Embracing Solitude: Discovering the Magic Within
in Quito, Ecuador
There are times when spirit forces us to rest. Usually when we refuse to do it for ourselves…
I’d just completed a fast-paced trip to Quito, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands. I remember walking the grounds of San José de Puembo hotel at Quito airport and it hit me: I wasn’t stuck there; instead I received an amazing opportunity to be there.
Galapagos Islands was A-MA-ZING. I’d gone with my best friend, her husband and his brother. We snorkled, visited the Charles Darwin Research Station and the salt mine on Santa Cruz Island. We ate Ecuadorian food, took a boat tour and so much more. In Quito, we visited family of my friend’s, went to a wedding, spent a day at the Papallacta Hot Springs- just non-stop. So YES, it was a vacation but there was very little down time.
Before vacation, I was piling more and more onto my proverbial plate and the trip was the break from my crazy schedule, but….was it really a break? I was wonderfully exhausted by the end of the trip and was on my way home to report back to the chaos when a broken aircraft did for me what I wouldn’t do for myself. It made me sit still. I was shuttled to the airport hotel in Quito called San José de Puembo and I wanted to cry on the short ride to my accommodations. I got to the hotel and called everyone necessary to let them know that I was stuck.
But then next morning I woke up to LLAMAS! Out of my window on the grounds of the hotel, llamas were having their breakfast. I got dressed as quickly as I could and bolted outside. The hotel is a colonial style historic hotel that hosts a farm as well as a curated, carefully labeled collection of trees from the Ecuadorian highlands. I strolled the grounds, met tons of farm animals and tried to engage with llamas who were completely unfazed at my presence.
During my stay I enjoyed the spa, ate amazing food, took long walks, journaled and just reconnected with myself. My friend was still in Quito, so I invited her to have breakfast and hang out in the jacuzzi with me for half a day. We were actually able to connect in a way that we hadn’t during our entire time in Ecuador.
I left San José de Puembo feeling so blessed and connected to spirit and to myself. I was so grateful for being stranded. There’s no way that I would’ve thought to take that time for myself and turns out, it was more impactful than the whole of the vacation. My life has been influenced by this lesson in self-love and I now incorporate it into my schedule on a very regular basis.
If I as a type A, taskmaster, get it done personality type am able to slow down, self-reflect and reconnect, trust me anyone can do it. In spite of how busy your life is and how much hubbub you face every day, here are some ways to put yourself first:
SET INTENTIONS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
Why not take a few minutes first thing in the morning to foster a positive mindset? For 10 to 15 minutes, you can set mindful intentions, meditate, practice yoga, or journal your gratitude. You'll find that the chaos of the day has less power over you. This is a great way of determining the tone of your day instead of letting circumstances do it for you.
MAKE TIME FOR WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY
Set aside some time to invest in activities that bring you joy. Are you a musician or an artist? A crafter or woodworker? Schedule time to dabble in your favorite past times or to get creative. Whether daily or several times per week, give yourself something to look forward to. Schedule half an hour twice a week instead of putting it off for months and months because you need hours to complete a project. Decide that you’re worth taking the time for happy-making.
GET OUTDOORS
Fresh air can make all the difference. Try combining a walk or jog with your favorite podcast or music. Connecting with nature like a beach, a field or a forest works wonders to help calm the mind. Add a few animals and you’re good to go!
TREAT YOURSELF
What are some of your favorite things that you can easily have on hand at all times? Do you love a certain candle that’s relatively inexpensive? Is there a particular incense, coffee brand, tea, flowers or healthy snack that never fails to brighten your day? As much as you can afford to, have it available for when you want to spoil yourself.
SET BOUNDARIES
It may be necessary to set some boundaries if you want to see real results with your self-love practices. Establish boundaries gently but firmly, whether you're dealing with colleagues, friends or loved ones. You’ve been here before, just as you’re heading out to take a walk, your phone rings. At that moment, if you don’t decide that you’re the priority, someone else will be. The choice is yours. Just remember, you’re worth it.
