What can you do to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city or the chaos in your soul? It wouldn't be bad to create moments where you can find at least some peace, right? I think everyone has their own methods to add color to their life, make their soul happy, and enjoy life. Sometimes your method may not suit me. Because the mood I am in at that moment may not suit your style. Or vice versa.
Before I give you some advice, I want to tell you about myself. What I have done to soothe the pain in my soul in the last year. If anyone is experiencing the same pain, maybe I can help a little.
I went through a very intense period emotionally in the last year that I lost my mother, and during this period of mourning, I visited several cities on the Aegean coasts of Turkey with my husband. I realised my most inspired moments emerge when I am out in nature away from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you have the opportunity, I can say that seeing new places is the best opportunity to mend the fractures in your soul. Especially when nature and the sea are together, it provides a wonderful inner purification. You know walking in nature causes our heart rate and breathing to slow down, as well as releasing calming hormones like endorphins, in this way, being out in nature reduces anxiety and reduces stress, allowing us to be more focused and creative with our thoughts.
Visiting several important and large ancient cities and museums was wonderful. Breakfasts in a quiet place in the suburbs of the Aegean gave the feeling of being on another planet. The peace that comes with a blue sky and the smell of iodine, far from people and traffic...
As a Pisces, it has always been good to be where I feel like I belong. That place is definitely the sea. Going to the beach is bliss. What feels even better is taking long walks along the shore. This feeling is wonderful. Walking barefoot in the mornings, seeing the sunset, lazy waves hitting your ankles. The only sound is that of the ocean.
Since I live in a seaside town that is heavily touristy for three months in the summer, I usually take these walks either early in the morning or at the end of the season. The ocean cleanses the thoughts, miraculously mood-lifting. Forgetting everything, and just walking along the shore, reminiscing. Walking on and on to what would seem like forever. But the walk would be worth it. A silent area of the coast, enjoying the setting sun. Still, the only sound is that of the indolent waves. Sitting down on the sand, touching it, holding it, a thousand memories zoom past. Enjoying the company of oneself, nothing has felt more serene.
I used the kitchen more than ever to ease the mental pain of mourning. I added new things to my old recipes. These were usually dopamine-boosting dessert recipes. :) I found new chefs on YouTube and cooked different oven dishes. My husband and I love to go shopping for our home. A few nice plates and cups or a few decorative items bought for the kitchen can change our mood.
I've always loved knitting. It feels like therapy. I don't know how to knit anything but scarves, but it still feels great. Colourful wools and scarves of different sizes... There's nothing like sitting in my garden in nice weather, knitting and sipping my coffee every now and then.
Of course, I will talk about reading books. It is something I already do in my daily routine as a bookworm, not as a writer, but it healed me in many different ways during my mourning period. I started buying books in genres that I don't read very often. These were novels and non-fiction books. As always, books can keep your mind focused on something else for hours and keep you fit and dynamic. If you also have an Irish coffee and a slice of cake with it, you won't be disappointed. : )
Actually, my list for the past year goes on and on. I'll settle for a few for now. Don't think of these only as a time to mourn, you can also use them as a list to boost your mood.
If you want to find joy, make space in your life to create things of beauty. Don’t merely consume—contribute, create, fashion, and share.
There are so many choices you can make - really the sky is the limit. Discerning which direction to put all your energy and focus into is key. Taking time off helps you mentally sift through all the creative possibilities out there and allows your inspiration to guide your next move towards bringing your ideas to life.