I have recently come back from a break away with my partner; he loves to climb up mountains and bag the odd Munro or two. Whereas I prefer to set a gentler pace and walk as opposed to climb, and then I like nothing better than to cool off, revive my aching limbs and set off across a lake or river to do a bit of wild swimming. My partner, on the other hand, would rather go round the water than go in it!
Of course, the object of all of these activities is to promote self-care, but what we do and what works for us, differs person to person: each activity is as unique as the person themselves.
Whilst many of us love to spend quality time away with our partners and our families and friends, we don’t all enjoy doing the same things, sometimes there has to be compromise. We want our loved ones to enjoy their time away as much as we do, but we also have to understand that this may mean spending some of the time apart, doing things we love but they don’t.
Just because I love to walk, it doesn’t necessarily follow that this walking includes hauling myself up a steep slope and conquering the top of a mountain. Naturally I understand the thrill of making it to the top and then admiring the acres and acres of countryside spreading out as far as the eye can see: the adrenaline from the climb and then the sense of calm and achievement at the top is nectar to the soul. However, the flip side of that is if you are scared of heights, or perhaps have a disability that makes it painful to keep moving upwards or downwards on a steep climb, then you are not going to feel relaxed or fulfilled.
Many people are not fans of open water: I know people who are not keen on swimming in rivers or lakes, or even the ocean, because you don’t know what lies beneath, how deep the water is or the fact it's often very cold, dark and, let’s be honest, can be as daunting for some as climbing a mountain.
Whether you want to conquer a Munro, or swim across a lake, you set yourself the goal. If you are lucky enough to be joined by like-minded people, then relish the challenge, but also the knowledge that as a collective, you can all make the journey together.
Whatever you enjoy doing for your well-being, it might not be the same as your loved ones and showing them consideration and understanding is just as good for your soul as it is for theirs.
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