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Waiting to Exhale…

What’s Next for My Fab Fifties Life – A New Adventure

On Wednesday January 20th I realized I had been holding my breath. For months. Literally unable to breath. But on Wednesday I let go of a long breath and decided to pull myself up and away from the despair that has settled on me. The two nasty “P” words (Politics and Pandemic) had me unable to relax and enjoy life as I used to…for nearly a year now. This week I realized I have been waiting to exhale.

So the waiting continues…and as the song says, the waiting is the hardest part. But I am feeling more hopeful than I have in a long time.

I’ve said over and over these past months that the hate and vitriol in the USA was causing me stress. My feeling has always been I don’t honestly care how people vote. But I care very much how people treat each other. And both the pandemic and the politics have created a tired, exasperated and often savage nation and dialogue. It’s just not for me. I refuse to participate.

Breathe. Wait. Breathe. It may still be a long time until people are kind again. It may still be along time until I can be vaccinated. It may still be a long time until I can travel abroad. But I am no longer waiting to exhale.

Instead I am going in search of peace.

First of all…

I feel blessed that I have the means to go in search of the sun. Our time in Maui showed us we could safely social distance away from home. In fact, it actually gave us time to invent some creative socially distanced activities. But, we aren’t going back to Maui, unfortunately.

Instead we have rented a house in the desert. Not a condo, a house. Somewhere we can stay completely away from other people if necessary, while enjoying some warm weather. Getting away from the Pacific Northwest gray is my goal. I know some of you like the rain…but for me, it makes me physically ill. No joke. My joints ache, my sinuses ache, I have bursitis and my energy is zapped. So we are no longer waiting for good weather…we will go in search of it and the joy and good health it brings.

Secondly…

While I do a little soul searching and invest in my personal well-being, I’m going to take a mini blog and social media break. Not too long, just enough to recenter and exhale.

I’ve spent some time scheduling ahead some Friday Travel Posts, lots of Reading Wednesday posts and several of our popular Tasty Tuesday YouTube posts, as well as some Facebook and Instagram posts. You will hardly notice I’m on a break. I can log off, tune out, shut down and take a hiatus from the madness. And breathe.

I’ll check in from time to time, but mostly I want to rinse away some of the negative energy and renew my faith in mankind. That should be easy right?

So what’s next for My Fab Fifties Life? Three months in the desert, then back to the Pacific Northwest in the spring. After that, no idea. We will take it as it comes. Fingers crossed we will be able to be vaccinated by April, and won’t get the virus before that happens. Perhaps we can travel next fall or winter. But, we wait.

So I hope you enjoy all the posts I have been working on for advance scheduling, and I’ll check in on Social Media from time to time and probably rejoin after a month.

And by the way, if you are waiting to exhale, feeling a little overwhelmed by world events, USA madness, media, screen time and snarky, judgemental or ignorant people, you should do a little social media cleanse too. It’s a good way to restart your engines for 2021.

Remembering my word of the year…CALM.

Be kind.

Did you see last week’s 2020 World Travel Awards?

See this week’s top performing pin here Cooking Hawaiian at Home.

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24 Comments

  • Reply Michael Söhlke

    Have a good, sunny and warm time of relaxation and physical as well as spiritual reboot in the desert and simply… ENJOY LIFE!!!

    January 22, 2021 at 8:14 am
    • Reply Laureen

      Thank you Michael!

      January 22, 2021 at 9:17 am
  • Reply Sherrie Spangler

    The desert is truly healing. I moved to Tucson last year from Gig Harbor in search of the sun and that clear desert light and blue skies and I’ve never felt more peaceful and invigorated at the same time. Have a wonderful three months!

    January 22, 2021 at 8:15 am
    • Reply Laureen

      Thank you. We hope to spend some time in Tucson too. I hear it’s beautiful!

      January 22, 2021 at 9:16 am
  • Reply Melissa

    So, so good. I didn’t realize when we moved here, but a LOT of people who live in colder climates eventually buy a second home somewhere warmer. My little high desert town (by the way, I HATE the desert) is always the fastest growing town in the US because we have been discovered. BTW, we are building a cabin in the mountains to escape the heat of the summer. Guess we are never completely satisfied. Lol! Enjoy your Spring in the desert!

