Rejuvenation Lounge

Have You Ever Had Thoughts Of Running Away From Home?

Posted by Healthy Living on Friday, May 9th, 2008

By Carole Fogarty,

Journaling is a valuable ritual that reveals clarity and gives a voice to any odd feelings you may have inside of you. Grab a pen now. A note from me yesterday over at Twitter

Getting Clear: A Regular Feature:

Life can be hectic busy, rushed and then rushed some more. At times, many of us I’m sure, wish we could simply run away from our daily routine and grab some much needed breathing and thinking space.

After my recent, very intense, five days spent supporting a dear friend in a rehabilitation centre I now have the urge to run away from home. Not forever of course, just for a while. I have an intuitive hunch that I need to regroup. I’ve done it before … twice. I simply believe a strong intuitive calling must never go ignored. Perhaps Santorini is calling me. Please, please, let it be Santorini.

BillandCathys Santorini Island

Running Away Is Much More Than A Holiday:

Running away (for me) means taking my boys and myself off to live in a totally foreign country, where everything is different; the view, the people; the language; the daily rituals.

I’ve enjoyed running away before by heading off to Bali for at least one to three months at a time. We blissfully live in a small village enjoying the delights of simple living and immersing ourselves in the local activities and culture. No trimmings like a TV or five star hotels. Eat locally, walk locally and enjoy locally.

Travel Memoirs Can Help You Find Your Groove:

To satisfy my strong “run away from home” intuitive urge, I am throwing myself into travel memoirs. It’s the first sensible thing one must do, explore destinations of course.

I have just finished reading Mary Moody’s book Last Tango in Toulouse this past weekend. Mary decided to run away from home at age 50 to live in a small, very rural town in France, leaving behind her husband, TV career and grown family.

She bought a cottage absorbed herself in local life and shares her adventures in France in a three part trilogy; Au Revoir - running away from home at 50; Last Tango in Toulouse - her affair and Long Hot Summer.

If you are feeling restless inside, and don’t know why, then Mary Moody’s books are fabulous.

Travel Memoirs To Inspire You:

Travel memoirs I’ve read before:

Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden Gelman Rita was a middle aged woman going through divorce, and simply up and left her rather glamorous lifestyle behind. She just knew, deep within her, that there was meant to be more to her life. She has now been traveling the world for 15 years. A very honest and open account of one womans journey to discover who she really is.

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert My favourite book for 2007. What can I say, this book will change your life.

Travel memoirs bedside my bed, right now:

When in Rome: Chasing La Dolce Vita by Penelope Green

Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris by Sarah Turnbull

The Long Hot Summer by Mary Moody:

Travel memoirs on order from our library:

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald

Have you ever run away from home or are you planning too?

Is there anyone out there in the world today that wants to run away? Where would you go, or have you already been? Suggestions, inspiration and all wacky ideas welcome.

Under the Tuscan Sun:

If you are really, really, really feeling restless then watch this very short clip from Under the Tuscan Sun.

Peace, love and travel to you all, Carole.

Run away and join me in Bali for 5 days on my annual Womens Rejuvenation Retreat:

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Filed in Bali Retreat, Getting clear: A regular feature:, Healthy Soul, Book reviews |

6 Responses to “Have You Ever Had Thoughts Of Running Away From Home?”

Suzie Cheelon 09 May 2008 at 2:34 pm 1

I just love it and Santorini, after Bali my post favorite place in the world. Both very spiritual and I now realise my attachment to each, although i may not have been aware of that when I first went there back in the 70’s.

Are you going to have house guests?.I know when we moved here that was running away from home.

So is it Santorini here Carole comes? keep listening to that intuition and asking the angels.

namaste

Suzie
Megan from Imaginifon 11 May 2008 at 8:41 am 2

Hey Carole
I have run home (aka, run away) many times (my running away always turned out to be so right that the grass really was greener on the other side)- By being stuck here, I have lived an “away from home” existence too many times - working jobs I didn’t love and hanging with people I didn’t need to hang with. When I have run away, I always discovered that where I ran to was my home. I have the proverbial Gypsy blood and I could easily have lived my life going from country to country. But, responsibility, familial expectations and stability called…..is it any wonder I am twice divorced: staying put was the hardest thing I ever did!

I am now home. I am in love, I am happy, I love my job and I am surrounded by that which feeds my soul. I have remarried and given myself for life and service. I miss travel but I have chosen to buy here and stay home. I have found home in me.

Like you and Suzi, I LOVE Bali but I cannot tolerate what the Indonesians do to some people (my son in law is Timorese). Even though I made a conscious decision to not return to Bali, I miss it, and her people, so very much.

The Seychelles is next in sight for me….if I can tear myself away from loving being at home

Go Carole - we will keep up with your life via your blog.
Dianeon 13 May 2008 at 6:55 am 3

Oh My Gosh Carole!
I couldn’t run fast enough, from my email notice of your blog, to here where I could reply in a loud, emphatic, passionate “Yes, yes, yes!” Because inside this blonde with a swiss background settled in Boise, Idaho, lives a red-blooded gypsy like Megan! And it’s not to say I haven’t had wonderful opportunities for I have lived in several states and overseas in London and Melbourne. My oldest daughter lived in the south of France for a year and I stayed with her for several magical weeks. But it just fuels my desire to go, go, go. The funny thing is I would go to you - back to Melbourne - to those Aussies I miss terribly. And then back to France and oh, yes, I do want to try Bali and Santorini and the Seychelles! But I sit here, dreaming and scheming. That is one of many traits I tell people I love about the Australians - they understand the importance and the wisdom in seeing all of the wide world and the gifts it has to offer us. So tell me, how do I do it? How do I manifest the travel experiences I so desperately want in my life? My hat is off to all of you!
Healthy Livingon 13 May 2008 at 11:23 am 4

Perhaps I too, have the gypsy blood. My father sent me to Japan as an exchange student when I was 17 and I have loved travel ever since.

Travel simply fuels my soul, expands my spirit and allows me to experience different parts of myself that I knew existed.

Thanks so much Suzie, Megan and Diane for your very passionate responses.

Travel I believe is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.

Peace, love and travel

Carole
Eco-mamaon 19 May 2008 at 8:27 pm 5

I love the pic you posted for this topic - Santorini. My husband and I had our honeymoon there and it was just unforgettable. The Greeks are such friendly people. I would love to go back.

On the topic of running away, well, as a teenager yes indeed I thought of running away, and now not anymore. I actually run back home everyday after work to see my beloved 14 month old.

Thanks for sharing.

Eco-mama
http://ecopolitan-living.blogspot.com
Johon 25 May 2008 at 10:43 am 6

I have to stick to reading about it for a little while longer, but it’s comforting to know others have this same restlessness that I feel I consistantly feel.