Cyprus

The first few days of this journey were spent in beautiful Paphos Cyprus.  Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea – the third largest and third most populated.  Paphos is located on the Southwest side of the island and has strong Greek roots.

I stayed with the most thoughtful and amazing hosts, Angelika and Tom.  I met Angelika in India last fall during my 300 hour yoga teacher training.  I also got to meet Jess, Angelika’s sister, visiting from Paris.  

The first evening we enjoyed a sunset walk on the beach with Amber, Angelika and Tom’s amazing dog.  She chased rocks and sticks while we walked the rocky coastline.  After our walk, we snagged Indian takeout and sat around their table for hours talking and laughing.  I managed to get a decent nights sleep, Cyprus is 8 hours ahead of home, thanks to the support of melatonin and magnesium.

On Monday, we went inland to Minthis, a golf resort with an Italianesque view of the hillside where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast.  While my hosts worked that afternoon, I relaxed by their pool.  I read, journaled and napped in the sun under a perfect breeze.

Later in the day it was a tour of the Tombs of Kings, an archaeological site near the ocean in Paphos.  It consists of underground tombs dating back to 4th century BC that were dug out of solid rock.  High ranking officials and aristocracy were buried here.  There are 7 excavated tombs and each has a varying number of niches built into the walls to store the bodies of deceased adults and children.

I am in awe of the beauty and the ease of Cyprus – there is no hurry and no worry here.  It was a gift to get some time to reflect, I received a newsletter I get weekly from Mark Manson with the quote:

Loving others requires knowing how to say “yes”

Loving yourself requires knowing when to say “no”

This was not random timing, it is yet another shove from the Universe to listen.  And I am listening – I am working hard to be present and mindful, to observe and respond to the noise I expected and not to just lose my shit and verbally express my anger and frustration and then to just cave to make it all stop….  ‘No’ is currently on repeat in one portion of my life, there are times I get sick of hearing myself say it, but the message is clear that it’s aligned. 

As I journaled and reflected by the pool I heard an owl, there is a reason I have an owl tattooed on my inner arm – throughout my life when I have searched for a sign it has always been an owl that arrives.  And now, even in Cyrpus, the owl was there with reassurance and support.