Wednesday 26 September 2012

Listen to your body

This picture was taken on the Lizard - Moll admiring a very lovely stone sculpture, before having a wonderful game of chase on the beach. Dogs are particularly good at listening to their bodies - which is what this post is all about.

Would you believe I’ve been doing another dog review? And just in case you think I’m leading the life of Riley, I don’t have any other reviews coming up. So that’s the end of my gadding about. Back to walking around Cornwall again…..

Talk about it never rains but it pours – and there was plenty of that on Sunday when we set off, in torrential rain and gale force winds, stopping to see my mum on the way. We headed onto Dartmoor by which time the fog descended and you could almost hear the wolves howling over the tors, but we finally found the hotel (which took a bit of finding) and had a lovely few days. Despite the weather.

The place is called Cherrybrook and has 7 rooms, all with lovely bathrooms and incredibly comfy beds, and the most wonderful views over Dartmoor. At 7pm each night the bar opened and we cracked open the wine, then had a 3 course dinner. Well, I couldn’t quite manage 3 courses but Viv valiantly struggled through, and we took the dogs for a quick walk in the dark, crashed into bed and slept as if drugged.

The first morning I was so tired at breakfast all I could think about was going back to bed. So we gave the dogs a run and as Viv had to finish her German OU coursework, she made a coffee and did that while I pushed aside any feelings of guilt and snuggled under the duvet. It felt so decadent it was blissful. And, I knew, just what I needed.

I dozed for a bit, read for a bit, then slept for an hour. I woke up and hugged myself, sent a friend a text and dozed a bit more. I felt as if I was playing truant – going back to bed is something I’d never do at home, but we felt so removed from real life, it was just the right thing to do - and all the better for the autumn gale howling outside our window.


I got up later, by which time I needed to eat again, and set off in search of food and a post office so Viv could post her coursework and I could send a postcard. And after refuelling, we set off through Bellever woods and had a wonderful walk through the trees.

We both felt incredibly relaxed afterwards, and it made me realise that sometimes we have to go away from home to realise just how tired we are. I said to a friend last night that the next review I have, we must do that – go away, and sleep all morning if we need to.

A lot of us have very busy, stressful lives which means that often we don’t listen to our bodies.

It’s about time that we did.

13 comments:

Akelamalu said...

Listening to your body is a good idea, only it knows what you need. :)

Flowerpot said...

That's quite right, Ak. Mind you, I could do with another kip now!

Sally said...

I so agree! Going away this weekend has done the same for me! I slept in, was fed and watered and thoroughly looked after and feel so much more relaxed. I might be 'retired' but I've never been so busy as I try to fit everything in.
Let's listen more! :)

Flowerpot said...

Oh good Sally - glad you were so well looked after!

Anonymous said...

That really does sound heavenly. I never feel guilty for going back to bed. Well, maybe sometimes I do!!

CJ x

Jane Lovering said...

Sometimes rest is what we need - but in these busy, modern times we can't take it when we need it. I'm glad you had such a wonderful time, I'm now encouraged in my belief that bed is the best place in the world sometimes!

Flowerpot said...

Oh I agree Jane - sometimes bed is just the best. And without someone who snores!!

Flowerpot said...

Oh I agree Jane - sometimes bed is just the best. And without someone who snores!!

Flowerpot said...

CJ - yes, it's a real treat, isn't it? And free, too!

elegancemaison said...

My life has been full of the wrong kind of stress for over a year now since my darling mother first displayed the symptoms of the illness that was to kill her six months later.

But I firmly believe in 'good' stress - the adrenalin rush that helps you to achieve things both mental and physical that maybe you
didn't think you could.

I love reading about your walks in all weathers with envy. I think you sleep the sleep of the good and the just after such outings. I wish I could join you. And regain my facility to sleep peacefully.

Flowerpot said...

Elegance - so sorry to hear about your mother and I know only too well what that kind of stress is about. But you're right about the other kind - we need that, too. I'm sure you will sleep peacefully again but I have found that as I've got older my nights are more disrupted. That's just how it is - well, my life as well I suppose!

Colette McCormick said...

I definitely recommend listening to what your body tells you but I would recommend doing what it tells you more.

Flowerpot said...

Colette - you're quite right!