I just need three days…

Do you ever get that feeling – that if only I had three days – I would be OK.

Three days of no meetings…
Three days of no interruptions…
Three days of enough sleep…
Three days of eating right…
Three days of no deadlines…
Just three days

Finding an oasis

An oasis can also be referred to as a retreat, a refuge, a haven or sanctuary. I find that in the busyness of life today that we sorely need a place of rest and respite. One of my places of rest is in Port Elizabeth. It is here that I find peace and clarity of mind. The characteristics of this place to me lies not so much in the beauty of the place – though a walk on Sardinia beach can compete with the best of them. The wonder of this haven lies in the people that live here.

It is in PE that I visit friends who speak understanding belief and hope into my life. They accept and love uncompromisingly and they provide a peace to life while the rest of the world races on.

I am always amazed how tired I feel when I am here; I cannot sleep enough. Yet there is no guilt in this need of sleep – rather I feel relief that I have found a spot that I can let my guard down, where I can stop trying so hard and I can be at rest.

Where is your oasis?

Was it Real?

On the desktop of my computer, I have a photograph of the town of Mittersill. The photo represents the view from my December holiday spot at Schloss Mittersill. For those of us not schooled in the German language, Schloss means castle and Mittersill – well that is the name of the town.

Today, I am down on business in Cape Town – having a tough day. As my laptop opened up and I saw the image, my eyes welled up with tears. The immediate thought that came into my mind, “Was I really there?” quickly followed by, “I wish I was back there!”

My time in the Schloss was an oasis – a time of rest and peace. Wonderful days and nights spent with people that seemed to really ‘get me’. It is not even three weeks since my return and yet it seems like an age ago.

So easily our days are filled with demands, responsibilities, challenges and obstacles, not to mention the opportunities that present themselves. Personally, I find that I lose perspective and can feel overwhelmed so easily.

So what was different in Mittersill?

Firstly, I was in a different environment, a change in place opens us up to new ideas, thoughts and influences. Not to mention the excitement that comes with visiting a new culture, meeting new friends and seeing wonders for the first time.

Secondly, it was a spiritual place. It didn’t demand much of me physically or even emotionally, but the castle as a whole as well as the time with the people fed my spirit. I felt nourished and refreshed hearing the words of my Creator once again.

Thirdly, my being in Austria removed the constant interruptions of the day. No constant cell phone ring demanding my attention. I had limited internet connectivity and therefore a limited number of requests for my attention throughout the day.

Finally, in Mittersill I gave myself permission to rest. I allowed myself to not be driven. I fought the pressure to fill each day with meaning, every moment with activity. Interestingly enough, each day naturally had meaning and spontaneous activities and adventures emerged from the time spent there. I took the time to listen to my body, to sleep when I needed to and exercise when I needed it. This was no labour – just pure ease of living.

So thinking back on Mittersill, do I need to leave and go to a new city to experience the life and peace that I did there? Or, can I build a lifestyle and way of doing things that will bring the same sentiment to my day-to-day life at home?

The first thoughts above, about a new place, new people, new wonders – could easily be built into our lives. We are constantly meeting new people, especially in a country like South Africa. We can learn new things about others each day. Within our cities, we can look for new wonders. Essentially, I think we need to wear a ‘newness’ filter. I believe we can adopt a mindset that looks for the ‘new’ each day. There is a fabulous scripture written that speaks of God’s mercies being new every morning. How amazing to live in the wonder of that newness.
Secondly, can I quieten the emotional, physical and social demands on me, to make time to listen to the spiritual part within me? Can I find an oasis in my city, in my home that will allow my spirit to be fed? An amazing man that I met at the castle spoke of finding places where the air between us and God is thinner. These are spiritual places where we find it easier to hear and think. Could my home become such a place?

The third aspect is one that I definitely think I could build into my life. I feel guilty if I don’t carry my phone with me all the time or if I have not checked my emails every hour. The result is that I am always on the back foot. New requests and business keep coming in without me completely finishing what I started earlier that day. One of my mentors makes it her practice to only check her email three times a day. What a difference this would make as opposed to my compulsive pushing of the send/receive button in Outlook.

The final aspect is that of rest. So quickly I have started working 14 hour days again, making no time for exercise, very little time for rest and absolutely no room for my body to tell me what it needs. I know this has to change.

PS. One final thought, is that much of my time was spent with children. As I observed their delight in the world around them and everyday activities, I became lighter and delighted in the world around me too. Being a single woman with no children this proves difficult, but I know many parents who would love a ‘pseudo-aunt’ to step in and play with their children.

How about you?