Life before…
My life was consumed with working hard and long hours to earn money for a few weeks a year of international travel. We went to many fabulous and breathtaking places around the world including Hawaii, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Australia, various US states and parts of Italy. I also travelled to Peru and Bolivia for 31 days as a mix of holiday and unpaid leave (Follow links to see photo highlights). And so I thought my blog was turning into a travel blog…
The breakdown…
At the end of 2016 I started to burnout and lose control of my mind, I wasn’t coping at work despite (or perhaps because I was) working almost every waking hour and not making enough progress to satisfy my own high standards. By early 2017 I was a jibbering wreck, unable to stop crying all the time and was eventually signed off with anxiety and depression. When my sick pay ran out I couldn’t face returning to work, stressed at the thought and afraid that my resilience was too weak and I would return to old habits of working every hour and so I requested a 12 month sabbatical (unpaid leave). So I am due to return in September, unless I resign.
My new life…
Whilst off work I have started doing more craft type things, I have wet felted a hat and a handbag learned how to knit, made some sea glass jewellery, bought a spinning wheel and I’m now learning how to spin. We bought a tent last autumn and instead of international travel we have been exploring the North of Scotland and some of its many Isles either with the tent or renting small cottages.
I have been blown away by the scenery that we have seen…and with my calmer mindset I can actually be present and fully enjoy being in the moment and after walking 20k steps enjoy an evening sitting in our tent with my husband and dog and knitting another hitchhiker scarf! Scotland has white sandy beaches and turquoise water, okay you need to wear layers, not a bikini…but then you often get a beach to yourselves!
As for my future…we shall see!
October 2017
March 2018
June 2018
HighlandHeffalump 
Good for you. Glad you are finding calm.
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Thank you 😊
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Oh my those views are spectacular! Good for you taking control of your life and needs and putting your mental health at the forefront.
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Thanks 😀
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Oh my word, what lovely photos!! It’s so gorgeous!! It sounds like a break was much needed to refocus on what’s important. All the traveling would be so very fun, but if you’re sad and uncontrollable all the rest of the time…😕 glad to hear you are doing better than you were!!
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Inconsolable not uncontrollable😉
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Thanks Abbey 😀. Life is definitely happier now.
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Wow!! Beautiful!!
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My husband’s grandfather came from way up north in Scotland – from Dunnethead I guess. My own family came from the far southwest part of Scotland. It seems like a lovely country. I often wonder why they left. Maybe it was an adventure.
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Scotland is so beautiful. I don’t think I would ever move back to England. I would love a mountain view and beach I could walk to from the house. We were down in the Southwest of Scotland a few years ago and my husband’s dad was from that area. I’m yet to find a bit of Scotland coast I haven’t liked.
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