Where is your Place?

I grew up in Oregon, along the Salem/Portland corridor (I-5).  I spent my younger years in Salem and I spent my college time and medical training time in Portland.  I loved the environment (even all the rain!) and all the things that there was to do, see, and experience there.  It was fast paced, engaging, and a wonderful place to grow up.  The memories are wonderful!

Amid all that hustle and bustle, I found two Places that I could go to relax, unwind, re-center, and just “be”.  One of them was the coast, specifically Lincoln City, and the other was Silver Creek Falls, a state park.  (can you tell I love water?)  I am not sure when I started going there, but as I hit my late teens, I made it a point to go there frequently, sometimes with close friends, but mostly when I needed time by myself.  I think that the need to “be” was something that came from within myself.  I am glad that I listened to that little voice inside because it helped to create a habit of listening and honoring myself enough to take the time to “be”.

I don’t live in Oregon anymore, haven’t for about 23 years, and I really miss it!  I haven’t found a Place where I live now that gives me that same peace and quiet, or connection that the Coast and the Falls did; those are definitely my favorite places, bar none.  There is a Place that is close, the barn where my horses are, but it doesn’t have quite the same feel and connection to me.   However, I have found that I can still go to my favorites in my head and heart, if I take the time to do it.  I have learned how to center, create space, and balance by going within myself using a vision of where I want to be along with sounds and even smells that I remember.  It is a powerful experience!  Sometimes I don’t want to leave!

Do you have a Place that you go to to relax, unwind and just “be”?  Where is it and how often do you go?  It is so important to take care of yourself and this is a great way to really connect to yourself and learn about what is “going on in the background”, so to speak.   The benefits are huge and everlasting!  The constant demands of others, in whatever role that we play, can be hard to live with over time.  Stress, burnout, and even withdrawal can be signs that you have reached maximum overload.  Remember that when you are balanced within yourself, it makes caring for others, including yourself, so much easier and gratifying; caring that comes from a place of “want to” and not “have to”.

Where is your Place?  Can you get there today, one way or another?  Will you give yourself the gift to go there today?  I would love to hear from you about the Places that are important to you and why.  Sometimes just sharing or talking about them can take you there…I am feeling the beach sand between my toes right now!

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