Winter Storm Escape
Mindful Vacation Tips for Women in Their Late 40sAs Winter Storm Fern descends on most of the United States, I find myself feeling as though I won the jackpot by choosing this week to go to St. Martin. It’s predicted that 17 inches of snow will be blanketing my home over the next two days, and I’m getting the fuck out…
And here I am, a few days in, and I can say that it has been a reprieve from the cold and the chaos back home.
But the thing that I didn’t want to write about is that vacation comes at a cost. A week or so ago, I commented on my husband’s dedication to his daily Dunkin’ Donuts Iced Coffee, even when the temperatures drop into the single digits. He responded in a way that I did not expect.
“I’m hesitant to change anything about my routine at this point.”
As aging has done its thing, he’s struggled with his own health challenges. But that is not my story to tell.
Vacations
Memories
For me, vacation creates memories of a younger, more carefree self. But when I act like I can drink anything and eat anything, my body reminds me that I am almost 50. And it sucks.
After going hard the first two nights, I’ve settled into a new vacation habit of trading mojitos for sparkling water, eating my greens, and attempting to normalize my sleep patterns. There’s also another interesting observation I have, and it has to do with noticing the amount of time it takes to simply let go. Americans, especially those of us from the Northeast, are wound so tightly that settling into a place like this takes at least a few days. Our Airbnb neighbors are from France and told us they are here for three weeks.
Guilt of vacationing
As an American, I can’t even imagine doing that. Guilt over the work piling up is taking hold, and even as I sit here on this beautiful morning, I feel like I should be doing something.
This island is quite interesting from a cultural standpoint, and I’ll admit that I don’t know the history all too well. For now, I know that it is French in the North and Dutch in the South. It truly does feel like different countries. The Dutch side caters to the cruise ship crowd, which is not my cup of tea. English is more widely spoken. It’s easier to order food. There’s lots of shit to buy and plenty of people who want to sell it to you.
The French Side
The French side is French. Friendly but not too friendly. Welcoming but on their own terms. And for whatever reason, I am way more comfortable with that. In many ways, it feels like the abrasiveness of Boston, but with the slowness of what I fell in love with in Spain. You can eat well here by just going to the grocery store. I’ve always been a big fan of butter. After eating butter here, it will be some time before I will be able to eat butter made in the US. I truly wish I had paid more attention in French class.
On our first night here, after the debacle of trying to find our Airbnb, we had a delicious French take on pizza at a roadside shack, accompanied by cats. So many cats. The nice man also sold us a bottle of wine to go, which would never happen in the US. Some of the best tuna tartare I ever ate came from a sports bar that was the place to be to watch the Patriots advance to the Super Bowl.
Most bars and restaurants have dogs that come to visit. Not strays, but dogs that are free to roam. Yes, as an American, this is challenging to see, but I also recognize the importance of embracing the culture of the place where I am a guest.
Make Winter Suck Less
I started this by saying a good way to make winter suck less is to leave. If you can get out of your cold climate for just even a short period, do it! But allow your body time to adjust. To go from temperatures in the single digits to the 80s in a matter of a few hours will be a shock to the perimenopausal body. Be prepared that it will take a few days to adjust. When you arrive, there will be no shortage of cocktail menus tempting you to overdo it as if you can still handle it.
I’m not saying not to indulge and enjoy. But do so within reason and remember that water is still your best friend. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Enjoy the food, but eat your greens. Regularity is not always the most pleasant thing to talk about, but we all know that what comes in must come out. Your body needs fiber and water to function, especially when you’re eating rich food and traveling.
Be Present & Enjoy
Most importantly, be present and enjoy. Meals will take longer. Traffic will move slowly. The concept of time, road signs, and Google Maps actually being accurate here is a mere suggestion. Embrace it.
If you feel the need to check in on work or anything else back home, fine. But turn notifications off. Ensure people know how to reach you in an emergency, and then hold yourself accountable by abiding by your own rules.
Breathe in the salty air. Because before you know it, you will be shoveling snow and staring at a screen once again.
Watch this short video to dive deeper into Winter Storm Escape.
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