If you look back on any month this year, what would you say is your biggest accomplishment? For the ever-colourful Alicia Sedgwick, the answer would be writing her second book, BEING. It was penned in less than 3 weeks.
The idea came to the best-selling author in early January at the popular Fraise et Chocolat café in Roquebrune Village. Sitting in the sunshine, Alicia and her visiting friends from England were sharing their “word for the year”. Of course, in the warmth of the winter sun, gratitude popped to mind but one in the group said: “rest”, admitting she couldn’t find a better word to convey “not feeling compelled to be doing”.
WATCH INTERVIEW ABOVE: Interview with Alicia Sedgwick on launch of BEING.
This led to a discussion on human Beings versus human Doings, which prompted Alicia to fill the first page of her 2025 diary with all the “beings” for the year, starting with gratitude and restful. “This inspired me to write the book BEING, to help everyone, young and older, to go through the weeks and months ahead with simple lessons of being. To find calm, purpose, hope, and perspective in the busyness of life. To get back to being and not doing,” the communications coach explains.
“This is not a big book because people do not have time to read a large book. It is simple and straightforward reminders of being, and how to be,” the well-known figure in Monaco says.
BEING seeks to offer guidance in all the ways that can enrich your life and quieten your mind. “It is full of my personal anecdotes and real-life experiences to give you practical help to be. There are uplifting affirmations and life lessons to support you as you find your way to being and no longer feel compelled to be doing. You can find your raison d’être through the guidance contained in every chapter.”
Chapters include BEING: Kind; Loved; Confident; Well; Grateful; and Playful. For the chapter about BEING Brave, Alicia writes about a time when she lost her work as a lawyer. “My Partner let me down considerably, and in deciding whether to set up my own firm I had to ask myself the one question we should all ask when facing the unknown – ‘What do I have to lose?’ ”
Alicia, who makes up a third of the Lib Day Darlings trio, starts each chapter with a song title and singer “to set the tone and reinforce the message and theme.” For example, in that Brave chapter, the song is Fight Song by Rachel Platten. “Music is really important to me, and I am inspired by it, and it helps me and my students to feel less self-conscious.”
WATCH VIDEO BELOW: The confidence of music.
BEING was edited by Wendy Yorke and published by Parul Agrawal at Serapis Bey, the same team Alicia worked with for her first book, Communicating Through Change: Lessons Learned From Real Life. “It all took less than 6 weeks, including the writing process. It was clearly meant to be. I just felt that, like my first book, I want to extend my support of everyone to a global audience.”
Reflecting on life since the 2021 launch of Communicating Through Change, Alicia says she’s become more aware of how time disappears having lost relatives and friends. “It has become even more important not to waste time on things that take us away from our priorities and pull us down or demotivate. I do not want to be around people who do not uplift and inspire! Life is too short!”
The host of three TEDxMonteCarlo events believes, “In order to be real, and to truly give of ourselves for others to learn from us, we must express our truth, including our vulnerability.”
Alicia is a champion at helping others express their truth. During Covid, she ramped up her coaching and training in effective communication skills by developing her online courses and even managed and hold the first TEDxYouth Event at ISM online. These days, she is one of the hardest working women in town, juggling her time between public speaking training at the International School of Monaco and International University of Monaco, teaching communication skills at the corporate level (Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals, Monaco Economic Board) and hosting events. Of course, she also writes.
“Personally, I want to do more TV work – to develop the message of both books, and to help readers via that form of media – and maybe even a podcast, or radio.”
BEING is available in paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon from May 15, 2025. Don’t miss out on the special launch price.
Article first published May 15, 2025.