This summer I found it really hard to disconnect; I was quite worked up and it took me nearly two weeks. It’s hard not to feel bad for not doing anything when you are used to taking on lots of responsibilities. It’s as if you don’t deserve it and the feeling of wasting time by “not doing anything” overwhelms you. As if just being and existing was not enough.
I discovered the authentic Ibiza, far from the eccentricities and excesses for which it has become so well known. The north of the island is a much more virgin land, with crystal clear water, landscapes that invite you to adore nature, and authentic people. I connected more than ever with our marvellous Mediterranean, alongside my family and friends, appreciating how fortunate we are of calling the Mediterranean our homeland. I love seeing my daughters grow at the same time as their curiosity for the world around them does, and I never tire of telling them how to look after the Earth (I’m one of those people who picks up rubbish on the beach and tries to carry the shopping home in reusable bags).
I enjoy shared interests with my daughters and I rediscover them through their eyes. They love the water as much as I do, —although Maria’s first swim in the open sea was terrible and at the moment she is happier on the sand—, and they manage to transport me back to my childhood with endless time spent in the water, swimming in our nude, laughing while we jump in the waves and practise water sports together. In short, family moments and memories that make holidays even better.
In true holiday manner we shelved our usual routine for a few weeks and embraced the island rhythm and anarchy. I won’t lie to you, I am dreading this moment of returning to my daughters’ habits; they are wild and undoubtedly enjoyed this freedom the most. We avoided set schedules; ice-creams and desserts became a regular in our daily menu, and watching cartoons was a more than recurrent request (which we answered). Of course holidays are an ideal time of the year to abandon the rules and enjoy the things you most like. That is why I felt it was important to explain to my daughter Manuela that this anarchy is temporary, in the hope that in this way the return to school and to set timetables would not be as abrupt.
Now, in September, and with the academic year underway, the routine has become established again and with it come old and new habits for the whole family. Adapting to Manuela’s school timetable has made us get our act together, and that means getting up at 6.45 am and having dinner at 7pm. We have only been doing this for 8 days, but I am already enjoying it. It feels wonderful to introduce European eating times into our home, and to start my day early with my little one already in school, because it gives me back an opportunity to establish my yoga routine first thing, which is what I most love, and to go to work with that fantastic feeling of having done my homework already.
I will always love going back to that summer island mode (who doesn’t?), but I was looking forward to going back to work, to my projects that fill me with energy and keep my curiosity alive, and to continuing to share a way of life with all of you.
I hope you enjoyed the holidays too and that you have recharged your batteries for this new beginning. Let’s get to it!
V.