I’ve been like a busy bee lately painting, writing, inventing, running my empire and The Savvy Collaborative. But, I wasn’t behaving like a bee that goes back to it’s source, the flower and life sustaining pollen, to survive. I can’t even recall the last time I took time off to just be still.
I’ve really been contemplating this over the last week or two since I enjoyed a cup of chai with my friend Cheryl Janis. Cheryl is my inspiration and model to create a life of self care and rejuvenation so that I can sustain myself in every way. I wasn’t doing that. I was a starving bee.
I really love what I do and most of the time it doesn’t feel like work but at some point everyone has to rejuvenate. So, this weekend, I left with my lovely husband, Joe, and we retreated to Coast Cabins in Manzanita. This is a picture of the private entrance to Cabin 5, the spa cabin with a steam sauna, hot tub and a kick ass shower head that feels like a waterfall.
This is a picture of the wickedly wonderful showerhead.
Coast Cabins is my absolute favorite place to stay on the Oregon Coast. It’s zen, spa-like environment, flair for green living, beautiful artwork, fresh orchids, eye for detail and upscale design took me worlds away from my computer and cell phone. In fact, I left without either!
Gorgeous, fresh orchids grace every room.
A majestic sculpture garden surrounds the community firepit where you meet interesting people and share smores.
The blazing fire pit where you can’t help but prop your feet up and stare into eternity.
We ate wholesome food from the farmer’s market, sat in the sauna, bubbled in the hot tub, drank lovely Pinot, took long naps and made it once to the beach.
A scrumptious salad with organic veggies and smoked salmon we made for lunch.
Desert was a gluten free lemon curd cupcake with organic raspberries from Bread and Ocean bakery.
My favorite feature next to the awesome shower head was the steam sauna. Moving between the sauna, hot tub and shower was incredibly luxurious and rejuvenating.
Arising from a nap…yes, I was sunbathing in a jean jacket. It sometimes happens at the Oregon Coast.
I totally unplugged. For me, my source…my flower, is getting away for a few days of quality rest, visual delights and luxury touches. It may seem scary to leave everything behind but this is what happened to me:
I’m now rested and relaxed. Burnout can sneak up quickly and the best way for me to avert this plague is making quality R&R time no matter what!
I’m inspired again. By stepping away – far away – from the regular routine, I created space for new and exciting ideas to form.
I have a renewed focus. I was wrestling with a couple of projects that weren’t coming together. Upon my return, I was able to wrap them up with fresh determination and focus in a matter of hours.
I reassessed my priorities which naturally bubble up when I’m relaxed. I checked in to make sure they were still in alignment with my business and life. Those that drifted were re-purposed; those that no longer served me were released.
I met great new people. Over smores Saturday night, I met a lovely, young mother who is opening an art school in Lake Oswego. And, I reconnected with the owners of Coast Cabins, Gary and Paul, who have collected my artwork. They also told me that one of my pieces had been donated to the new Hoffman Center for the arts. I’m delighted that my art helped raise funds for the new building!
When was the last time you unplugged? What’s your flower…your source? How do you rejuvenate and reconnect to yourself and business? Might I suggest that you stay in Cabin 5 should you need a jump start retreat!
Mmmm . . . yummy post! I’ve got a post in the works about the need for retreat and community . . . the resting, the integrating, that’s part of what feeds the artist!