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It was The Most Beautiful Spring Day…… A New Season, New Strength and New Thoughts.
I was meeting with a couple in the stunning Hamilton Gardens; it was a challenging meeting for them, but the courage and strength they both brought to the table was impressive. It seems to me that the people I meet who demonstrate this strength have rarely had an easy past. So sometimes, we have to make our own rainbows by starting afresh.
This day was the most wonderful spring day; after a wet and miserable winter that seemed interminable, it was glorious to feel wrapped in sunshine and lit up by the brightness of spring bursting into leaf and flower in every direction. I was as happy as a pig in forget-me-nots!
Attitude is everything, but it sure makes it easier when the sun shines and the wind and rain take a much-needed holiday. I headed south from Hamilton down the route less-travelled through Waipapa and Mangakino to Acacia Bay and on to Taupo. It was a journey I’ll do again as it was filled with such a variety of countryside – rolling hills, expansive views, woodland and sheltered trails lined with banks of forget-me-nots bursting forth in various shades of blue. Mangakino is delightful and inviting. It lies on the shores of Lake Maraetai and has a picturesque setting and a nice feel to it.
‘Let your smile change the world, don’t let the world change your smile.’
Travelling along these easy and interesting roads gave me plenty of time for reflection. I’ve been ‘on the road’ for 6 months now and I continue to love my life! It has given me plenty of challenges and I’ve had a few surprises too; not least, the enthusiasm and support of all those whom I’ve met on the way and all the friends from a bygone era. I am encouraged to think I can make this work on an on-going basis.
I thought I’d already traveled extensively within New Zealand but I realise there are delights a-plenty still to discover.
My most important ‘take-away’ from this working sabbatical is replenishment. I had fallen into the trap of running on empty and not liking who I had become. I remember the wise words of a sports psychologist called Steven Saunders saying how important it is to take a long weekend break every 90 days so you are never far away from your next holiday. I dropped the ball on that one in the last couple of years, and it showed!
Get yourself an annual planner and mark in four 3-day weekends for 2018.
I can now see there are things I used to trip-up on that I can now take in my stride. It’s all very well to go as long as we can and still push to take ‘another step’, but I wasn’t always aware of the impact that had on others, and it’s important to recognize when that step may be just one too many and it’s time for some time-out.
‘There is no shortcut; it takes time to build a stronger and better version of oneself!’
L’Arte Gallery at Acacia Bay was my planned destination but I was too late so I went on to Taupo where I planned to spend the night….but the spring day was still so bright and clear that I decided to cross the Ahimanawa Ranges to the sea at Bay View and stay there. I arrived to enjoy a brilliant sunset and watch the darkness creep in over the sea to the bright lights of the Port of Napier.
The end to a beautiful day and one to keep me buoyant over the forthcoming storming-norman days with lightning strikes and yet more wind and rain!
When you find yourself in need of a refresher or at a crossroads and need to re-invent your life, and could use an independent sounding board or an ‘unreasonable friend’ to help re-map your journey please go to www.outoftherut.co.nz for some ideas or contact me on 021-732 230 or email jane@outoftherut.co.nz.