I hear Jon Bon Jovi singing ‘Thank you for loving me’ while I’m in the shower, shaving my legs and clipping my toenails. I actually get a bit of a lump in my throat; I’m about to head out for a week, and I suspect Bert is having a bit of an emotional moment about my departure.
“The perfect painting music,” Bert says, as he gives some shutters a fresh coat of lavender.
“No, I was listening to a story about Jon Bon Jovi’s guitarist, who was solo once and discovered Jon while he was working as a concierge in the studio.”
And so, we both have our ways of keeping busy. While I’m getting ready to take my first steps on the Camino de Santiago—but quickly squeezing in a recording for a ‘breast massage meditation’ for my online program ‘The Eros Sanctuary’—Bert is diving from one musical rabbit hole into the next. After that, he’ll curl up on the couch with Jules to watch ‘The Mission.’ Now that I’m almost out the door, the volume can go back to being sky-high. Well, to me at least; they think it’s whisper-quiet and that I’m just oversensitive.
The past few months have been incredibly exciting but also intense, which left far too little time for writing. Yesterday, my first cookbook went off to layout. My first program focusing on female sensuality is officially online. I led a Mary Magdalene retreat. And the new guiding season for the Sainte Baume has kicked off again. On top of that, you’d almost forget I still have a day job here in the South, and I’m already prepping for summer with all kinds of fun dinners in unique locations. Never a dull moment.
This Camino really comes at the perfect time. Just before the summer rush takes over again, I’ll be hiking through nature with my sister—on an adventure. And since my next birthday will be the big 5-0, I really think: 50 is definitely the new 30!
Now that menopause is causing less “noise” than, say, two years ago—brain fog notwithstanding—and the kids need me less (or at least differently), despite their own occasionally rocky journeys through life, it feels like a new life is beginning.
With a brain and a body full of swarming ideas, it’s almost like I’ve started giving birth all over again. With renewed energy—provided I get to bed on time and take the occasional siesta. With a sense of freedom, that ‘nothing is mandatory, everything is possible’ vibe, as long as I don’t lose sight of my family entirely. But it also comes with so much more sensitivity, feelers, and emotions. Yet, there’s nothing quite as wonderful as letting the tears flow to Jon’s ‘Always’ while I strap my yoga mat onto my backpack.
Buen Camino!
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