Island at the park.

The past month has been amazing and today is the first time I have been able to get back into my writing. It all started when I decided to move closer to the City. I had tried a tree change approximately 3 years ago and initially the open spaces and clean air was great. However, I gradually found that I was missing the hustle and the bustle of the City, as well as the quick drive to the beaches and City. After a lot of soul searching, I decided to bite the bullet and started to look for a place close to the City. The next day, I started packing and making all   the necessary arrangements one has to do like transferring the electricity, water and gas, organising the removalist etc.

It is amazing how the universe works because a week later I received a job offer out of the blue. The offer was too good to refuse, so I accepted. So within a space of a few weeks I was changing jobs as well as moving house. They say that both of these life changing events are among the most stressful things that a person can go through. Here I was changing jobs and home at the same time.

So where does the park come in? Well after moving and starting my new position, I found that I was exhausted. Packing, unpacking, sorting took its toll on me and all I felt like doing was escaping to a tropical island and sitting by the pool drinking cocktails. However, that was a long way off, as I had just started a new position.

Instead I decided to relax by going for walks around the Melbourne CBD at lunch times. It had been 3 years since I last worked in the City and I decided to explore it each lunch time. My previous role had been in the suburbs and I had spent the whole day working in my office. I missed lunch breaks and just ploughed through all the tasks that needed to be completed. My new role was an opportunity to change old habits and to enjoy the scenery and just relax.

Life is too short and you need to stop for a moment and make the time to relax.

I was walking around one lunchtime when the weather was actually warm. It had been raining continuously in Melbourne for days and this particular day was the first time in ages where the sun was out and you could feel spring in the air. As I walked towards a park nestled amongst the city high rises, I was amazed at what I saw. The park was covered with office workers lying and sitting on the grass and worshipping the sun. I guess I had always been cooped up in the office at lunch times that I did not even know that people did this. There was a shaded spot under one of the majestic trees so I took off my shoes and sat on the grass. I looked around and saw people lying down or reclining just as if they were beside a beach or pool. It was so simple yet so relaxing. There was a gentle breeze, and the sun warmed the ground and you could smell the flower fragrances in the air. I was not on my tropical island but on that day, during my one hour lunch break, I almost felt as though I was on a holiday. It was the most relaxing and enchanting moment I had experienced in ages.

It made me realise that I needed to have more moments where I could just relax and breathe. We can get so caught up with life that we can forget  to take time out. However who knows what tomorrow brings so you need to catch your little moments of happiness when you can. I am so grateful for discovering the island in the middle of the city, where I was able to find a few moments of bliss.