This week, I wanted to discuss the importance of a spiritual path or connection. I've been wrestling with my internal dialogue as we transition from our caravan trip to a more settled lifestyle for a while.
Emotionally, I've felt like I've been on high alert, constantly planning, organising, and moving things from box to box (some of you will understand that feeling). We've had so much life admin to sort out in preparation for rejoining civilisation that I could have crawled under the blankets and hibernated, pretending none of this was happening.
I completely understand why we chose this path, but I've been tossing and turning over my thoughts. This weekend, I experienced a disconnect. I remember Jorge talking to me about plans and ideas for our business, and I couldn't engage—I wanted to curl up and hide.
This isn't the first time I've felt this way; I'm sure many of you can relate. In the past, when I felt like this, I would push through, pretend everything was fine, and keep ticking off tasks on my endless list. But this time, I wanted to try something different. I wanted to connect with myself and find calm in the storm I was creating—and that's the truth: I was creating this perpetual storm in my mind and within my family.
So, while Jorge was chatting about strategy (his favourite topic), I told him I needed to be in a better space to participate in the conversation as usual. I was honest, firstly so he could understand my lack of enthusiasm and, secondly, to permit myself to feel what I can only describe as "BLAH."
I realised I was experiencing a spiritual disconnect from my sense of calm. I hadn't been filling up my soul cup recently—I hadn't been walking, in nature, exploring, or, as I like to say, "looking up." My head was down in the thick of it, constantly worrying about the next steps, outstanding tasks, and the critical decisions ahead.
On Saturday afternoon, I finally called it: "ENOUGH," I heard myself say out loud. It took my family by surprise, but they understood. We needed to get out of the race. So, we went to the beach. We walked along the sand, built sandcastles, chatted, and breathed in the fresh air. I came back feeling calmer and more at peace.
Then, on Sunday, we explored a vast waterfall. Walking along the narrow track towards it was a bit scary, but I remembered what I like to tell myself: "Look up, Vikki, look up." So, I did. I saw the most beautiful tree canopies, vines twisting around trunks, old giant trees stretching to the heavens, and the sun dancing between the leaves. It was magical. I felt so good that day, doing something that cost nothing, something nature created for free—and so beautifully. I felt my spiritual calm return.
I've had so many thoughts about returning to the city. Will we get sucked back in? Will we fall into the trap? I couldn't handle running errands in a small town; how would I cope in the city? Honestly, I freaked out a little. But then I remembered that we have spaces around us in the city. We have nature—that's one of the beautiful things about Sydney. We have beaches, we have walks, we have playgrounds; we have so much around us.
The problem is not what's available; it's our ability to connect to it. We must remember our spiritual connection to nature, life, love, openness, fresh air, and all the wonders around us that are not drenched in lights, glitter, price tags, and rushing.
I found my spiritual calm within the storm I had created. I could reclaim it, quiet the noise, breathe, and reshuffle my thoughts. We hold the power of the thoughts we entertain, the calm we choose, and the things we fill our days with.
If anything, this experience has taught me to love the beauty of what is in front of me and enjoy nature's quiet whisper, which always invites us to join in and experience it. I ask you all to join me in staying focused on the beauty of this simplicity where our souls meet and to remember its presence because it can so easily be forgotten.
If you feel disconnected from yourself or caught in your own storm, take a moment, just one, and look up at the sky and trees. Take a deep breath, and remember you are connected to something bigger than yourself. Allow your soul to feel it and reset. In the beautiful words of a dear friend, "There is always someone out there who loves you and is sending you love every day."
These moments are gifts, reminding us to slow down and breathe deeply. May we each find our path to calm wherever we are and remember that our spiritual journey is always available, waiting to unfold in the spaces between our breaths.