By that I mean basically unexpected oases in your life where and by whom you feel nurtured and restored and just safe in the moment?
For me, it was a woman at work who became like a mother to me and I’ll think a bit more about physical spaces but that is a very important aspect also
Try not to say your home space cuz that should be a given. Think outside the crib
The intro theme to Cheers.
Taking a kayak out into one of the local waterways on an early morning. We have a few canals that run through a nature area on the outskirts of the city. Around that time no one is yet on the water and I can just glide peacefully past the water lilies and other plants. The silence is so soothing. Everything just seems to live and breathe all around me.
It’s great until about an hour later, when some of the locals use their motor boat to put-put-put down the canal, stinking up the place with their exhausts :P
Western North Carolina 😭
Hoping to get back there soon and bring my tourism $$ with me when they are ready. The mountains are my happy place and make me feel like a kid again.
Also, bike riding (when I’m not in a conflict with cars) is giving me a lot of joy. Especially when there are other bikers about.
Walking the streets and sleeping rough a couple of days after arriving in Amsterdam, tired and hungry, a Portuguese guy with almost nothing himself invited me to his squatted place and cooked patato and onion soup and offered me a glass of port and a place to rest. I still hold this memory close.
Lovely!
I have two, and they are both very different.
The first is not entirely peaceful or relaxing but it was a moment of pure happiness and respect. We were doing the Swiftsure race and the whole time we had this incredible crew cohesion, like a hive mind. We all knew what we were doing and completely trusted our fellow crew that they did too. The respect I felt from those folks, that I was a valued and knowledgeable member of the team, bouys me when I have moments of imposter syndrome or self doubt. There were peaceful moment during the race, sailing downwind at 3am with the crew all bundled up together, some dozing and some just staring at the multitude of stars in the sky. But it’s the feeling of respect and teamwork that makes it for me. My skipper is the only one I’ll race with anymore, I trust him with my life. We also did pretty damn good with a 3rd place win!
The second is the west coast of Vancouver island. From tofino, Jordan river/renfrew/sombrio, cape scott, anywhere along that coast brings me so much peace. I want to sail around Vancouver Island and spend a month just puttering down the coast.
Thank you for asking such a wonderful question, it’s put me in a great frame of mind ❤️
Edit: And an honourable mention goes to the forests of Appalachia. Western Maryland specifically. The age and gravity of the place makes me feel steeped in the history and lore of the world.
YvW (you’re welcome!)
I have two spots on the other side of the country, that I haven’t seen in almost twenty years, that still serve this function if trying to calm myself down. One is a waterfall in what was then a very lush patch of forest. Another is a quiet bay surrounded by pine trees.
If I’m having a rough time, more likely than not I’m slowing down my breathing and visualizing one of these places.
My closest fairy fountain is hundreds of miles away. I kind of lost that when I moved away from my previous friends. I used to have people where I am like that, but you could say the fairy is gone from those fountains.
Mine did too but the benefit and positive influence did stay with me and we can chat legit anytime I want and we’re right back into it
The shower. Sometimes I just sit down in the tub and let life roll away in heated bliss
Oh man. That with a nice, cold drink. Often a beer or cocktail. The dichotomy is glorious.
Sweet, sweet, naked, hot bliss.
This guy showers!
Have you tried a “shower orange”? Can’t recommend it enough.
Nordic spas. Going from dry saunas to cold pools to warming up again in hot tubs or wet saunas and doing it over and over again… Ahhhhhhh
Great question and the fairy fountain angle is a neat way of asking it.
The woods/forest. I love to go forest bathing when the weather and my schedule allows, and camping (even at populated camp sites) is so enjoyable.
My bed. Im not depressed when I’m asleep.
I have sad dreams too sometimes, nowhere is safe ;(
A deserted beach we found one time. Very peaceful and beautiful.
Sitting by a bonfire all bundled up. Maybe even drinking cocoa or tea.
When someone I love hugs me tight.
I don’t know, I don’t think I have one of these in a consistent manner. Home space isn’t necessarily that effective for everyone, so it’s not a given.
Not one in the whole journey?
No, all I can say is when I was a child my mother and occasionally grandmother had that effect. It started to get less effective during my teens and it’s certainly no longer a thing anymore. As for other sources that truly nurture AND make me feel safe, no, I can’t think of a single one. I’ve had plenty of people taking nurturing and protective roles in my life but I wouldn’t say their effect was of full restoration and complete safety. Same goes for places. Something is always amiss or not enough for full recharge and safety.
When my cat headbutts me. I love that little guy
I came across a cat while riding my bike. I pstpstpsted at it for like five minutes, and it kept pretending not to be interested. Then, out of nowhere, it just walked up to me - didn’t even stop to sniff, just went straight in for a headbutt and demanded petting.
I gave him a full deep-tissue massage, and he loved it, as if no one had ever petted him before. I don’t think I’ve ever met a cat that friendly.
Respect the deep-tissue massage
Falling backwards into a soft snowbank in full winter gear and basically falling asleep while snowflakes drift down, melting on my face but otherwise slowly covering the rest of me. Absolute perfection.
Thanks op, it’s nice to think about this stuff
