Cabin Life in Cape Breton... and Relearning Relaxation
Well my dear friends and readers… it’s been a while since my last journal/blog entry, and there’s so much I could say and write about that’s happened in my life and travels these last few months!… But for now in this post, I’ll sum it up by saying life is a whirlwind, and ever so full of beauty and moments worth meditating on with gratitude.
Even the times when my brain struggles to see the beauty through the anxieties, planning the future, wondering where the next paycheck will come from, and so on… when I sit down here and start to write, I can feel my mind start to slow down again to the speed of the words being written on the page… and I begin to remember just how futile all my worries are in the face of this world, on this tiny speck of dust floating in outer space. And I remember how truly fortunate I have been.
Currently, I write from Nova Scotia (on the beautiful Canadian East Coast) - where I’ve been for the last 2 weeks, and closing off the tail-end of the last 3 months of travel and work.
I managed to find the absolute sweetest little cabin Airbnb here, nestled in the woodlands and overlooking the colourful, rolling mountains of Cape Breton Island. The driveway to the cabin was so hidden from the main road, just a small dirt lane that barely appeared out of the woods, and the first time I drove down it towards the cabin I could feel my heart growing 3 sizes bigger. I took in the secluded property, the autumn colours bursting everywhere, and the squirrels running wild and excitedly announcing my arrival with their chattering… and I decided this cabin felt immediately like home. I wish I wouldn’t ever have to leave! But if I’ve learned anything from this fleeting life, it’s that these moments are made all the sweeter knowing my time is limited in each special place I get to experience. And so, breathing in the peaceful solitude and taking this time to slow down again towards the end of all these recent travels, I let myself begin to feel grounded in the earth again.
After a few days of solitude here, my partner Kris has now rejoined me after he was away teaching a photography workshop for the first few days here in Cape Breton, and together now we’ve taken to exploring the surrounding forests, rivers and waterfalls, and climbing the hills and mountains to enjoy the views from above. On the days it rains (which has been most days), we stay inside the cozy cabin and sip endless coffee and tea while we read our books, catch up on photo editing, and enjoy the wonderful warm home-cooked meals that Kris skillfully and lovingly prepares, which is so appreciated after the many weeks of eating less healthy foods while constantly on the go.
It’s really been such a treat to stay in one place for more than a couple of days, especially during the prime colours of my favourite season of the year. And what a place to spend this Autumn season in, as we wind down and remember what it’s like to relax - a skill that has felt long neglected, lately.
This week I actually stumbled upon a quote which seemed really fitting to my current thoughts, and it struck a chord and resonated with me:
“Growing up, I never knew a relaxed woman. Successful women? Yes. Productive women? Plenty. Anxious and afraid and apologetic women? Heaps of them. But relaxed women? At-ease women? Women who don’t dissect their days into half hour slots of productivity? Women who prioritize rest and pleasure and play? Women who aren’t afraid to take up space in the world? Women who give themselves unconditional permission to relax? Without guilt? Without apology? Without feeling like they need to earn it? I’m not sure I’ve ever met a woman like that. But I would like to become one.”
I’ve since found myself whispering to myself throughout the day: “I would like to become a relaxed woman. I would like to become an at-ease woman”.
I’ve realized, I almost *always* have that impending sense of guilt every time I relax into anything... I constantly feel pressured to always be working, creating, posting, to be there for everyone, to respond in record-time, to create better and better work, to bring in money, and so on. But the thought of going through life relaxed? Without constantly apologizing for delayed responses/the gift of being able to slow down? To remember that I, that we, deserve to be at ease? When I imagine myself as a completely relaxed, at-ease human, I actually feel a weight off my shoulders, and realize how much I want to surround myself in that kind of energy… trusting what’s to come, embracing the imperfect, and breathing with ease and gratitude in everything I do.
So, this is the kind of energy I want to really nurture within myself this season, to intentionally put into practice and to be able to use in the future during life’s crazier times again - balancing the workloads with a prioritized need to rest, play, and just simply be. Guilt free.
Is this something you, reader, have struggled with also? What do you do to help balance your mind into a more relaxed way of living? I’d love to hear from you in the comments of this post. ♥
And now, I’m off to go enjoy being present and relaxed, and continue to watch the colours changing on the trees. I do hope to write more blog posts here soon, since I really do enjoy using this space to share more of my unseen photos and thoughts.
So, until next time, I wish you all loving and peaceful energy, wherever you are in this world!