Hello everyone! As you may know if you’re a regular reader, I have been away for a well-earned restful holiday in Turkey and have now returned refreshed and ready to get back to work 🙂 
“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” – Ralph Marston
While I was away I allowed my mind to have a total break from work, as I wanted a to come back completely refreshed and energised. I did however continue to ponder over how to further improve the quality of my life and enrich my daily experiences. I have made huge strides over the past few years to take a look at life when it is getting too hectic. I have tried to examine the situation, identify the problem and acknowledge it. I have then been more able to work on the problem area and improve it.
Just before I went away on holiday, things in my world of work were getting very hectic (which is normal I guess as I had various deadlines to meet), but I was also starting to feel I couldn’t wait to get away, which is not how I want to feel about my life! The time away allowed me the mental space to explore the issues that have been bubbling up. It also gave my body the amazing opportunity to rest and recuperate in a warm and comfortable climate. My arthritis was all but gone. GONE I tell you! I was left wondering: How much of the symptoms that present themselves are to do with what I think and how much are to do with what I do? Which part of ‘the illness’ is a disease, and which part can be influenced by how I live my life? This conundrum is one I have been playing with for years.
One of the best parts of my holiday was reading: one of the pleasures I am going to make more time for. A friend had just given me Tim Park’s book ‘Teach Us to Sit Still’ which I would recommend for anyone who has lived with or is living with chronic pain. It is beautifully written and although I found Tim to be rather moany and negative at times, he really does find a resolution in the end and learns to relieve himself of pain.
Another INCREDIBLE book I read was Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso – one of the most gripping, shocking and honest books I have ever read, about her years growing up in a relationship with a paedophile. Not the most relaxing holiday read, I grant you, but inciteful and haunting. (As someone who works with children, I found it to be of particular interest in terms of warning signs.)
I haven’t had a total relaxation holiday for ages as most of my holidays tend to be more rough and ready ‘travel’ ones so you can imagine my heart was singing with joy as I made the most of the facilities at the hotel 🙂
Talking to the sports trainer after an early morning yoga lesson
Relaxing in the bar area in the evenings
Cushions, hammocks or chairs – a wonderful place to admire the view
Below the resort lies the town of Turunc and The Mediterranean