    January 22, 2021 at 10:48 am
    • Reply Laureen

      You have a lovely town but the mountain cabin sounds great! Next time we come through St George we will have dinner!!!

      January 23, 2021 at 7:18 pm
  • Reply Claudia

    Good idea. No electronic devices go into my art room ever so that gives me several hours a day to regroup- sometimes all day. That works for me.

    January 22, 2021 at 11:22 am
  • Reply Ann Hedreen

    Laureen, have an excellent exhalation break in the desert! This is such a time of transformation and hope. But also of waiting. Soak in that Vitamin D.

    January 22, 2021 at 3:56 pm
  • Reply Heather Markel

    I so feel you! Watching the calamity in the US from afar has been heart wrenching. Even bickering inside the family which is so unfortunate.

    Good on you for taking your own health and happiness into your own hands. Enjoy the desert and the sun!

    January 22, 2021 at 6:01 pm
  • Reply Sue

    Great post. I think it’s good to walk away & regroup sometimes. I was feeling overwhelmed at the end of the year as all my ways of trying to take control fell around my ears. I had a trip booked to Antigua but 3 days before the UK had a travel ban & I couldn’t go. I took a break too & it gave me some space to breathe & recognise what was important. I feel I’ve come back stronger, with renewed resilience & more clarity. Enjoy the break & the desert.

    January 23, 2021 at 2:18 am
  • Reply Alma

    We all have moments like these, for whatever the reason where we need to breathe and exhale. Enjoy your break from social media and blogging and hope you come back refreshed and healthy, both spiritually and physically. You still have much to share!

    January 23, 2021 at 5:17 am
  • Reply Laura Deaton

    Laureen, safe travels and we think you’ve made a great decision to escape to the desert! We empathize with every word of your blog. Now retired, we, too, escape the gloom of winter and escape to the desert, even during the era of C19. So far this year we’ve enjoyed time in Sedona, Mesa, and Peoria AZ and now we are in the Coachella Valley, Calif. We drove down also.

    We rent condos or houses, too. We are thankful that we, too, have discovered we can travel a bit domestically , still following all the C19 rules and by being extremely careful. (We have been bummed we couldn’t invite friends this year to join us in our rentals.)

    Our goal was to get some sunshine, Vitamin D, and exercise outside. Simple goals this year! We move soon to the central coast of Calif (around San Luis Obispo). May be a bit rainy, at times, but it’s a beautiful part of Calif. Enjoy the sunshine! Safe travels! Laura and Cary, Tacoma

    January 23, 2021 at 7:46 am
    • Reply Laureen

      Good for you!! My son went to college in San Luis Obispo and I enjoyed that area so much!! Have fun!

      January 23, 2021 at 6:53 pm
  • Reply Darla Hicks

    Thank you for putting words to my feelings. This week I have exhaled as well. I’ve been planning for years for my leave of absence from work starting in July to travel. Still going to do it even if we can’t go to NZ or Australia. This waiting reminds me that the journey is fraught with unexpected events; often making the best stories and memories.
    Enjoy AZ my home state. Check out the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

    January 23, 2021 at 8:47 am
    • Reply Laureen

      Thanks for that tip. I sure will!!

      January 23, 2021 at 6:51 pm
  • Reply Emese

    Welcome to the desert! I hear you, absolutely, you accurately described my feelings, too. I actually love the PNW, but only in the summer; right now, the desert is the perfect place to be :). Enjoy it.

    January 23, 2021 at 10:59 am
    • Reply Laureen

      I plan to. Thank you so much!

      January 23, 2021 at 6:50 pm
  • Reply Linda (LD Holland)

    I know so many people who have take a big breath in the past week! So great that you have found some places to escape and get some heat. This is the first time we will spend the cold winter in Toronto in a long time! I understand the need to take a break from blogging and social media. Enjoy your time!

    January 23, 2021 at 11:04 am
    • Reply Laureen

      Thank you Linda! Be safe!

      January 23, 2021 at 6:50 pm
  • Reply Wendy Lynn Lee

    I always love the desert and think spending three months there is a brilliant idea! What a great way to give yourself some physical and emotional space. Enjoy!

    January 25, 2021 at 3:29 pm
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