Finding your space of stillness

On Sunday 27th January 2024, I arrived back in South Africa.

It had been 20 months since I left Cape Town with one bag containing everything I owned.  I returned with the same bag but just this time half of it was packed with clothes and toys for our grandchildren.  Our third grandchild, Yacoob, was born in December.  This was the main reason for our visit back to Cape Town, to see our grandchildren.  Ok to see my son and family and friends as well, LOL.

We would be spending four weeks in the Mother City.

It also nicely coincided with me finishing my book: “From Suits to Sandals.” It would be an opportunity to celebrate the occasion with close family and friends.

It was a busy four weeks.

We spent time with our grandchildren almost every day. I was amazed by the wonders of technology. Our granddaughter, Rahma, who was 7 months old when I last saw her, immediately recognized me thanks to the video calls my wife has with the children almost every day. However, Rahma referred to both of us as "Grammy," the two people she always sees on the phone. “Grammy is on the phone.”

At least my eldest grandson, Musa, calls me "Pops."

In addition to spending time with my grandchildren, I had the opportunity to meet with a few people whom I hadn't seen in over a year and a half. Our family and large group of friends (our tribe) invited us for lunch and dinner, and there was always dessert, which made it difficult for me to stick to my low-sugar diet. Unfortunately, due to many commitments, I couldn't meet all the people I was hoping to see.

The book launch was initially planned to take place online, with two radio stations lined up to interview me about the book and my move from Cape Town to Lombok. However, some friends felt that this wasn't a proper way to celebrate the occasion. So a physical book launch was included in our four-week holiday.

One friend offered the venue at the historic Castle of Good Hope, another friend arranged for the printing of the books at short notice, and family and friends helped with the catering. It was wonderful to have everyone in the same room to celebrate the launch of my first book.

At the end of the four weeks, my wife and I were starting to feel the strain. It was wonderful spending time with the children and catching up with friends and family but at 57 your body struggles with the almost daily social gatherings. 

When we boarded the plane, we were looking forward to a good sleep on the long flight to Singapore.

A short two-night stopover in Singapore, the island city.   The city is a seamless mix of technology, innovation and natural beauty. A city that gives you a true glimpse into the future.

This was followed by a two-night stopover in Kuala Lumpur, the modern capital of Malaysia.  The city skyline is dominated by the 451m tall Petronas Twin Towers.  We managed to make it up the towers this time, a pretty spectacular piece of engineering.

After the two stopovers, it was finally time to head back home.

On Wed 28th February at 5pm, our plane approached the island of Lombok. 

We passed over the small coastal town of Senggigi, the place we call home. 

From the plane, I got a bird's eye view of the majestic Mount Rinjani. 

An active volcano that dominates the skyline of Lombok.

Lush tropical forests and fertile rice fields also greeted us. 

The different shades of green brought an immediate calmness to me as we touched down.

The natural scenery brought a sense of calm as we made our way from the airport to Senggigi.

The journey took us about an hour, and during this time, I could see the sun gradually setting between the palm trees that lined the main road.

The sky was painted with a soft, gentle shade of orange that was beautifully reflected off the water in the rice fields we passed by.

As we turned onto the winding coastal road, the sun had already set, but there was still a lingering light that illuminated the gentle waves breaking on the beach.

The sight of children playing in the water and families enjoying the stunning sunset at the beach warungs felt familiar.

Along the road, we saw many groups of youngsters who had pulled off with their scooters to catch a glimpse of the sunset.

Watching the sunset is a big thing in Lombok, especially in the Senggigi area.

On the drive from the airport, I noticed a calmness had overcome me. 

A feeling of peace. 

You know that feeling when you go away for a relaxing weekend in nature somewhere?

You can just feel that busyness of day-to-day life fading away.

The deadlines, the appointments, the meetings, the traffic.

Yes, that feeling.

That is what I felt.

I had missed Lombok.

Having spent four weeks in the big cities of Cape Town, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur was fun but it was busy. The energy and heartbeat of these cities are intoxicating.  People thrive on it.  I was part of this life previously… before I moved to Lombok.

On the drive from the airport, I realized that I had forgotten how beautiful this island was.

Had I been taking it for granted in the 20 months that I have stayed here?

I suddenly felt a deep feeling of appreciation for being given this opportunity to experience this lifestyle.

It is not something I have always dreamed of.  In fact, it was something that I never thought was possible.  Something that other people do.  People with much more money, people who have sold their businesses or cashed in their shares.  But I was not one of them. 

Yet here I am.

Living on an island.

Living a life of reconnection.

Reconnecting to serenity, spirituality and sustainability.

We all need that stillness now and then in our lives.

Especially if you are living a busy life.

Especially if you find yourself saying “I just don’t have time.”

You are responsible for finding the time.

You are responsible for finding your Space of Stillness.