SALTWATER AND SOFTNESS

On healing, female friendships, and remembering who I was before my body went wonky

Coffee in the sun with some of my ladies who laugh. Elke on the left, from Belgium, and Claudia, on the right, from Germany

Good morning!

I’m already halfway through my health retreat at Palasiet, in Benicassim, Spain and – my goodness! – I feel like a completely new person. Well, maybe not a new person, but like the old me, from about five or six years ago, before my body started going wonky. I feel…glowing, but in my brain, too! Like the lights have gradually been turned back on. I feel vivacious and happy and bouncy, you know? Isn’t it crazy what a week of seawater immersion in a warm pool, with loads of massage jets, and aqua gym, and renewed daily social interaction can do to your soul?!

I am so enjoying meeting new ladies, some who are wonky like me in a same-same-but different-way, some who are simply exhausted from working and dealing with awkward men (the stories are mind blowing!), some who are here to lose a few kilos and to enjoy some pampering. We’ve sat together at lunch, and at dinner, and outside for coffee by the pool, and poured our hearts out to one another, telling each other things you might think you’d only tell friends you’ve known for years, and it feels so warm-fuzzy, and enriching. And while we tend to be in somewhat different stages of our lives, we’re all beyond middle-aged, we all have battle scars and stories and baggage.

There is some real bonding going on, to the point that we’ve already spoken about meeting here all together next year, which makes my heart sing. It has made me realise just how much I’ve missed being with women these past few years. Sure, I’ve not been stranded on illness island – I’ve seen women, had some lovely conversations and good giggles, but this experience feels deeper, because we’re all living here for a short period of time, and we’re all being looked after, cooked for, our rooms cleaned, and our (pleasant!) schedules organized, so we don’t feel like we need to be put on a brave face, or act a certain way out of guilt in order to lighten someone else’s burden.

I know I am lucky to be here, that it a privilege many women can’t afford. I am lucky to sleep like a log, which took a few days to relax and let go, but I now feel as though I haven’t slept this soundly in years. My skin is soft and glowing, I’ve had some sunshine, and although my body is still pretty wonky – I mean, I’m 64, with an autoimmune disease and fibromyagia! – it doesn’t feel as wonky as it did a week ago, and I’ve learned a lot about how to help it via my fantastic physiotherapist, Carina, who even did an ultrasound on my left foot yesterday, discovered the beginnings of a bone spur, as well some slight lesions to my Achilles tendon, which explains a lot.

I must go to therapeutic gym now, followed by aqua gym, and a seaweed bubble bath!

Then it will be lunch with lovely ladies.

I wish you a wonderful day, and I’m sending you some of my newfound glowing energy.

Lots of love

Francesca xx