On top of the world
There’s nothing like a little holiday to reboot and re-evaluate. A change is as good as a rest they say, but the rest is also very useful in allowing the body chance to re-balance and re-charge. The holiday I choose to take is skiing. Not much of a rest in many peoples eyes, but over the years I have learnt to tailor make the skiing to suit my needs, and my needs have changed as I have got older.
There is no longer a need to be up at the crack of dawn, on the first lift queuing with all the other mad people pushing and shoving to get to the top of the mountain. I am now on a holiday. Not just there to ski.
We no longer set an alarm. We just wake when we wake. We take time to choose breakfast, relishing in the smorgasbord of delights to suit just about every palate. A mindful experience that I really enjoy.
In the old days, there was always a mad rush in the boot room, the need to speedily fasten your boots and get out the door. Now, with age and a different view on life, we just get there when we get there.
We miss the queues so I am stress free – one thing the Austrians/Germans aren’t good at is queuing! We now go later in the year, so I am warmer and don’t have to suffer freezing hands and feet that are so cold my only focus is getting down the mountain to be warm again, and not being able to enjoy the scenery on the way down.
We also don’t feel the need to ski ALL day. We finish early on a few days and have lunch in the village, returning to the hotel to use the spa well before anyone else. Some yoga by the poolside to stretch, and some time in a bubbly tub outside in the snow.
I love skiing. I’m not the best skier in the world and sometimes wonder why we spend so much money on such a holiday, but it’s still time out. Time away from what I do and time to be somewhere quite spectacular. There is something quite special about being on top of the world.
Whatever you do for your holiday, and however you choose to spend your money and your time, take a few moments and just BE. Notice where you are and become mindful. Breathe notice and enjoy. Notice even the bad days, for in skiing there will always be one or two! In my case I spend a lot of time noticing any discomfort in my body and being aware of how amazing it is! Since practicing Mindfulness, I have changed the way I think about my holiday. I enjoy more and worry about it less, and I will always remember that it was skiing holiday eight years ago that was one of the defining moments in my life where I changed my pathway. Amazing things happen when you least expect it.
