'Busy' seems to be our default setting these days. Even when we are lucky enough to have time to go on holiday. My July involved travelling to 4 weddings over 3 weeks, covering more than 2,000 miles around the UK by public transport. I had a fantastic time, so much so that I returned home to Brighton exhausted! Since then I have absolutely revelled in the joy of just being at home, determined not to travel anywhere far away for as long as I can help it.
Development can work in the same way. We go thorough intense phases of unprecedented progress and change which are often followed by periods of plateau or even apparent 'regression' while we take the time to pause and recuperate. But needing to be at home right now doesn't mean I won't be ready to travel again come the autumn. Pausing is sometimes a necessity, and without it the travels we make into the unknown would become relentless and wearisome.
Pausing is also an indispensable tool when doing HANDLE activities. Many of us are so sensitive that a small amount of input can still be felt minutes or hours after. A pause is particularly important for someone whose processing runs much slower than the busy world around them. Allowing some time to notice the input and its effects instead of steaming ahead with the rest of the activity can be a revelation.
As the holiday season draws to an end, we hope you have been able to enjoy many exciting adventures and travels, and also some opportunities to experience the restorative power of simply staying put.
We'd love to hear what you've been up to if you'd like to share!
Sarah