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"It has been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will, of course, you must make it up firmly. I am not going to think about going back to the asylum while we're having our drive. I'm just going to think about the drive." Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables. Anne Shirley makes alot of sense. Have you read Anne of Green Gables? Seen the film (we know the books are always better don't we?) I downloaded the entire set of books about Anne of Avonlea (apart from 2) for 77p on my kindle and I am loving exploring these books again. This is how I began my holiday at home. What started out as a fun little experiment, turned into a breath of fresh air. Who knew? After finishing everything up by Sunday afternoon, realising my diary was clear with no appointments, I suddenly went so tired - like ... zooomph ... tired ...like a roller blind being released and falling down quickly. I didn't have any set plans but I knew that I wanted to go to the beach. This is exactly what we did on Day 1, which also happened to be a bank holiday here in the UK I had forgotten how recharging the beach was for me. The nearest is about 25 mins away with a toll of £3.20 (why do they keep increasing it?!) The recharge I got from walking barefoot on the sand reminded me of Earthing and just how crucial it is for us humans to to earth ourselves. As energy beings with an electro magnetic field around us, it's vital we do this. So I happily earthed myself that day in the sand (other ways to earth are grass, soil and concrete, just not tarmac). So Day 1 was about napping and unwinding, sitting on the hammock, huggles from the furkids and reading my downloaded Anne of Green Gables. The weather was glorious and really rose to the occasion. Day 2 was another beach visit, just me and the dog, and then an afternoon photo walk around this historic house in Liverpool, Sudley House - I enjoyed the flip of being somewhere without an agenda, somewhere of history and beautiful grounds. I enjoyed conversations whilst I had my sparkling elderflower cordial.  Day 3 I got out my sketch book and began sketching, illustrating, just for me, it made me realise how time passes and I lose myself in the paper. I did this outside in my garden. Dog walks in the park and reading again. I did not open my Laptop once. Admittedly I was posting photographs on Instagram (which I love) and accessing Facebook from my phone or Pad, but didn't do any work, or get distracted. Not more than 5 mins, twice a day. Day 4 was "Become A Tourist In Your Own City" day and I walked round my city of Liverpool, buying some new pieces for my wardrobe, which has reduced since all my charity shop giveaways. I ate ice cream and vegetarian sushi and just generally enjoyed being out in a vibrant city. Day 5 was Swedish Massage Day - only available at 9.30am which was a weird time for a massage but actually I felt so soothed, relaxed and stretched that I just spent more time sketching and illustrating. I then went out for Afternoon Tea with a friend and we talked all manner of spiritual (nothing I like more). A little planning but sitting in a veggie cafe, didn't feel too bad! So what was my take away from Holiday at Home? Did I do everything that I wanted to do to make me feel the way I wanted to feel? No. But I'm not berating myself for that, there are now more things to do, seek and experience. It has transformed the way I'm working. I got more clarity away from the computer screen. I can grow my business in many ways. Ultimately I have to look after myself and not neglect myself. Self neglect = not good I learnt that it's OK to veg out. Switch off Unplug Create for creating sake Take afternoon naps Meditate every single day to Deepak's dulcet tones.  Check out my #holidayathome Instagram feed : |
