Transitions
And some calm in the chaos for your weekend
Hi Friends,
How are you this week? If you are in a spot that observes Daylight Savings, which happened this past weekend, then you might be feeling a bit uplifted to have more light at the end of the day. Having more light has already affected my walks this week in not trying to race out the door at 3:30 p.m. in order to get in a good “evening” walk before it is dark! As I am typing this, it is 5:45 p.m. and the sky is still full light. This lengthening of days is a little thing that is also a big thing and has a nice positive effect on daily life, no?
Life lately, has been a transitioning time for me, as I moved again. Right now, I am back in one of my favorite places in the world: Scotland. Edinburgh to be exact.
Leaving Great Malvern, UK, where I had been since late January, was a little bittersweet. My first time visiting that area of the UK, I was completely enchanted by Great Malvern, which was a sweet and cozy spot to ‘winter’. Beauty. Art. Welcoming and generous locals who made me feel immediately part of the community. Glorious walks in nature. Excellent graveyards. And a storied history. I am so grateful for the slice of life I spent there and I have a feeling I will be back. Perhaps in a different season, though I would not object to winter. We will see what unfolds…
The day I left was sunny and warm - fake spring had descended on Great Malvern - and I arrived early to the train station to sit outside and wait. Getting from Great Malvern to Edinburgh is so easy by rail. I adore a good train ride and from Great Malvern station I had a quick trip to Birmingham to change trains and go on directly to Edinburgh Waverly. I left at 10:30 a.m. and was in Edinburgh by 4 p.m. A very scenic and comfortable ride, relaxed even though the train was packed with rugby fans traveling to Edinburgh for one of the biggest matches of the year.
Getting off the train and emerging from Waverly station, right in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, in the center, in the warm late winter sun had me taking a deep breath and sighing it out in pleasure. The city is so gorgeous and has an wonderful energy that is a bit hard to describe.
I headed by cab to where I was staying in Stockbridge, New Town, for the long weekend. I have stayed in Stockbridge on my last 3 visits to Edinburgh, which have lasted 6 weeks to 2 months each time. I adore Stockbridge and know it well and it offers so much of what I love: wonderful walks, a bustling energy, parks, great shops and restaurants, fantastic people and stunning architecture. But this time, my long stay is going to be in a different part of town but I wasn’t moving into that house until the following week so wanted to kick off my time in Stockbridge.
I will be writing a dedicated post about my absolutely stellar experience at my short-term weekend flat in Stockbridge. Honestly, this incredible spot has shot up to my top 3 stays in all my world-wide travels. My flat was so gorgeous, calming, snd wonderfully thought out I wanted to spend ALL of my time in the flat. It was a perfect sanctuary as well, during a very busy weekend in Edinburgh (due to the rugby). I felt like it was meant and I enjoyed my 4 days immensely.
The next 5 weeks has me excited to be staying in a different part of Edinburgh and exploring the city from this view point. I am in an area called Murrayfield and I am already loving my neighborhood. There are many wonderful “walks” from every direction of my house but in particular I am only an 8-minute walk from my door to the Water of Leith, which can take me to Stockbridge in 35 minutes of gorgeous trails on the burn (river) and all the way to sea in Leith in 2 hours (my pace). Edinburgh also has wonderful public transportation with an excellent bus and tram system. Easy to enjoy all the charm and deliciousness of this great city.
As I am editing this post, I am looking out the window of my new office, again blessed with a gorgeous view (see below), and feeling very calm and lucky to be here. I am thankful. More on adventures in Edinburgh soon.
For the remainder of today’s post I offer up a few things that have calmed me that you might consider for your weekend/upcoming week. I hope one of them speaks to you and offers some calm - enjoyment - inspiration.
Dark Sky Sanctuary - I discovered these ‘Dark Sky’ places and what they mean through Anne Helen Petersens excellent substack, Culture Study, to which I have been a paid subscriber for a few years now. I have fallen down a Dark Sky hole so to speak and want to visit, volunteer, support these wonderful places. Sanctuary indeed.
New Qi Gong - I had a realization recently that while I love my daily qi gong video (which I shared in an earlier post) I found myself recently going through the motions a bit while my mind wandered a lot, which negates most of the benefits of qi gong. So, I put in my journal I would love to find a new practice to change it up and one that suited me and where I am in life. And wow the Universe delivered!
QiYoga with LuChin. I love this woman. She has many videos with excellent practices of qi gong alone or combined with yoga. Since introducing her videos into my daily routine I have felt a new energy. I am definitely present because I’m learning new movements and how they help my body and mind.
The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle’s writing and teachings continue to be a GIFT to me during these heightened times (and daily onslaught of alarming happenings). I have two things to share with you this week from Eckhart.
This passage from ‘The Power of Now’ that I have been applying consistently no matter what is coming up and finding it works.
“As soon as you honor the present moment, all happiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out of present-moment awareness, whatever yo undo becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love - even the most simple action.”
Ear Massage: to calm your mind and body (and vagus nerve regulation)
Set a timer for 20 seconds for each part of the ear for one minute total.
Start at the top of your ear and shake the ear firmly; move down to the middle of the ear massaging all around the area; end with your earlobe, really pulling on it hard but not so it hurts. Do each ear individually.
I have been doing this 3 or 4 times a day as a break from working on the computer and it has been so helpful and very calming. Another good one for waking up in the middle of the night too. It has helped me go back to sleep fairly quickly.
A Fun and Joyous Video: I have had this on repeat watch over the last 3 weeks
Robyn and David Byrne Live at SNL 50
This video and song has me getting up out of my chair and dancing, which I highly recommend. It has helped me literally shake off feelings of overwhelm and anxiousness in the moment.
Give a watch and listen. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Or put on your favorite dance tunes and give over for a few minutes. I am here dancing with you….
Thanks so much for being here and reading.
I’m wishing you the very best weekend and week ahead.
Take care. Until next time.
Thanks for your posts, I love them!