In January Jenny booked a holiday in Mousehole, Cornwall. Both of us had had a really intense last few days in and out of work and really needed to spend the time away, so where hugely looking forward to the break. We had a prefect little cottage, part of a small row that you could only walk in front of, right on the cliff tops. I likened to how we felt as a piece of rope, connected to 2 pieces of wood that is twisted, twisted, twisted until it is wound up incredibly tight and needs time to slowly unwind and take on its slack state. Going to sleep to the sound of the sea was lovely. Getting up in the morning and getting straight into the sea was lovely. Running round the coast, either through the wild trails to Lamorna or the paved route to Marazion was lovely. Cooking for ourselves, reading, catching up on the Olympics from the night before (the skateboarding proved a particular favourite) was lovely.
On more than on occasion we were faced with doing something that we had initially planned to do (dinner, visit a beach further afield) and both decided to leave it, slow down, spend time in the cottage, or strolling around the town. Jenny meditated again, read loads, begun to move more, swim. I stretched, swam, run, meditated and relaxed. Both of us really appreciated doing less – gradually, more and more that rope begun to untangle and we felt lighter, calmer and more at peace. As the holiday progressed so did we and this something that wasn’t lost on us. The less we did, with consideration as to what doing less would allow us to do, the more we were able to do with our time that felt productive and valuable. Ultimately ensuring that the holiday we had served the purpose of allowing us peace and tranquility.
What we both took away is the importance to do this when you have a break. Not to over plan, to do too much. The place we were in was wonderful – so why look elsewhere for comfort? We didn’t need to see as much around us as we could – on more than one occasion you could see other people trying to do to much and missing out what they had in front of them. We had more than enough, in fact what we had was just right.
I wonder how many people go on holiday and don’t stop, do less, let themselves unwind and keep things simple. Let time pass watching the sea or the sky, listening to conversations, read or just stop. All of these things then in turn let you do more, let you be more considered.
BreatheToMove 