Especially abroad! It's a bit like going to another planet and coming back.
Another stick of butter would probably be nice, but we absolutely have to trust the locals.
It's like when you order a cappuccino in Rome mid-afternoon and get all the waiters' contemptuous looks. Because cappuccino is only drunk at breakfast. Or worse, someone unwary (personally, I would never risk it) dares to order it while still eating roast meat, as a side drink. In that case, you're taking a big risk.
And to your question: “
Do you have any tips? Any practices you've found that shake you up, ruffle your feathers in a good way, bring a sense of freshness into every day life?” I have an answer. Another trip. It could even be a nearby city. But it's always a different city
I have a squirrel family in my backyard this year. It's fun to watch the little 'uns figure things out. I love squirrels too, although have been known to swear when they dig up bulbs.
When i did my priesty stuff we had a retreat at a place called Taize in France, near Cluny. It was high summer and the place was so ineffably beautiful that the memory still makes me want to return to look at houses 35yrs later. In reality the locals hated most tourists, the summer was TOO hot and whilst i still love Taize music, the thought of being surrounded by 1000's of teenage Catholics for 9 months of the year fucking terrifies me😆
Well … It is a song from the perspective of young woman whose lover just died in a car crash, and she wonders if there room for her next to him on his cloud.
A question which she can answer by the end of the song.
Lovely post. It reminds me of the philosophy of a form of counselling I’m doing my best to learn to do - solution focused - where you’re helping a person to find what’s different, what’s the smallest thing you notice that’s moving in a positive or life affirming direction. Pay attention and try to do more of that. Seeing things with new eyes, kind of. Good read to wake up to with my coffee.
Rye IS a little holiday destination near us, with Camber nearby too - a beach of sand dunes and sea for miles.
But we've just returned from the Med - Spain, Italy and France - and are still mourning / energised by our trip. It was only a week but felt a perfect lifetime of sunshine.
We're back to a very rainy grey October in England and I've been wondering the same thing - how to make home feel that good? I'm not sure we can, so keep the memories resurfacing - and any tips gratefully received!
I wonder whether the most realistic thing in the end is just remembering that there IS a different way of feeling about life, and seeking the little things locally that give you a hint of it...
Little things sometimes help with the ”away” feeling, like walking a different route to what you’re used to, to tab into the feeling of unfamiliar - there are limits to that though but often you don’t have to go far at least to find it.
Wow...the idea of taking a vacation that has LESS responsibilities and not more sounds astonishing to me. Of course when you work for a small independent business, vacations are already infrequent and short, but mine almost always go to working except I'm in another city!
I can imagine. And sometimes, actually having a task or some work to do in a foreign place can be nice too... an interesting middle ground between "work" and "Vacation".
I love that you forgot that we live where we do because we came here on holiday and fell in love with the place.
Well yeah, there is that ;-) But here I am, working, doing emails, paying taxes... though I'd rather do it here than just about anywhere else.
Likewise ❤️
Aaa, Mikhail!
Vacations!! I love them!!
Especially abroad! It's a bit like going to another planet and coming back.
Another stick of butter would probably be nice, but we absolutely have to trust the locals.
It's like when you order a cappuccino in Rome mid-afternoon and get all the waiters' contemptuous looks. Because cappuccino is only drunk at breakfast. Or worse, someone unwary (personally, I would never risk it) dares to order it while still eating roast meat, as a side drink. In that case, you're taking a big risk.
And to your question: “
Do you have any tips? Any practices you've found that shake you up, ruffle your feathers in a good way, bring a sense of freshness into every day life?” I have an answer. Another trip. It could even be a nearby city. But it's always a different city
That is a good tip... and I always love discovering a new city.
Cappuccino while eating hot food??? Madness.
Madness! Yes!
In everyday life, I do the "watch the bird" thing. Birds, squirrels, rats. Lizards doing pushups.
Rats don't want you to see them. Squirrels like to show off.
We've had a lot of fun watching lizard pushups here this summer :-) And I *love* squirrels. Always in the middle of some urgent squirrel business.
I have a squirrel family in my backyard this year. It's fun to watch the little 'uns figure things out. I love squirrels too, although have been known to swear when they dig up bulbs.
Yes, my wife's the same ;-)
When i did my priesty stuff we had a retreat at a place called Taize in France, near Cluny. It was high summer and the place was so ineffably beautiful that the memory still makes me want to return to look at houses 35yrs later. In reality the locals hated most tourists, the summer was TOO hot and whilst i still love Taize music, the thought of being surrounded by 1000's of teenage Catholics for 9 months of the year fucking terrifies me😆
Yeah. Reality is an arse.
Uuh… Do you *want* to know what the first song is about? The lyrics are world class depressing.
Ha :-) Thank you, but I'll let the poppy sounds ring in my ear. Though I tend to listen to pretty depressing songs anyway to be honest...
Happy to support in any which way requested. Which for the moment seems to be shutting up. :-)
Well I am now intrigued as to what the general gist of it is... :-)
Well … It is a song from the perspective of young woman whose lover just died in a car crash, and she wonders if there room for her next to him on his cloud.
A question which she can answer by the end of the song.
Huh. That sounds rather good, actually. Reminds me a bit of Nessa Barrett's "I hope I die first"...
Well. I just stumbled into it, having no idea what to expect. And yeah, it hit heavily. Well written.
Lovely post. It reminds me of the philosophy of a form of counselling I’m doing my best to learn to do - solution focused - where you’re helping a person to find what’s different, what’s the smallest thing you notice that’s moving in a positive or life affirming direction. Pay attention and try to do more of that. Seeing things with new eyes, kind of. Good read to wake up to with my coffee.
That sounds like an excellent codification of what I was trying to get at... I'll try it!
Man, do I love your writing or what? Reading you is almost as good as sitting down next to you and enjoying a good drink together. Thanks, Michael!
Thank you, Brad! And I hope we get a chance to sit down in person again before too long!
Rye IS a little holiday destination near us, with Camber nearby too - a beach of sand dunes and sea for miles.
But we've just returned from the Med - Spain, Italy and France - and are still mourning / energised by our trip. It was only a week but felt a perfect lifetime of sunshine.
We're back to a very rainy grey October in England and I've been wondering the same thing - how to make home feel that good? I'm not sure we can, so keep the memories resurfacing - and any tips gratefully received!
I wonder whether the most realistic thing in the end is just remembering that there IS a different way of feeling about life, and seeking the little things locally that give you a hint of it...
Little things sometimes help with the ”away” feeling, like walking a different route to what you’re used to, to tab into the feeling of unfamiliar - there are limits to that though but often you don’t have to go far at least to find it.
That's true!
Wow...the idea of taking a vacation that has LESS responsibilities and not more sounds astonishing to me. Of course when you work for a small independent business, vacations are already infrequent and short, but mine almost always go to working except I'm in another city!
I can imagine. And sometimes, actually having a task or some work to do in a foreign place can be nice too... an interesting middle ground between "work" and "Vacation".