I watched Out of Africa, my favourite film of all time, again a few weeks ago. The film follows Danish writer Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) to her farm in Africa in the early 1900s, where she falls for the free-spirited hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford). Denys comes and goes from her farm to go on safari, sometimes leaving without much notice and returning equally unexpectedly.
In one scene, she confronts him about his unwillingness to commit to her, valuing his freedom over her desire for consistent companionship. She says to him: “When you go away… you don’t always go on safari, do you? Just want to be away.” He replies that it’s not meant to hurt her, but that he doesn’t want to live someone else’s idea of how to live.
For reasons not explored in the movie, Denys values time away, not only from her, but perhaps time to himself (and perhaps in an unhealthy way). However, we all need time to ourselves. It is essential for our well-being. Modern wellness thinking links time to ourselves with yoga retreats or fishing in deserted spots. Getting away from it all. From our frenetic normality. Sometimes I do the same when I stop writing my blogs.
I go on hiking trips, retreat to the mountains or visit our remote family farm.
My regular blog readers often ask me where I’ve been when I stop writing for a while. The truth is, like Denys, I don’t always go away when I stop writing. I just retreat to myself. Sometimes just gather my thoughts.
This time, after an exceptionally busy time at work, I needed a break. Although I needed time to rest, I also needed to work on long-overdue personal administration. My personal insurance, banking administration, medical check-ups and property maintenance had been outstanding items on my to-do list for too long. They were causing me stress. I needed to get them off my to-do list.
Getting stuff done can be one of the best forms of self-care. Somehow, we often let work and earning overshadow our lives. To encroach on every other aspect of a healthy life. And we neglect maintaining the life we’re trying to fund. The mundane but important things, like checking our tax returns, home insurance, valuation certificates, and banking fees; updating the will; or replacing that light bulb above the stairs that’s been out for months.
These are the things that cost us in the long run. In taxes, fees and penalties, or even a nasty fall on the dark stairs on the way into the house. And they cost us stress. They certainly cost me.
I didn’t go on safari. I changed the light bulb, sorted out my insurance and came back lighter, ready to write again.
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Kind regards,
Sunél
