Diary 3 weeks into my life changing trip...

Laura Shuckburgh

Almost at the 3 week mark in my place in France

I am lying here on my sofa reclining with a glass of local wine and some nibbles at 18.02 on 26/11/2020 almost a month since leaving my marriage and my life as I knew it in Leamington Spa , interestingly just named as the 3rd happiest place to live in the UK.

Even more interesting is the number two place on the list is the town I moved from to go and live in Leamington 8 years ago… Follow me to your happy place hey….

The thought that started my writing this evening was how liberating it feels to be in a fully furnished place where the furniture is not of my choosing, I have mismatched crockery, one utensil and a few old saucepans and no oven, just a gas hob. This lack of ‘stuff’ is making me thoughtful as to what we need to make us content. It sure does not feel to me that having a gorgeous kitchen with all the gadgets and matching crockery and a set of Le Creuset will make me happy if other aspects of my life are out of alignment. And yet if you had asked me what would make me happiest for the last year or so, my answer would have been , my own house which for sure would have had a beautiful kitchen on the wish list.

It’s well known that there is a certain point at which we are ‘happy’, money wise , material wise and it reaches a ceiling , when we go higher or get more money, possessions it does not make us any happier , yet so many people are constantly striving for more….stuff.

I on the other hand am realizing that what I need is less.

Less stuff, less stress, less belonging, less clothing, less pans! less clothes!

And what I need more of is stillness, acceptance, gratitude, meditation, exercise, and wine of course!

I am leaning to yield and to be happy with this moment, the one right now. Not the one I can dream of or hope for next week, next month, next year.

It is making me feel emotional writing this.

I am surrendering to what my life is now and what my life will be. This doesn’t mean I am going to lie around and wait for someone or something to rescue me , it means I am trusting the process of where I am and what is unfolding, trusting in something much greater than me , God, Allah, Universe, Spirit, whatever you like to label it as.

My spirituality is deepening….my sense of self is developing, and my eyes and heart are fully open to the unfolding, the allowing of the journey of this one life of mine.