Travel Is Good For The Soul
I can’t believe it has been a month since my last (first) blog! I had the good fortune to travel to Switzerland and Italy and remember what it is like to be European. Having lived in the USA for half of my life I am sometimes confused internally where I actually hail from. I usually know the moment I arrive as it feels as if someone has taken my hand and said “welcome home”. It’s like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes or running into an old friend. I feel grounded.
The cleanliness of Switzerland and the efficiency of its people reminded me of their sensibility. A time and place for everything, courtesy is given and expected in return, attention is paid to how one dresses and subsequently perceived. It is proper and civilized and a reminder of how things used to be.
Italy was like being welcomed home by your mother. Warm and wonderful with no shortage of good food! A healthy respect for family and heritage. If I feel starved of culture living in Florida, then a visit to this little country possessing more World Heritage Sites than any other, certainly took care of that for me!
So why am I sharing this with you? This trip touched my heart and soul and in a strange way it brought me peace. Sometimes our heads are so full of our responsibilities that we feel that we might just explode. No matter how busy we are, how big our workload, how little time we have to just be ourselves, how hurt we can feel at low points in our lives, it is knowing that there are options to help our healing. There is only so much we can do for others and because we are stretched we forget to take care of ourselves. Taking a walk to blow off the cobwebs, even if it’s in the rain. Visiting a museum or gallery and appreciating a piece of artwork. Observing other families and how they interact with each other. All of these suggestions work for me but one of my favorites is to pick up a journal or notebook and begin writing. It is portable and it is something that can go with you anywhere.
Our words are our power and the written word gives us the ability to heal ourselves from within. It is an outlet for frustrations and fears and a platform for our feelings. Just by going through the motions of laying it out on paper we are opening our minds to possible answers.
Thank you for reading my blog. Until the next time …
Christine Bolton
Follow Poetry For Healing on WordPress.com
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