It is quite amazing how leaving the safety, comfort, familiarity of home brings one needed, necessary essential respite. I live a privileged life, privileged in that I get to spend most of my time doing what brings me joy, satisfaction and  gives me a great sense of purpose. Yet I need to be away from this enveloping beautiful life - to catch my breath, to gain perspective, think different thoughts as I am exposed to many different smells, sounds, sights and tastes that foreign cities offer.

I walked the streets of Istanbul, a city I love for its history, multi layers of ancient history. As an aesthete and sensualist I so appreciate the beauty of the city, the wares, people, and water- so many seas that surround this beautiful city. Of course  both my home and professional rooms look like  elegantly decorated harems - having been to Istanbul before I am now pretty replete with the harem look and feel. And of course the sound of Turkish symphony music fill my spaces as do the books lined up waiting to be read.

Mostly my mind is at ease- it really should be a requirement of all working people to take regular breaks.  Especially people who are healers of others. Only when one is away and taking care of oneself and beloved others, is it evident how taking care of others professionally , even though in the moment it is the most energising and exciting way to spend time, is indeed draining on a very base level.

Monday soon- I spent half the weekend in Magiliesberg, presenting a paper at the very interesting MSD sponsored Critical Care scientific meeting. I gazed with awe at these highly speicliazed, super specialized physicians , who work on the cutting edge of life and death every day. Apparently their career span is 10 years. Young, smart, and older, wise doctors who invited me into their specialist space to talk about Sexuality- thank you Prof Mervyn Mer, Univ of Wits, for your foresight and courage in issuing this invitation to me, Sex and illness, sex and dying are concepts with which we are on the whole not comfortable. I look forward to more of these discussions and ethical dilemmas they raise.

Paradoxically during my vacation I  immersed myself in reading about death. Julian Barnes,  ("Nothing to be frightened about") magician of words and thoughts, as well as Jose Saramago, ("Death with Interruptions") Nobel Literature recipient, made me think about how to live life as a way of managing death.

Monday gets me to live life in my usual passionate way - I invite you to my magical mystery tour which is about to begin - after all August is Women's Month - so keep reading my site to learn about what you can do to become involved , enriched, informed, and happy.

Have you tried out the new Clitoral Tightener available on the site???

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