Skip to main content

It's OK to take a break

#PresentOverPerfect2019


“Stop. Breathe. Start again.”


Life moves so fast. Hence, most of us often get caught up in our regular daily routines and we forget to really consciously think about what’s happening. We rarely take the time to truly appreciate, never mind make sense of our past, present and future, which unfortunately may lead some of us to lose track of what makes us happy.


 Lots of happy moments when mom and dad came to visit me in the UAE in 2016.


Over the last 12 years, my life has mostly consisted of working, exercising, spending time (eating) with family and friends and of course travelling around the World. Sounds absolutely wonderful, doesn’t it? Believe me, for the most part, it has been magical. In fact, teaching, coaching, exercising, traveling and spending time (eating) with loved ones are all things I undoubtedly love doing; but oddly enough, some of the magic recently faded away.

My trip to Mexico in 2012 was a dream come true full of magic.

In our busy lives, it can be challenging to take a break; we may feel guilt or fear that we’re letting people down, that we’ll be missing out and/or that we’ll have some catching up to do. Let’s be honest though; every now and then, we can physically be somewhere, but because we’re so exhausted and/or distracted by the millions of thoughts running through our minds, we’re not "all" there. 

Balancing training for competitions along with work and having any kind of social life, has proven to be very challenging for me over the last year and sacrifices have had to be made along the way.
The whole process has been incredibly rewarding however and I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to go through it.
A few months ago, I noticed how exhausted and distracted I had become, so I decided it was time to slow things down. Lately, I have been doing a lot less and I have been spending more time alone with my thoughts, which I’ll be honest, can be taunting at times. Occasionally, I have felt a little lazy, bored, sad and even a tad bit crazy, but as I sat by the pool in Bali reading a book and as I walked on the beach in Maui listening to Ted Talks just a few weeks ago, I learned that this break, this reflective process I’m currently going through, is very likely to lead me to many more magical experiences.

Special thanks to Rola and John in Bali as well as Paul and Bailey in Maui for welcoming me into their homes.
I will forever be grateful.

If we truly want to get the most out of life, we should all take a break every once in a while, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. 

Disconnect and enjoy your own company; try meditating, reading a book, listening to a podcast, going for a walk, journaling... 

Our diverse experiences can only be made magical if we can see them with the right pair of (fresh and attentive) eyes.

Trying to spend 20 minutes a day outdoors in Canada.


"An empty tank will take you exactly nowhere. Take time to refuel."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mirror, Mirror

  “I could try to be just like you, but I wanna be like me - the girl in the mirror.” Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought “YIKES!”? Of course you have! We all have! We can all get a little self-critical from time to time, can’t we? I’ll be honest, I don’t often love seeing pictures of myself, especially those really close up, like selfies. Every image seems to amplify my insecurities and highlight “ flaws ” that I wish would disappear. I’m a pretty simple girl—no make-up, no heels, just me as I am, and I find that the world often holds up a different standard of beauty for females, one that's heavily curated and polished. My negative thoughts can weigh heavily at times, and social media ( with all its’ filters ) only magnifies those feelings of self-doubt. Over the last year, I’ve taken a number of selfies or mirror pictures. Some were taken to capture moments during my solo trips, some were taken to track physical changes influenced by diet, training and r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fly Away

  “Until you spread your wings, you’ll never know how far you can fly.” For as long as I can remember, there has been a relentless pull within me; a desire to fly away, to explore beyond the boundaries of familiarity, and to immerse myself in the cultural richness of our world. It all started over 15 years ago with a pivotal moment: my first international trip to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian purposes. Little did I know then that this remarkable trip ( *along with teaching in a challenging multicultural school ) would set the stage for a life defined by adventure, discovery, and personal growth. Since that transformative experience, my life has been a whirlwind of movement and exploration. I've been blessed with the opportunity to experience living and working abroad, both in the UAE and in Vietnam, and along the way, I've had the privilege to traverse more than 40 countries, each offering its own unique blend of culture, history, landscape and perspective. Looking ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...
Post a Comment
Read more