I was fortunate to be invited to my friends’ lake house for the Labor Day holiday in beautiful Michigan.  It has been a busy year for me filled with mundane activities so breaking away to engulf myself in a slower pace was just what I needed.   Gilma and Mike have a cozy home with panel walls, some modern updates and the most glorious breeze from their lake.  You instantly feel relaxed, and the hustle and bustle of daily life just becomes a distant memory.  Your phone becomes useless, and the obsessive social media scrolling is not available or welcomed to this paradise.

I just remember the air was clean and made me feel reenergized. It was easy to become one with your thoughts, appreciate the gift of nature and go back to basics.  We went to the farmers market and bought the most delicious vegetables tasting much better than anything you could buy at the grocery store.  We did not eat anything fancy – green and wax beans (that was a blast from the past), sweet tomatoes, cucumbers and blueberries.  It was a real Mayberry moment in the small downtown which was a short drive away. 

The best time of all for me was the serenity kayaking around the lake.  It was so peaceful watching the fish swim (little bubbles everywhere – and in synchronized swim patterns), the frogs and ducks.  I paddled around in no hurry just taking everything in and feeling very grounded and balanced.  It was such a gift to get centered and realized nothing else really matters.  I guess that is not completely true, but I was one with the ecosystem – totally fabulous.  I slept well (apart from a few rowdy teenagers who were having so much fun) It made me happy to listen to them experience good old fashion enjoyment – giggling and carrying on – so cute and reminded me of my youth. We always did that kind of stuff – ride our bikes till dark, play with friends and lots of kickball – YES…  

I listened to stories from the neighbors and all their memories growing up on this lake, and how sacred this space had been in their life.  It really reminded me of “On Golden Pond.”  I maybe dating myself significantly but one of the best movies I had ever seen.  It was the last and I believe only movie that Jane made with her father Henry Fonda.  The story took place at their family’s lake house as the aging father and daughter worked through a tense and complicated relationship.  Now we did not have any of that drama, but the cinematography and the beauty of nature really reminded me of the joy of having a home where you can be one with the water, trees and step out of reality for a weekend.  Truly a glorious place and I am so appreciative that I was invited to come and enjoy this experience.

I guess as I look back on our getaway, I really needed to take time to slow down and ground with nature.  It nurtured my soul and can outperform any red-light therapy blanket, relaxation tools or gimmick out there.   The clarity, focus and wholesomeness cannot be matched.  I encourage everyone to find their “OGP” moment – be it a hike, going to a park, nature preserve – it does wonders for anything that ales you. However, I would discourage bringing in any difficult relationships to this serene backdrop like the movie did.  My weekend had none of that, just a lot of peace, calmness and I loved it!!! So go hug a tree and take in all our earth has to offer and enjoy!!!   P.S. Thanks to Mike, Gilma and Isabella for sharing their piece of paradise.