…and breathe

Soothe [verb] gently calm (a person or their feelings).

It’s the first word I think of when I remember this moment. Soothed by the space, the rhythm of the waves, the breeze. Soothed by the freedom to let my feet and my mind wander where they choose. Deeply relaxed, uplifted and inspired all at the same time. It’s a place where I’m at my most creative, decisive, purposeful – perhaps the place where I feel most like me.

There are times when the gap between these moments is too long. My body feels tired, my mind cluttered and restless, my actions less fluid, less instinctive. What I need most is to pause – to breathe out. Instead I push harder, further, longer.

Until I get here.

There’s something about this landscape – this space – that encourages me to pause. Gently quietens, soothes, restores me. Some of my best ideas have started here and on the beach above. I’ve made some of my best decisions here. I’ve regained my confidence and energy here.

For a long time it felt self-indulgent to take these pauses. To step back when there was work to be done, rather than push on. I’ve learned to feel more at ease with this now, to cast my glance onto other things for a while. I’ve realised that it’s the space around things that is just as important as the thing itself – with space comes perspective, clarity, room to breathe.

These are the landscapes that inspire and soothe me, the spaces that help me pause and make sense of things. I’m a better facilitator, coach and person because of them.