I am a creature of habit. I like to return to the same restaurants, beaches and travel locations over and over again. For some, I might be considered boring, dull or unadventurous. However, at times I feel the need to choose between depth and breadth as I truly want to enjoy my favourite places fully. When I visit the same place over and over again, there is less pressure to see everything there is, which helps me sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere around me. I never get bored because even if the place remains the same, I rarely am. Therefore, the same beach can elevate my sense of calmness or help bring my anxiety down in troubled times.
In a world that is so fast paced, uncertain and constantly changing I find the mundane and the usual unusually comforting and grounding. For example, those few friends that have been around for many, many years are worth more than a pot of gold. Few words are wasted between us and many times a look or a short discussion help bring about clarity and understanding to my troubled heart and mind. I believe at times, it is important to swap the fear of missing out (FOMO) for the tried and tested. It gives us as sense of comfort and familiarity that for me beats the trill of novelty, excitement and adventure on most occasions.
So I do believe that we should treasure the old, the ‘normal’, the mundane…I find that it does not always beat the new…
Anna Catania is a counsellor with Willingness. She has had a special interest in working with clients facing intimacy and sexual difficulties and runs a service for families going through cancer and chronic illness. She can be contacted on anna@willingness.com.mt or call us on 79291817.