I took some time away from everything to refrain and reflect, which did a great deal of good to my mind and soul. I must admit that I feel better, stronger and healthier than I have in many months.

Some call it my hibernation process. Frankly, I cannot think of a better term to describe this phase. No, I don’t move in to my backyard and hide in a burrow of sorts till winter passes by. Neither was I running away to hide from it all.

I would not refer to it as a ’stopping by to smell the flowers’ syndrome but I did do that quite a bit too.

Why would one hibernate when everything is going in the right direction? To look around, think and rest. We are not built to work like machines. Anyone who claims to be doing that knows that he or she is not too far from a nervous breakdown.

Follow up:

Respect your mind and soul for they are as much a part of you as your physical self. It helps one to think better and taking a break always refreshes the mind. I focused on other aspects of my life. I spent more time with my son who has begun counting up to 10! I was amazed at his ability to grasp something which only took a day to learn.

These milestones will live in my memories for ever. There is always something to take away from every phase of life.

Your soul needs to be cared for and loved. A regular schedule may feed your other needs but its the breaks in between that leaves your mind and soul thriving, preparing you for the journey ahead.

A trip to Bahamas may not be the ideal option, especially when you have time and money to consider. My hibernation period only took me as far as the end of the city limits (which really does not cover more than 20 kms).

I know that this post may look like a deja vu’ and I would not agree more on this fact because UToL is all about reaching out to your inner self and nothing can achieve this better than a peaceful and rejuvenating hibernation process.

What you do when you hibernate does matter. If you feel restless or bored…you are on the wrong track. Its best to plan your hibernation. Everything needs to be planned out and it won’t hurt to create your own checklist either.

Write a list of all that you need to think about. Issues that have been bothering you and those that have been long neglected need to be processed through the mammoth gray machine up there while you spend some quality time alone. Sometimes, its best to think of some issues when the heat has decreased. Trust me, its such moments that recreate bonds and dreams.

If some situations have caused tremendous pain,sorrow or anger and you did not have the opportunity to express or heal as yet - its the best to do so when you hibernate. Silent evenings staring into the sky or strolls in a peaceful environment can turn out to make you feel so much better.

Hibernation phases don’t have to run into days and weeks. At times, just a few hours would do. A friend of mine prefers to hibernate during his lunch breaks and at the gym. You can do it anytime but you have to remember the purpose behind it.

If you don’t feel better after hibernating, you were not really into it, heart soul and mind. I suppose you got the point,right?