Refocus

I had my first exams week and felt a miserable heaviness after it. The only comfort I can find is the fact that everyone else I know seemed to have felt the same way -- though in hindsight I'm not sure if that's really a comfort after all. 

Feeling dejected I wandered around the city a bit when a brainwave struck. I kept thinking about how miserable I felt and how horrid the exam was and I realised that not only was this the most trivial heartache I have had since I left my job, I had completely forgotten what I was here for. This was supposed to be an indulgent respite from the horrors of working life back home, and a time for me to refocus, re-energise and re-train. 

I had grown only a little unhappy over the past few years and wanted to get my feet back on the right path and finally here is my chance to do it. I should be rejoicing not whinging about things, and it's high time I remind myself of the whole point of coming here in the first place.

So the exam was a brutal jolt for me to start making serious strides. That lesson is well and truly learnt. The next thing to do is to keep the spirit and body up, and with that in mind I've joined Laguna, a health and wellness spa in the city that caters to the better heeled set -- this might not be me, necessarily, but I am trying to make a meaningful change here. I closed my eyes shut and with trembling hands, swiped my credit card. 

Several times too because I'd only come to Cardiff with the bare minimum of gym essentials. I didn't have a swim suit for example (Laguna has a massive indoor heated swimming pool) or any kind of yoga apparel. Tomorrow will be my first Ashtanga Yoga class. I've heard good things about the instructor and about the technique so I am having high hopes. 

Meanwhile, I have in my haste, acquired many books to read. Admittedly I am a slow reader but this will not deter my hopes one bit. Among others, I just bought Bill Clinton's newest book, Back to Work, so that I might understand why exactly it is that the American political economy is the way it is (a favourite subject of mine) and maybe see what the old man might have to say about trying to pull themselves out of the mud, so to speak. This should be interesting. And at 208 pages, it's not too much of a monstrosity to overcome. 

In a week's time, I will be off on another adventure, this time in Europe with my favourite traveler of them all :-) I will update again just before leaving and of course post a write up on the entire trip when I get back. Til then, good night and have an excellent weekend, everyone.