Almost everything works again if you just unplug it for a while…including you
This weekend Kev and I decided to escape to the countryside for a night. Like most, our weekdays are filled with working hours from morning until night and by the time the weekend comes we are pretty much a write off! We have Kev’s daughter at the weekend, and because we value that time so dearly, we tend to jam pack the weekend with fun activities to do together to ensure all ourtime is quality time. In short, this means sometimes we want the world to stop so we can get off!
This weekend, that is exactly what we did. A rare free Saturday meant we were able to get away for the night, puppy included, to a place far away enough to give us only an intermittent phone signal and reduce the human population by at least 80% (for me, the less humans the better, I’m happiest when on my own). Life has been relentless recently. Circumstances have meant that our world has been turned upside down, and anyone who knows the Terranova family, knows we don’t do fuss. So in true Terranova fashion, we’ve been ‘getting on with it’. The truth is, I’d burnt out. I adore all my work, teaching dance, writing and delivering educational training as well as the time I get with my family, but recently I’d been running on empty, and no amount of training, healthy eating or meditation had been moving me forward (although I would argue it’s helped me maintain sanity!)
Kev is particularly good for me when it comes to spontaneous acts. It was his idea for us to ‘escape’ for an evening and enjoy some good old fashioned conversation over a beer and a glass of wine whilst enjoying the picturesque scenery. He couldn’t have prescribed a better pill. The thing is, we all become too attached to technology and social media, and we often forget the present moment. We miss soaking up the little drops of satisfaction throughout our day because we are drawn to seeing what everyone else is up to.
Within 15 minutes I wasn’t even thinking about emails, text messages and the many missed calls I knew I’d see later on. I was free. We wandered round the beautiful surroundings laughing at Eddi’s reaction to sheep, wrapped up warm and took a stroll down to the local pub for tea and actually talked to each other. Nothing fancy whatsoever. When we got back we even followed the same routine as we do at home. Kev fell asleep within 10 minutes whilst I watched some trashy TV and supped on a brew. I couldn’t have been more content.
Nothing, could have charged my batteries more than ‘unplugging’ myself for 24 hours. You can drink a green smoothie every day, squeeze in your HIIT workouts and take the stairs instead of the lift. All these things are undoubtedly good for you. However, sometimes, in fact, often, it can so much more simple. Take it back to basics and unplug yourself. Sign off, log out, cut the cord and allow yourself space to realign yourself with your inner strength.
