July 13th, 2010
When you have moved to a new country it is not unusual to experience waves of nostalgia. Nostalgia is described as many things, a yearning to return to the past, a desire to return to a country of origin, or a sentimental memory from a previous relationship.
Nostalgia can be triggered by a number of things, a word, a smell, a sight, a picture, music, films, a photo, and much more.
I am sure we have all experienced a wave of Nostalgia at some time in our lives. It usually hits quickly and without prior warning and tends to be accompanied by old emotions and feelings.
Nostalgia itself is not a negative feeling to have; the feelings can be of happy memories from the past and can feel quite exhilarating. Attachment to Nostalgia can however lead to negative feelings.
By attachment I mean becoming so infused with the feeling of nostalgia that you are no longer in the present moment. You may have noticed that when a wave of Nostalgia goes through you that your whole body and mind feels different, often giving a sense of emotional vulnerability. Your thoughts can become entangled with only the past memories and there can be a feeling of no longer being grounded.
If your feelings of nostalgia are of pleasant memories then dwelling on them and becoming entangled in those thoughts can cause a feeling of unease and a want to be back in the past rather than where you are in the present moment.
Dwelling on unpleasant nostalgic memories can also cause a feeling of unease and a want to be somewhere familiar rather than where you are in the present moment.
These nostalgic moments after a recent move to a new and unfamiliar country or state can enhance the feeling of wanting to return home or of feeling vulnerable and can quickly lead to feelings of sadness and unease. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Tips
July 11th, 2010
“Walking is good for solving problems - it’s like the feet are little psychiatrists” ~ Terri Guillemets
So once again I find myself writing about walking. It seems I am getting hooked on the subject. There is a good reason for that, walking is healthy in so many ways.
Walking helps to relieve stress which is great when you are preparing for a move or you have just moved. Walking at a good pace gets your endorphins going so you feel great and more energetic.
When you have just moved to a new place, walking around the neighbourhood can create a feeling of familiarity and ease with your new surroundings. When walking you may see things that you may not have noticed while driving.
Walking is great exercise. Just 20 minutes a day is enough if you are unable to find time for any other exercise and the fresh air is good for your complexion.
It is fun to walk with friends; it’s a good chance to catch up while getting exercise that doesn’t seem like exercise. This is also a good way to get to know people, start a walking group with others who are new to the area. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Tips
June 30th, 2010
Today I went for a walk with my sons who are visiting me in Australia at the moment. We walked along the beach in the beautiful sunshine while admiring the colour and magnificence of the sea. As we were walking along feeling great about being in such a wonderful environment it occurred to me that I live 3 minutes away from this beach and yet I hardly ever make the time to walk there.
Walking daily is so important for our health and well-being. Walking relieves and prevents stress . Walking is excellent exercise and walking enables us to explore places we wouldn’t normally have discovered.
Today we strayed from the footpath and found ourselves on rocks with the waves splashing against them. My youngest son suggested we stop for a moment and take a deep breath and enjoy the view. So we stood there on the rock just breathing while admiring the beauty around us. Something so simple yet so exhilarating. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Thoughts
June 5th, 2010
I know a blog about breakfast may seem a little odd but as I was preparing my delicious tropical fruit smoothie this morning I thought about all the various breakfasts that I have eaten in the countries I have lived in and the countries I have visited.
I started my life in England where oat porridge or toast and jam seemed to be the everyday norm, and at the weekend egg and bacon or kippers. In East Africa bread was a scarcity in the 80’s and I found myself eating Papaya with lime juice for breakfast. In Canada I resorted to packages of various cereals or occasionally yummy blueberry pancakes. In Norway bread was delicious and an absolute must. In The Netherlands I went back to basics with toast and jam. In Singapore I ended up eating crackers with peanut butter. In New Zealand back to basics again and now living in Australia I love my tropical fruit smoothies.
Breakfast is so vastly different all over the world. The French have their croissants. In Asia breakfast is often a savoury meal. The Americans have a vast Varity of egg or pancake dishes. The list of various breakfasts is long and varied ….. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Questions
May 21st, 2010
Homesickness
A few days ago I felt homesick which I found quite odd as I no longer really have a place that I would call home so I began to think “what is homesickness?”
My experience of feeling homesick was a feeling of wanting to be somewhere other than where I am now, just for a little while. I wanted to be close to my family and have fun with some old friends. My first thought was that perhaps it is familiarity that I miss, and then I started to wonder if there was something uncomfortable in my life that I want to get away from. Why was it that I had been feeling perfectly happy and then I had felt homesick?
When life feels a bit uncomfortable even in a positive manner it is quite normal to want to resort to some comfort that we can recall from our past, and after a bit of consideration I realised that this was the case for me on this particular day. I had been making some changes in my life and this was causing some unease. I wanted to seek some familiarity in the form of being with family and I was feeling some nostalgia for my teenage days in East Africa and therefore missing some of my friends whom I have not seen for many years. I realised I was dwelling on the past and fantasizing about the future and as a result I was not enjoying where I am today. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Tips
