3 - Oasis of Calm

Sometimes things go smoothly and sometimes they don't. We when they do, all is fine and dandy and you feel you can take on the world and win. Or, perhaps more accurately, that you don't need to take on the world because the world is standing shoulder-to-shoulder and hand-in-hand with you. And then suddenly it all goes "gloop" again and you can feel burdened, isolated and alone.

When it all gets too much, what do you do?

I've been rushing around trying to get lot of things in place just lately. Things in place, crowding in on my space. I love to be with people - and I love to have a feeling of wide open space around me. Some people are always time-tabled to the hilt. No gaps, no windows, no spaces.

Me I feel a need to build in contingency and space around events. It creates balance for me. Buzzy time and hazy, lazy fuzzy time. Just space to be quiet and still for a while. Time, in this world where we are always being urged to be proactive, to be 'in action' to just stop and luxuriate in being passive for a while.

The other day I stepped into a café. I wasn't going to as I was intending to be frugal with that extra cash I had come by - and was also going to rush to catch a train before the 'rush hour' started. But the café called to me. I'd seen it but never been in there before. It's a beautiful looking café and, a bit like Dr Who's Tardis, bigger on the inside than it could possibly seem from it's shop-front.

It's painted in restful hues of blues and soft greens, and lit up by a plethora of glistening mirrors and chandeliers. I had a cappuccino and a slice of custard flan. The "cap" was divine and the flan served on a gorgeous pink plate that perfectly offset the blues and the eclectic colour mix of the upholstery. In the background there was music - a calming lullaby of smooth comforting jazz.

Outside it was getting dark and it was raining. It was a cold and filthy eve. But inside for a while I had found my oasis. It nursed me through my anxious troubles. Even if only for a while. It brought back a smile to my face and reminded and gave me my much needed comforting space. It's called Chandelier ... (in Lordship Lane, East Dulwich)

• When you need an oasis, where do you go to? 
  
• What and where do you turn to? 
  
• Do you allow yourself an oasis at all?
  
• If not, next time - will you????
  
• If not, what does it cost you to not allow yourself to?
  
• What will it take for you to give yourself permission to?
  
• What's the treasure that will make it worthwhile?
  

Oasis ahoy!

© Annie Wigman