It’s September.
The summer madness is quietening down. The children are going back to school. Normality and routines return.
And you feel you need another break.
You know that saying, “I need a holiday after the holiday”?
I’ve had all summer off. I know I am very lucky and I am very grateful too.
I’ve found a good routine that doesn’t involve a 9-to-5 job. I have to admit, I am surprised. I thought I’d be more restless, that I might get bored, that I’d want to “do” more. But no, I found my routine and I love it.
And now I am having a break from my routine. A week away.
To my happy place.
We talk about our “happy place” quite casually, but when I thought about what that actually means, I realised there’s quite a lot behind those two little words.
A mental or physical sanctuary of safety, peace and emotional grounding – this really resonates with me.
And it doesn’t matter how well you are or how well you’re managing everything in your life – I believe you still need your happy place.
It doesn’t have to be a wonderful exotic destination. Not the most pristine beach in the world. Not the most soothing music in the most serene yoga resort.
It can be your own garden, a bench in a park, your favourite seat in your favourite café. It can even be the secure dog field where it’s just you and your dog.
It can be so many different places – but it is your happy place.
And I think that’s the interesting bit.
Why does one particular place become our happy place when another doesn’t?
Perhaps it’s somewhere we feel safe. Somewhere we have no responsibilities for a little while. Somewhere we don’t have to be anything for anybody else.
Perhaps it gives us freedom. Solitude. Connection. Familiarity. Nature. Memories. A slower pace.
Or perhaps it simply gives us permission to stop.
Our happy places can give us little clues about ourselves – about what we value and, sometimes, about what we might be missing.
And maybe that’s why we feel different when we’re there.
The lists stop going around and around in our heads. We breathe a little easier. Our thoughts settle. Decisions can become clearer. Creativity and new ideas have room to appear.
We might even dream a little.
But I don’t think we should only go to our happy place when we’re struggling.
We don’t have to wait until we’re stressed, exhausted, overwhelmed or desperate for a break before we allow ourselves something restorative.
We can go when life is good too.
Perhaps our happy place isn’t somewhere we escape to when something is wrong. Perhaps it’s also somewhere that helps us stay well when things are right.
Perhaps it can also become a space for self-compassion and self-learning.
So why do we go to our happy place? What does it give us? And what does that tell us about what we need right now?
Whilst I have a physical happy place, I can’t go there very often.
But I have it in my mind.
Every so often, when I need it, I retreat there. I close my eyes and imagine myself there and everything feels a little lighter.
I can picture the sea and the mountains. I can feel the warmth. I can almost catch the scent of star jasmine.
Of course, imagining it isn’t quite the same as actually being there. But I’ve realised that perhaps I don’t always need to physically go to my happy place to experience a little of what it gives me. I can carry some of it with me.
For me, it’s definitely a space to slow down. To re-learn pacing. To dig deep and find my patience.
And I’ll admit, to dream a little.
Or a little more.
And if I know that’s what my happy place gives me, perhaps the more important question is: how can I bring a little more of those things into my ordinary days?
So, here’s one small invitation this month.
Find your happy place.
And go there. Physically or mentally, go there.
Then ask yourself what you find there.
Is it quiet? Freedom? Safety? Space? Nature? A slower pace? Perhaps simply permission to do nothing for a while?
What do you need that you find in your happy place?
And then ask yourself one more question:
How could I bring just a little more of that feeling into my everyday life?
It doesn’t have to be anything big or complicated.
Definitely not complicated.
Just one small, simple step towards your happy place.
I recently wrote a blog article about Simplicity. You might enjoy it.
Simplicity – My Own Wellbeing Coaching
Wherever you are on your wellbeing journey this month, I hope you take a moment to appreciate your own strength and kindness towards yourself.
And everything you do to help yourself, no matter how big or small.
As I know you do it, but it sometimes goes unnoticed.
So, take a moment.
Until next time,
Angela