I Took A 10-Day Hiatus

The Start of a Journey

I took a ten-day intermission…

It was more than just a break or vacation. Those are nice too and needed from time to time. No, this was more than just a break it was a PAUSE.

When we get up in the morning, most people are bombarded with news, stimuli, apps, and notifications. It has become so habitual I don’t think most of us notice it.

We have become accustomed to always having to do something, go somewhere, or work a little harder.

I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. The last two weeks have been a whirlwind, especially after having a family emergency. Things happen in life and we can’t always control them.

An Unexpected Trip

I believe there are moments when God and the Universe put things in our path to make us stop. Usually, when this happens, there is a resting place nearby. For example, when you take a long road trip to another state, you will eventually see a rest stop as you travel.

However, this vivid and imaginative story I am telling is a little different. It’s not so much what happened but the outcome that matters more. Though symbolic it perfectly describes my inner world and experience within these ten days.

Inside my inner world, I wasn’t stopping to catch my breath. There was a pause- which was new, unfamiliar, and it felt necessary.

This pause was taking an unexpected journey on the way to my destination. This hiatus took me off-course, into the wild, disconnected from everyone and everything. I was completely alone.

I felt terrified, uncertain, and yet calm. I knew I was being led to this place and I ventured despite questions, comments, and thoughts from myself and others.

I came to a wide, open, green pasture that was idyllic at best. I sat down, relaxed, took off the armor, and the baggage, and allowed myself to breathe.

I spent hours and days in this space. It was something I had never done before. I shut off contact with the world and focused on myself. I did what made me happy. I stood shoe-less in the grass, danced, sang, and immersed myself within myself.

I spent time with myself and my inner child. I made a campsite, built a tent, started a fire, and felt human again.

Oddly enough I felt at home in this wide, open, and vulnerable place. What more could I have asked for?

The Destination

I was woken up by distant, loud, and scary noises. I had come to the middle of my journey and realized I had some things to unpack. I cleaned my armor, polished my sword, and trained my physical body for whatever may come.

It was gruesome. It was dark, frightening, and painful. I faced many scary and dark things out in the wilderness. I was afraid yet brave.

All to conclude, that there weren’t monsters in my wilderness. They were emotions, unresolved issues, trauma, heartbreak, and destructive behaviors.

I was on a hero’s journey and this pause led to me fully understanding that. I cried, purged, laughed, cleaned my wounds, healed, and grew all on the inside.

I freed the creatures, monsters, and fears in my mind. They were free to walk in love, healing, and peace.

I had a complete mind-shift change and decided to keep going despite being uncomfortable. I sat and listened to my child-like self and gave her what she needed.

I asked and answered questions from my childhood, past, present, and future. My vision became clear, focused, and certain.

I healed my heart and let go of old baggage. I sat inside and freed myself of unworthiness. I set new boundaries and started to love myself all over again.

I sat within my energies and balanced both the masculine and feminine. I realized that they were once at war with each other and now are in a divine marriage to evolve.

I came towards the end of my ten-day pause healed, free, and happy. I saw my true self and hugged her. There were no masks or facades, just wholesome joy, love, and peace.

I packed up my things, placed my armor on a tree stump, and started on my way home as a new person. I left my inner wilderness as a different person.

What I Learned

Life will happen. Things will be out of your control. Nevertheless, the real victory is in how you respond to it.

Allow yourself to sit still enough to heal. We are often so distracted with everyday life that we don’t take the time to heal, grow, and tend to our wilderness on the inside.

We have been told that our physical bodies need food, water, and rest. What about our inner bodies: emotions, thoughts, soul, and spirit?

If you fail to treat and care for them, they will soon get your attention in one way or another. In those cases, it is never a positive outcome.

Before that happens, take a pause. Look within, and see what is there, what you need to release, and what you need to add.

In most cases, ten days isn’t doable for most people. That’s okay. Take a weekend, an actual vacation, or a mental health day.

Begin by finding the time to fix what is happening in and around you. No one is perfect and your inner self is not asking you to be.

Your thoughts and feelings cry for attention, light, love, and peace. We all deserve to feel loved, free, and healed. Don’t we?

So, go and take your pause. Forget about what the world thinks or says. It will all still be here when you get back.

This is also an invitation to go on your own hero’s journey. It may be exciting yet terrifying, but the journey home always is.