I do everything fast.
I think fast.
I drive fast.
I type fast.
I talk fast.
You get the idea.
I also recently realized that I eat fast too. I learned this because I did something I have never done before.
I went to a spa by myself.
Ste. Anne’s Spa is one of my favourite places in the world. Even as I drove to the spa, stressed about leaving the kids and the unfinished laundry, as soon as I saw that famous stone building I instantly exhaled. I was reminded this sanctuary is like pulling the emergency break in our hectic, overscheduled lives.
I have been to Ste. Anne‘s many times, but I am ALWAYS with someone. I’m either with my husband, my girlfriends, my mom, my sister, someone.
This time I was solo.
I was staying for a conference I was hosting and I went for tea as soon as I arrived. It was the most bizarre feeling to eat alone at a spa.
I often eat alone during my workdays. I will pop in somewhere on my lunch and grab something, or eat my brown bag lunch in my vehicle. That doesn’t feel weird. But being at a spa eating alone definitely felt strange.
I run alone.
I do many things alone.
But they are not usually relaxing and they are not usually for longer than 30 minutes.
A spa is a place of self indulgence.
I guess I didn’t think I was worthy of self indulgence.
I paid attention to everything I did. There was no distraction of listening to someone else. I realized how fast I ate. I realized I was rushing because that’s what I’m used to.
I went to a meditation class and ironically I was the only one in the class, which never happens. I think the universe was sending me a sign 🙂
Apparently it was my time to be alone and learn a lesson about why it matters to be alone.
I did a Facebook video and asked all of you if you’ve ever done things alone? Do you like doing things solo? Your answers intrigued me. Watch the video above!
Many of you talked about how you had to learn to be alone because of a divorce or separation. One of you mentioned how hard it must be for a widow who has spent their entire life with someone, which is so sad. Some of you are really great at being alone and you love it! Many of you commented how it was hard at first to do things alone, but you learned to love it. I agree. I think it’s a skill more of us need to have. By hour two at the spa, I was LOVING it. I was thinking EVERYONE should do this. My husband needs this too!
I think for so many years, as a Mom, I was constantly with someone, or someone was hanging off of me. You get adjusted to the chaos, the noise, or the circus as my husband likes to call it. I think we need to appreciate that it’s an adjustment to be alone too. To remember how to let our brains think of just us.
I know if you’re reading this and you have small or infant children you might think this is a funny joke, but you will get there. One day your children will become more independent and it will be less scary to leave them. You will not constantly be bombarded with thoughts of just keeping them alive.
I promise that day will come.
It’s OK to self indulge and self care. It doesn’t make us Kim Kardashian.
It makes us acknowledge we need a break too. There’s a reason you put your oxygen mask on first on an airplane. You are not valuable when you do not love or care for yourself.
I’ve heard those words before, but they are finally starting to have meaning to me.
Bring on more solo trips to Ste. Anne’s 😉
AND GUESS WHAT?!
The awesome people at Ste. Anne‘s have graciously offered to give away a day spa to one of YOU!! Why do you want to go?? Tell me! Comment below and we’ll select a winner April 24th. Good luck!
