met with positive reaction.
“People only write nice things, don’t they?” she added. “The people who didn’t post anything must have thought, ‘Woah, she’s having a midlife crisis!’”
“It was one of those – I'm not sure if people thought I would stick at it, but people were happy for me.”
Once lockdown began, Caroline started hosting online weekly raves, combining elements of mindfulness and community to create a safe space for women to let their hair down and connect.
As the ‘self-love raves’ grew in popularity, Caroline began holding them daily and soon had paying members.
Once lockdown measures eased, the mum trialled a booze-free in person rave for the very first time – and the event was a hit.
“It’s evolved and grown and now become this concept of self-love raves which are basically sober raves for women to come and dance in a room full of other women where there’s no judgement and no expectation.
“All there is is acceptance and encouragement and celebration to just be you.”
Caroline is set to hold another rave this October with 500 people expected to attend, as well as being booked for Womanifest Festival and Happy Place Festival.
“There’s definitely a huge interest in [the raves] and it’s not just the sober side,” she added.
“It’s because you can let go of the roles you play and set into the energy of empowerment.
“The sober side helps with the unity and connection in the room. You’re more your true self when you’re sober, even though it’s uncomfortable. It’s a wellbeing experience that I’m offering.
“It’s very empowering because when you’re in a safe enough environment, you leave that place of thinking you’ve never been able to dance without alcohol.
“You leave and wake up the next day and it’s really empowering. For me, it puts two fingers up to society that conditions us into thinking we have to drink to have a good time.
“I feel satisfied now and I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. I feel like I’m doing what I came here to do and even though life throws challenges at me, I’ve got this core joy that I can come back to over and over again.
“I feel like an individual again. I feel like Caroline.”
READ MORE:
- 'I'm a private investigator - here are the the tell-tale signs your partner is cheating on you'
- 'Doctors told me TWICE the lump on my arm was harmless - now I have incurable cancer'
- Family given devastating diagnosis after noticing something on baby's eye
- 'Doctors told me I was fine - then a mole turned my life upside down'
- 'Why my champagne lifestyle just made me hate myself'
