Recently, I took a trip to one of my favorite places. I needed a change of scenery and some quiet time, and at the same time I was looking to stay active and nurture my creative spirit. I went to Crested Butte, one of my favorite places in Colorado and, frankly, one of my favorite places overall. A small mountain town that despite having an amazing ski resort is still a little bit under the radar due to its somewhat remote location. I fell in love with it the first time I came about a year ago and have visited three times since. I skied here in the winter, camped and run my first half marathon in the summer, and my boyfriend and I did our longest and most awesome overnight hike from here in the fall. I love the town’s scenery, relaxed vibe, restaurants, and galleries.
As I came this time, I was able to take a deep breath and sort of let myself be hugged by the atmosphere and beauty of this place. I spent time skiing, walking around the town, and looking at beautiful sceneries. I had time to reflect and thought about what draws me to this place so much and why I am so at ease here.
And from this reflection a thought was born – we should all have our nurturing, rejuvenating place. The place that speaks to our soul and allows us to relax, release the tension we hold, be playful and joyful, and re-energize. This may look different for different people. Some (like me) may prefer natural areas or smaller tucked away places, others will have their favorite beaches, and yet others will be energized and nurtured by a hip and electric city neighborhood. For some, it may be a combination of these, depending on the situation. But regardless of the specifics, I think it is worth it to ask ourselves some questions to help us find our nurturing place and visit it when we can.
Where am I most relaxed?
What scenery do I prefer?
What sort of activities do I like to do?
Where do I feel most inspired?
Where can I shake off my tension and just be me?
How easily accessible is this place to me?
How often do I visit it now and how often do I want to visit it in the future?
The answers to these questions should be individual. They should be truthful. And they should be what you truly want as opposed to what you think you are expected to want. I would also encourage us to think beyond our homes for this purpose, as much as I hope your home is a nurturing place for you. I would also steer away from completely unattainable places. I recommend that you think about places that you love, that capture your soul and spirit, and that you can reasonably visit at least once a year.
We all need time to rejuvenate, rest, and let loose for a bit. Take some time to think about where you are best able to do that. Then find the time, space, and money to visit that nurturing place to get the energy you need as often as possible. And if you feel like sharing what your place is, let me know. 🙂
