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Danielle Hatfield

5 Tips to Taking a Healing Holiday

August 13, 2013 By Danielle Hatfield 7 Comments

13 Aug
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photo by Brandon Pierce

photo by Brandon Pierce

After seeing this photo, sent to me by my dear husband, I can’t help but think of a quote from Liz Strauss aka (@lizstrauss) ::

“No matter the stress, the unkindness, the joy, the boredom, the hurry — one look at the sky and life again has perspective and meaning.”

It’s been a while since I last wrote.

We lost a very dear family member recently and since then, getting back into the same routine was NOT what would make me feel better. It’s hard to be helpful or chipper when all you feel like doing is pulling the covers over your head.

Grieving Offline In An Online World is not easy. I’ve been more vocal about this most recent loss because I feel we need to have a larger conversation about how we all deal with death in the digital age.

As a girlfriend told me over lunch one day . . . I needed a healing holiday. I had never thought about it, but she was right.

I needed a change, a break . . . time to heal.

Over the past few years, as a family, we’ve dealt with the very real sadness of illness and death. I’ve tried not to feel guilty for not writing blog posts regularly, keeping up my normal 4:30am until 6ish work days, being as active online or receiving or making social calls during this time of sorrow. My husband reassured me that taking time off to just be with family and convalescing was natural and I love him for that.

Grief makes you measure your life more carefully.

“We all want to do something to mitigate the pain of loss or to turn grief into something positive, to find a silver lining in the clouds. But I believe there is real value in just standing there, being still, being sad.”
― John Green

Regardless if you have had a loss, breakup, move,  job loss, divorce or anything else that makes you measure your life more carefully, it’s important to take a ‘Healing Holiday’ and discover what you are most grateful for . . . I hope these 5 tips help.

  1. I made myself a promise to say thank you more often and in any way I can.  Two simple words we don’t use enough.
  2. Say it with me >> No. << It’s okay to decline respectfully without explanation.
  3. Take some ‘tech free’ time off. Unplug. Turn your phone off. Go for a bike ride or a walk . . . whatever gives your mind time to rest from the constant bombardment of information we process on an average day.
  4. Let it out. Write it down, talk to a friend, scream in the woods if you have to. (be sure to wear a bright orange vest!) What ever you’re healing from, I came to realize that the WHOLE experience has the capability of transforming us in magnificent ways.
  5. Pamper yourself. I don’t care if it’s an afternoon, a day, a week, a month, or simply lunch alone with a new book. Give yourself permission to enjoy something that recharges you, no matter how small.

What tips would you offer someone embarking on their healing holiday?

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Filed Under: Motivational Tagged With: grieving offline in an online world, Social Media Free Weekends, Tech Free, your digital afterlife

About Danielle Hatfield

Owner/Chief Dirt Digger at Experience Farm - DIYs, recipes and sharing my 2 cents on social media

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I love to share recipes, DIYs, and my two cents on social media.

I am also proud to be the Chief Dirt Digger at Experience Farm where I have worked with my partner and husband Brandon Pierce since 2009.

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daniellehatfield

I love #DIYs, #recipes, and sharing my 2 cents on social media.

My next #FurnitureRestoration project! 😍 My de My next #FurnitureRestoration project! 😍

My dear @thebrandonpierce found it at the local #HabitatReStore and it’s a near match for a desk he inherited that once belonged to his great grandfather. 

I have BIG plans for this beauty!

It will become home to my new @singersewingcompany heavy duty sewing machine and all of my sewing notions. 

This means I can *finally* begin sewing curtains, cushions, and tackle a few other upholstery/restoration projects. 🤗
#HomemadePastaSauce > store-bought #PastaSauce. #HomemadePastaSauce > store-bought #PastaSauce.
Practicing #WorkLifeBalance with some quality time Practicing #WorkLifeBalance with some quality time outside this morning. 

With temperatures in the mid 60s and a cool breeze ahead of the thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow - it is the *perfect* weather to show our #GardenLove.

This #Iris is one of many transplant successes … I moved it a few years ago and it is nearly waist high! 

Is our #CottageGarden picture perfect? No. 

But slowly, with patience and hard work, it’s more lush and colorful… I dare say it’s well on its way to resembling #BeatrixPotter’s beloved garden. 

Now, about those children’s books I’ve been meaning to write and illustrate…🤔
A #watercolorportrait I painted of #ElvisPresley l A #watercolorportrait I painted of #ElvisPresley last year. 

I didn’t share this #watercolorpainting before because I thought it was mediocre at best. I still feel that way - but that’s okay. 

#WatercolorPractice never makes perfect…it makes improvement. 

I’ll probably paint another portrait of him this year to see if I’ve improved my fabric, skin, and hair painting skills. 

I’m thinking maybe the next painting will be a still from his 1968 One Night With You special...or of him in uniform from WWII. 🤔

Do you have a favorite memorable photo/video of #Elvis?
I’ve been encouraging the #dandelions. I’m I’ve been encouraging  the #dandelions. 

I’m harvesting leaves for sandwiches/salads and transplanting volunteers into pots in our small #CottageGarden.

Some see a weed - I see Clara’s #DepressionEra salad and #DandelionRoot tea. 😍
@thebrandonpierce surprised me with the sweetest # @thebrandonpierce surprised me with the sweetest #springflowers from our #cottagegarden. 😍
#SpringFlowers found on our walk tonight. 😍#Wha #SpringFlowers found on our walk tonight. 😍#WhatIsThisPlant?
My dear @thebrandonpierce keeps the birthday month My dear @thebrandonpierce keeps the birthday month surprises coming with TWO books by @jamesgurneyart! 😍

If you need me, I’ll be sipping coffee and getting lost in a wealth of #ArtInspiration.
#PracticeMakesProgress 🙌🏻 The first #waterc #PracticeMakesProgress 🙌🏻

The first #watercolor #painting (on the left) I finished last year. Good, but a bit dull. 

After receiving all of my new #artsupplies this month (thank you @thebrandonpierce 😘) I *HAD* to paint it again… isn’t she a beauty?! (on the right)

I’m slowly working to improve mixing skin tones, painting eyes that have a bit more depth, and a fabric that doesn’t look splotchy…

This #watercolorpractice is inspired by the February 1927 #PictoralReview #CoverArt by  #illustrationArtist #EarlChristy. 

#WatercolorPaint & #Paintbrushes: #KingArtCompany 

#WatercolorPaper: #cansonpaper 140lb cold press
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