18 Comments

That photo of early morning light is beautiful and took me back to one of my homes. Thank you for that. I'm sorry bits of this trip were hard and hope there's goodness ahead.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you Roxani and thank you for stopping by. I feel I should add I did love Greece and this island was super beautiful - you have a great country - even if it was a trip where I was sometimes sad. I am sad in my daily life true. I can’t expect travel or amazing views to remove that and sometimes, like in this trip, in shines a light on what isn’t quite working.

Expand full comment

Absolutely makes sense! And you don’t need to love Greece (I am Greek and often feel sad there on account of being there!). I completely get how travel cannot shift feelings that are with us in our daily lives, and it shining a light on what isn’t quite working is the perfect way to put it.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you. I guess transitions are not always easy to navigate. But we grow strong in leading how to journey through them.

Expand full comment
Oct 13Liked by Catriona Knapman

Sometimes, when we have the time to pay attention, that’s when we truly get in touch with those things we haven’t paid attention to enough, if that makes any sense.

Expand full comment
author

Yes it does. And completely agree. Although I felt a bit sad on this trip I do think those journeys back to self are helpful. That attention is worth finding again.

Thank you for stopping by.

Expand full comment

I once read somewhere that you take yourself with you wherever you go. I can’t remember who coined the phrase, but I find that I need to remind myself of this more often than I care to admit.

These are stunning photos Catriona. And I’m pleased you felt worthy of the beauty.

Expand full comment
Oct 16Liked by Catriona Knapman

This sounds like "wherever you go, there you are"? I'm not sure who coined the original phrase, but I read a book of the same name last year, by Jon Kabat-Zinn - in Greece of all places! I wrote a little about it here: https://laurenkatepowell.substack.com/p/meanderings-on-a-mythical-land 💙

Expand full comment
author

Ah maybe Greece has something about it that brings out these reflections. I will take a look at the reflections on your piece Lauren.

Expand full comment
Oct 19Liked by Catriona Knapman

Maybe it does!

Hope you enjoy 😊

Expand full comment
author

Yes I have heard that too Jo and found it to be too true - you do eventually catch up with yourself, no matter how far you travel. Glad you appreciated the photos - and yes to feeling worthy of beauty. :)

Expand full comment
Oct 14Liked by Catriona Knapman

So beautiful. All emotions can coexist, wherever we are, whenever we are. Difficulty and sadness can find us anywhere - but so can joy.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you Sascha - yes that is so true. They are all there together so often - it is strange how hard that can be to navigate but it so often the case.

Expand full comment
Oct 15Liked by Catriona Knapman

For me, it's the expectation of being alone. Sometimes I long for days where I don't have anyone making demands on me and on my time - can you give me a lift to the station? what's for supper tonight, just another human, even one I love dearly fillling my space. But today I have the house to myself and I feel slightly lost.

Expand full comment
author

Ah yes I relate Julie - I had a meditation teacher when I lived in Myanmar who made us start the session outside the temple - so we had to walk into the space together. He talked about how transitions are an important part of the meditation practice and your comment made me think of his words. As I feel I need to take time to transition - between places, between being alone/in company - to be able to appreciate each one.

Expand full comment
Oct 19Liked by Catriona Knapman

That’s interesting. If a group of people enter a space together, the energy is collectively set. If someone enters a space where a group of people are already, it changes the energy

Expand full comment
author

Oh I like that Julie - the power of the collective and the power of the individual.

Expand full comment

I have grown to appreciate how sadness can be a doorway at times, take us right into ourselves. And that line about beauty coaxing away our pretenses - how true! It can be hard when the land around us brings us right up against ourselves, but ultimately what a gift. Thank you for sharing this!

Expand full comment