The cure to a Holiday Hangover

In the first 90 days of 2018, I have traversed more of the Eastern Coast of Australia than I have  the U.S. coasts combined. I'm the luckiest beazy alive, if not for the fact that I live in Sydney with a job and spot I love but because I've had no less than three visitors come to Oz: lifelong friends from LA days that range from childhood romps to collegiate escapades. 

I haven't written or drafted or shared with my humans (all twelve of you) for a few reasons: travel fatigue and a classic holiday hangover; logistical obstacles (such as leaving my laptop at home during most of my coastal adventures); most importantly, a strong desire to soak up the present moment and company of my far-away friends. I am dead-set, however, on forever-remembering each ounce of detail from these trips and discoveries. This will hopefully be made possible by my faithful journaling habit, iCloud shared Photo Streams, my kind friends below and their half of our memories, and written recollections of epic proportions (like that in my birthday card from Lys!).

A new romantic prospect (Source: Bumble for iOS) recently asked what I meant by a “holiday hangover.” I am currently enduring Week 3 of a short- to mid-term, treatable condition that consists of multiple familiar symptoms:

• Fatigue, both mental and physical, from traveling and appreciation for ones own bed. 
• Heartache and longing for the place you discovered, the friend(s) or lovers you accompanied you and the relaxation you felt. 
• Sadness or a certain type of “come-down” from the lack of adventure, company and togetherness that classify a “holiday.” 
• Post-sunburn tingle, peeling and possible bloating from too many decadent desserts, Tim Tams and indulgent best-of-destination meals 
• Abdominal pain from so much laughing and deep nostalgia for the memories made and former selves that your friend or visitor brought out in you during their visit. 

Recovery step 1: Reflection

A recent yoga practice spoke to the three layers of our spiritual self: the physical body, the energetic body and the emotional (or inner) body. First, the physical body is what we use and feel daily: our bones and muscles, our skin and exterior senses, pain and tightness and many sorts of pleasure. Second, the energetic body is that which sustains us, provides life: our heart beat and blood flow, our energy and oxygen, the electricity that flows to our fingertips igniting movement and ability. Finally, our emotional self contains the parts we feel only inside: heartache, sadness, joy, relaxation. 

These first three months of 2018 have been rich with not only visitors but abundant expeditions and luxuries within, including but not limited to epic views, delicious delicacies, adventurous lodging and discoveries that awe-inspired me. Each of my three layers of self were tried, tested and stretched to new degrees. I fell in love with no less than four new towns and regions and reunited with three lifelong friends in my new reality: Sydney life! Before I reflect on their countless stories, I thought I’d analyse how they’ve left me feeling.
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1. Grateful. Current technology and the fortunate means to travel intercontinentally brought my old friends and former lives: from NP and LA and DC all the way to Aus. 
2. Inspired! Each colleague and confidante (not to mention all those who still have yet to visit me) are doing their own amazing things, growing in their careers and making mature life pivots on the other side of the world
3. Supported: not a single friend nor family member has imbued guilt or shame on me for leaving home and choosing to be far apart (in physical distance) from them. Any such worries are of my own insecure making. I can’t thank you all enough.
4. Reminded. Being with friends with whom I shared middle school, high school, college days and adult memories — I was reassured of the values I’ve formed and maintained across oceans, throughout career moves and despite changes in our experience. I can’t help but feel CERTAIN of the need for family, loyal friends, adventure, new perspectives in my life at all times. As well as a little indulgence! Thanks A, S and J for feeling the same.

Recovery step 2: Recollection
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​Reading through my first journal (which spanned the six months of Oz) and current one has been cathartic, perspective-granting and unexpectedly beautiful. My emotions and musings have varied SO widely since my arrival on the evening of August 6th in AEST. The tiniest interactions, some of which have now faded from immediate memory, comprised each brick of the foundation for my imminent assimilation and coming-of-age as a Sydney-sider. Every cafe I tried or window display I passed contained some kind of symbolic reassurance that I was in the right place; signs from the Universe were bountiful if only because I had wide eyes for them. Still do.

Now, I'll tell the story of my explorations across a new land. I'll leave no stone nor palm frond nor seashell unturned. I'll reminisce, re-read journal entries and reach to recall jam-packed days and blurry nights. Most importantly, I'll share that not each leg of this journey or sticky week in Sydney has been flawless nor easy. Though Facebook and Instagram say otherwise, there's an abundance of unspoken (or un-posted, rather) feels, including but not limited to: loneliness, homesickness, stress and anguish, and even guilt and shame for getting lost. In this context, "lost" could mean feeling lost metaphorically, getting temporarily lost within 1k of my flat, and leading friends down the wrong path quite literally until you find yourself hailing a taxi and searching in desperation for a rural motel with a vacancy within the hour.

What do I mean, you ask? Stay tuned, as this might get juicy. 

xoxo,

A broad down under