As I am writing this blog, I am on a plane heading to Turks and Caicos. I usually go 4-5 times a year. I always go by myself. Turks is my happy place. It’s time for me to get outside by normal routine in New York and do some soul searching.
Turks is a wonderful place. Nature gave it it’s beauty. Water is crystal clear and calm, sand is pristine and there is not one traffic light on the island.
Coming here gives me moments ofself reflection and self awareness. There is absolutely nothing to do here but lie on the the beach and get in the water. I usually spend about 8 hours a day just in the water. During that time, I try to let my mind just wander and observe to see where it goes.
My mind wanders in every direction. I have moments of absolute bliss(usually for just being in the water, moments of satisfaction (that I have the means to take a trip like this). I have moments of sadness, (usually when I think about my late dad), moments of deep calmness and of course moments of anger and irritability.
When I get upset I try to figure out what triggered it. Clearly, it’s not the crystal blue water I’m in! Some fleeting thoughts triggered an angry feeling and I try to explore it more. Where did it come from? Why am I holding onto it and wasting precious time on it?How long does it stay with me? What can I do to move on from it? How do I solve it?
At the end of my trip, I come back with just a little bit more self awareness about myself. These Turks trips are sacred to my mental strength.
Let’s use these same questions when a bout of physical pain starts to interrupt you: As soon as you feel the pain in your knee, back, neck etc. Ask, why did the pain just come about? What did I just do? Is this pain more emotional or is it physical? How long will this pain last? What makes it feel better? What can I do to move on from it? How do I solve it?
These questions will give you some insight into self awareness of your body. Just like all of us have bad habits, muscles have bad habits too. Explore it! You may learn a thing or two about yourself.a
