Getting away with a mission
I’ve just spent a month in The Algarve, Portugal. And I must say that my whole being is resisting the return to cold, snow and dreary November grey skies!
I could go on and on about my experience in this retirement haven of Europe. But suffice it to say that my time away certainly has profoundly impacted my vision of what I want for my future. I actually started to get fit while I was away. I had never noticed before how strong a link there is for me between ‘the right conditions’ and getting my body in motion. The Algarve is hilly so you are seldom walking on flat ground. Even a casual stroll adds an element of cardio workout to it because you are constantly moving up or down, often in very long, slow grades that don’t seem like a lot of effort but that let you know after 15 or 20 minutes that you’ve been getting a little extra workout. The dry, warm weather and cool breezes proved to be another big incentive for me. Ottawa tends to get very hot and humid in summer which I find as much a disincentive to outdoor exercise as are our cold, damp winters.
Being in Portugal to lead retreats was also a wonderful experience. I went a week early to familiarize myself with the countryside, scout out good restaurants and sights for folks to visit. Knowing that I was there for a purpose beyond my own enjoyment added a definite dynamic to my experience. It helped to confirm for me that the later years of life become all the sweeter when we create a purpose beyond our own enjoyment as a central theme to our lives.
In my next few postings I’ll share you with some experiences I had with various people I met on this trip and I’ll include a few extra photos so that you can have a sense of the beauty of the place. But for today, it feels good to share my re-discovery of exercise …and my confirmation of the importance of purpose in people’s lives.
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