Binge-watching TV series while recovering from surgery was very good therapy in the end!
Crime thrillers like Breaking Bad, yes I know what Walter did was wrong, but one kind of understood why he did it, although it led to him becoming more BAD in the end; this show was very addictive!
Same with the 2019 docu-drama The Last Czars. Czar Nicholas disappointed with poor leadership, living in a bubble, ignoring sound advice, and being misled by others. The influence the mystic Rasputin had over Alexandra, due to his ability to improve the condition of their son Aleksey, the hemophiliac heir to the throne, also played a part in the fall of the Russian empire.
Anastasia
Many believed Anastasia survived and was taken to safety by one of the soldiers, which leads me to the woman who became known as Anna Anderson.
Was she a fake?
The Russian royal family was the wealthiest, so they, the other royals, stood to lose a fortune if they admitted she indeed was Anastasia.
When the family was kept in strict isolation at the Ipatiev House, which was called The House of Special Purpose, supposedly a safe house, Alexandra and her daughters sewed much of their precious jewelry inside their underwear for safekeeping, unknowingly making bulletproof garments. The family was shot, which proved difficult with these undergarments, so they were also bayoneted by the Bolshevik revolutionaries.
Peter Kurth did extensive research into Anna Anderson, with the help of experts.
If you're interested in history, enjoy and believe some conspiracy theories, read the book Anastasia The Life of Anna Anderson, by Peter Kurth, which is very convincing!
Those were just some of the series I really enjoyed; of course, foodie shows were on my menu, especially Million Pound Menu, and brilliant period dramas, like The Queen's Gambit.
After Life
Then I stumbled on a gem, the Ricky Gervais comedy-drama series After Life, which had me laughing out loud, followed by floods of tears, and nodding my head from time to time as I listened to the wise words of Anne, who Tony meets when he goes for his daily visit with Brandy his dog, to his wife's grave.
The one thing that stood out for me, was just one of the many pieces of wisdom Anne shared with Tony:
Stan had a wonderful life and I would rather live and miss him than him having to live missing me.
My sentiments exactly!
How did I miss this show when it first came out?
Likely too busy being busy!
The Gift of Life
My time of rest has come to an end, for now at least, as there is so much catching up to do with this gift of LIFE, something we should not waste!
However, I learnt some valuable lessons while sitting and doing nothing, and it is that I need to make time to do more nothing, more often.
'Niksen'
Which brings me to why the Netherlands is one of the world’s happiest countries. It very likely is because they have mastered the art of Niksen, translated it means 'doing Nothing', obviously not all of the time!
'Niksen' for sure puts an end to burnout, something many of us suffer from at some point in our lives.
Our Great-Grandparents
I believe our ancestors were very wise to simply sit and do nothing at the end of the day, or at any time of the day for those not in formal employment.
It was a time of reflection, to gather their thoughts, just sit together with a cup of coffee or tea, and talk about trivial or troublesome matters of the heart.
Or simply sit in silence, each with their own thoughts, listening to the sounds of life around them.
Our Special Time
When hubby was still here, early mornings were 'our time' of 'Niksen'; whoever woke up first would make the morning coffee, and we would chat or just sit in comfortable silence, a togetherness that now is just a memory, but something I will treasure forever.
Signs
I do not believe it is a coincidence that a friend sent me that link about the concept of 'niksen' after reading about what @galenkp was so excited to do this past weekend:
a relaxing weekend of doing as little as possible at home.
Fate sends us messages, through people, and this came from people who are poles apart.
I believe these are all signs that I need to start opening my mind to messages like this and listening to that inner voice!
Popup Salon at Lily's Cottage
However, my story does not end there
I did very little this weekend even though many ladies, were coming and going at Lily's Cottage this weekend. I was approached by the owner of Beauty Creations to use our BnB as their first Pop-Up Aesthetic & Acudetox Clinic. Her salon is in another province, but most of her family live nearby, so her booking had a dual purpose.
Her popup clinic was a great success, and a marketing opportunity for Lily's Cottage that charmed her clients.
Their families regularly come to Durban to attend functions like weddings which span over a couple of days. Those kinds of bookings are great as I get to meet nice people and see the most awesome colourful glittery outfits. They respect the cottage and are out most of the time, so really are low-maintenance guests who make my job of hosting a breeze. They often become returning guests and eventually become part of the Lily's Cottage family.
These stepping stones are part of my journey to healing and living life again, not to say there are times that I veer off the path, but I'm learning that life still is filled with special moments waiting to be discovered!
Graphic edited on Canva
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