Beyond IBD: transcending chronic illness

Image by rick

If you want to work well, you need to take time for play, rest and relaxation. So if the daily grind is getting you down I can recommend an excellent medication-free treatment… a good pampering!

To be classed as a good pampering, you need three things:

1. Indulge and excite the senses

It must offer something out of the ordinary for your taste, touch, smell, sound or sight - if it indulges more than one all the better!

2. Bring about a quietness of mind

You may be contemplating the experience, hardly thinking anything at all, or calmly considering what has been happening in your life recently. In any case your mind is quietly in the moment, it is not distracted or excited by some external frenetic activity.

3. Generally go it alone

This is related to the previous point. Of course there may be other people around, but generally achieving quietness of mind requires personal solitude - no talking or distractions from friends.

Here are some of my favourite pamper suggestions:

• Oh la la! Visit a day spa for massage and/or beauty treatment.
• Best kept secret… Select some delicious home treatment products (body scrub or lotion, pedicures, facial - there are so many to choose from now!) and dedicate two hours to a slow personal pampering.

• Oh la la! Treat yourself to high tea at the finest tea house you can find.
• Best kept secret… Select a fine tea from a specialty store and enjoy creating your very own tea ritual - with a slice of sweet cake.

• Oh la la! Visit a forest or natural sanctuary - stay overnight and wake with the birds.
• Best kept secret… Find a shady spot in your local park and laze away the afternoon.

• Oh la la! Set out for a day drive with no destination - get lost and enjoy the journey!
• Best kept secret… Jump on your local train, ferry or bus and see where it takes you.

Keep it slow!

And remember that none of these can be hurried - set aside the whole day and let everything else fade into the background.

Share your favourite pampering tips in the comments

Rebecca

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