Friendship: my nurturing break with my best friend

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

Anais Nin

This is one of my very best friends, Jo. She is my dancing, laughing, beautiful psychotherapist friend (oh, and my twin soul if you believe in that kind of stuff). I met her only five years ago and our journey of friendship has been magical. She has indeed revealed worlds within me that I did not know existed until our friendship began.

On Friendship

Kahlil Gibran

Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

I turned up at her fabulous rambling home in the Wiltshire countryside in need of some rest and rejuvenation. The gentleness of her being held me for three whole days. We chatted, drank lots of tea, cooked, took photographs, walked in the fields with the dogs – oh, we were almost chased by some pigs! We drank beautiful wines and sat by the roaring fire. We danced to the Black Eyed Peas, until we could dance no more! I had the most wonderful time. I left refreshed and rejuvenated. My cup was full to overflowing... sometimes we just need to get away from our busy little worlds and touch base with how we really feel. We talked and talked. I left centered and refreshed! A new chapter of my life is beginning to unfold, a new way of being is emerging...

Here are some photos from our little adventure...

The Magical Summer House

This is where we spent most of our time.

Jo’s summer house is her sanctuary. When I first met Jo, she was yearning for a space to be still and quiet. She needed to make time to get to know herself. She needed to cultivate some time away from the noise and the busy bee time of her beautiful family. (I guess it’s only when things are quiet that we can begin to hear the whispering of our inner world – the desires of our heart and soul)

The summer house is full of love, softness, inspiration and yes, sunshine!

I picked flowers from the garden and filled the summer house, we lit lots of candles. The atmosphere was so soothing. I felt completely at home in this place.

I spent hours taking photographs. I immersed myself in nature and creativity. This fuelled my sleepy soul.

I found myself playing with colour and light. Think fairy would love this photo!

Jo’s home is filled with beauty. I love this particular cook book and felt inspired by the print on the cover. We spent lots of time cooking. It was soooooo nourishing and such fun!

I cried when I watched this absolutely gorgeous little baby Polo pony walking behind its mummy for the first time ever. It was such a magical moment.