I’m away this week.

I haven’t gone far.  Together with my dear friend Andy, I have gone to Oxon Hoath in Kent, where we will spend the week catching up (Andy lives in Sydney now, so there’s lots of catching up to do), doing gentle yoga practice, meditating, eating the wonderful food that will be prepared for us (hopefully by chef Paul Smith – he’s a favourite of mine), listening to talks by Alistair Shearer (another favourite of mine) and walking around the beautiful countryside that surrounds the house.

I won’t be checking my e-mails (OK, maybe enough to clear out any junk and catch anything urgent).

I won’t be taking any calls.

Probably, I won’t even be thinking of my clients.

I won’t be writing any blog postings (this one has been written in advance).

I won’t be looking at ‘to do’ lists, let alone adding anything to them or ticking anything off.

I won’t be sending any invoices or chasing for payment.

I won’t be paying my suppliers.

The list goes on and on…

It’s not, though, that these things don’t matter to me.  They matter a great deal.  Instead, it’s because I know that, if I am to be present to my clients and able to support them, I need also to take care of my needs for rest, nurture, companionship and more.  It’s because my needs are met and my heart is full that I am able to give so much to others.

I hope that you, too, are taking a break some time.