Chapter 3 in the Happiness Saga

    Contentment is the name of the game.

 

When viewing photos of happy holidays and smiling faces you can get a very skewed idea of what was happening behind the scenes. That isn't to say, that we didn't have a lovely holiday but it was not without its hiccups. It was wonderful to experience so many happy moments; celebrating a romantic relationship becoming an engagement, the continuation of a long friendship and the deepening of family relationships that can only come after staying in close company for a length of time.  

In my experience, there is no such thing as paradise or a perfect holiday. There are always hiccups... so please, when viewing photos on facebook/instagram etc remember not all is as it seems.

Contentment

My personal, recent hiccups were rubbish rental car, new strain of hungry mosquitoes, first world problems with lots of changes in favourite restaurants, wifi, drains, air-conditioning and eventually ongoing ageing knee issues. None of these can spoil a happy holiday however experiencing happiness usually involves other people but contentment is an up close and personal feeling. It comes with understanding how to access inner strength, change thought processes and appreciate every experience even if it is uncomfortable. So let me talk a little about uncomfortable. 

During the first five days, when I was on my own, the mossies were thoroughly enjoying my blood. Two punctures on either side of a finger later, I have an infected finger and a visit to the pharmacy. These 'zanzare' are voracious and are seemingly a new strain that are benefitting from global warming. Who knew... not us. So cultivating contentment meant accepting the 'punture' and being open to any means available to stop the mossies and learning  how to relieve the symptoms. The usual combo of applied practical thinking and action led to contented resolution and I am here to tell the tale.  Or rather write the chapter.

A visit to my favourite city of Siena offered some more challenges. Firstly my initial car had been upgraded so although the means of transport had improved, the travel arrangements were still to be agreed on. There was no straight road from Castagneto Carducci to Siena. The choice was either down the coast and across the hills or up the coast and across the hills. Either route could take 2 hours! We decided to go with down and across in the morning with me driving and Kenneth to drive home across to the hills and down the coast.  Maggie, Mark, Kenneth, Natalie and myself were looking forward to ambling around Siena's historic streets and finding hidden architecture treasures, including Il Duomo. Siena is an amazing city and requires quite a lot of stamina to wind your way around the maze of streets and narrow passages. 

My favourite city is built on a very big rock foundation and walking the streets were challenging to my knees. It wasn't just Il Duomo that was a surprise that day, it was discovering that my knee joints weren't up to the gradients. We had a very enjoyable day exploring but it still took me a while for my knees to find contentment. The discomfort I felt led me to the decision that when I return to Siena, it will be by train and I will be staying in a hotel in the city centre. Sorted.

I mentioned that there were changes in some of our favourite restaurants. We were sad for the establishments that were gone but it meant that we had to go looking for new venues to taste and try... 

lunch al fresco

Dinner at Rosignano Solvay

This dinner was a lucky find as plans had gone askew that evening. Maggie, Mark and I were aiming to meet up with Natalie and Kenneth, further up the coast at Castiglioncello. Lots of missed calls, chosen restaurant closed and unfamiliar roads to contend with, eventually led us to one of the most convivial moments of the holiday. It was a happy happenchance that led us there.

Contentment comes in different guises. Sometimes it comes after a day well spent. Sometimes it is just present in a quiet moment of reflection. Other times it comes after a struggle or a challenge. However or whenever it appears, it is worth welcoming and it is definitely worth cultivating the ability to feel content as your "go to" emotion of choice. Cheers.

Buona notte