Healing Path with Gargi

Reflect. Renew. Realign. Rest.

Are We Really Taking a Break?

Most of the time, when we think of taking a break, we plan a trip.

We say: “Life is short. Let’s explore as much as we can.”

But often, we treat travel like a task list—moving from one place to another, ticking boxes, collecting pictures.

Instead of experiencing, we start completing. Especially in cities, we define a break as an escape. Adventures, exotic food, luxurious stays, thrilling plans.

But… is that really a break?

Ask Yourself Before You Book

Here are some questions I’ve started asking myself before planning a “break”:

• Am I overindulging my senses with food and forgetting about what my body truly needs?
• Am I exhausting myself with too many activities or adventures?
• Am I visiting too many places without being fully present in even one of them?
• Am I taking pictures just for social media instead of soaking in the moment?
• Am I noticing the air, the sky, the birds around me?
• Am I eating for nourishment—or just for taste?
• Do I stop to watch the sunrise or sunset?
• Can I simply be in one place, without trying to do or achieve anything?

The Influence of Social Media

In today’s world, breaks have become about showing off—where we go, what we eat, what we wear.

Social media often adds pressure. Travel bloggers and influencers post about hidden spots or untouched places. And soon, those places get crowded, polluted, and lose their original charm.

I don’t mean to blame anyone. Travel blogging is a profession, and they do valuable work. But I also feel there’s a shared responsibility—to protect and conserve the beauty of these natural spaces. Not just promote them for views or likes.

And then there are others—who travel just for the perfect photo. Who get caught up in their cameras, setups, reels, and miss the chance to actually feel the place.

The Chase We All Get Caught In

Sometimes I wonder—why do we chase so much?

We’re all chasing something. Success, adventure, freedom, peace. And there’s no right or wrong. But if we never pause to ask why, we might forget how to simply be.

Here are the questions I ask myself now:

• What am I chasing?
• Why am I chasing it?
• What outcome do I expect from it?
• Am I okay if I don’t get what I’m chasing?

Because if we don’t reflect, we might keep running… until one day we’re too tired to run anymore.

And we’ll whisper to ourselves again—I need a break.

What a Break Means to Me

For me, a true break means being fully present in nature—breathing fresh air, feeling the earth beneath my feet, listening to birds and insects, and smelling the fragrance of trees and flowers.

It’s in these quiet moments that I feel held, nourished, and loved—like resting in the lap of Mother Earth.

I practice yoga at sunrise, warmed by the sun, and watch how nature slowly winds down at sunset, observing the peaceful close of day around me.

There’s no agenda. No checklist. No rush. Just me, and nature.

In the Lap of Nature

Every step I take on soft green grass
Feels like I have come home.
The wind touches my skin—
A hug full of love.
Birds and insects sing,
As if a concert is made for me.
The scent of earth, trees, and flowers
Fills my breath with magic.
The roots and branches of trees
Remind me I’m held and supported.
When leaves fall on me,
It feels like nature is blessing me.
In each step, I remember—
I’m in the lap of Mother Earth.
I am nourished, I am cared for,
I am supported, I am blessed.
And once again, I become a child,
Resting in her arms, free from worry.
I am nature,
And nature lives in me.

Closing Thoughts: Define Your Own Break

Everyone has their own version of what a break means—and that’s perfectly okay.

There is no one definition.

But here’s what matters:

• Are you truly resting?
• Is your body relaxing?
• Is your mind at ease?
• Is your heart slowing down?
• Is your soul smiling quietly?

The kind of break that works for me may not work for you.

And what works for you now might change in a year.

That’s the beauty of it—we evolve.

But just make sure:

You know what kind of break your soul and body is truly asking for.

And when you find it—let it be enough.