Many people I’m sure have heard the phrase ‘January blues’ which is often associated with this time of year. Well, in the past I have found the first month of the year to be a challenging time for my mental health. So this year I decided to do something different and break up the thirty-one days by going on a sun holiday for the first time. I had annual leave to take from my work and flight vouchers to cover some of the cost, so I felt like it was time for an adventure!
On 30 December I booked to go for five nights to Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote, the most easterly of the Canary Islands, situated just 80 miles off the north coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a holiday destination many Irish people are familiar with. Starved of winter sun they flock to a warmer part of the Atlantic Ocean. While the flight takes four hours from Dublin and I was a little apprehensive going on my own, I was determined to get to the sun. After a busy period of work I thought the words of Jesus were applicable: ‘Come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’ (Mark 6:31).
In the past I have for the majority of my holidays I went on pilgrimages and retreats. I have been blessed to travel the world including places such as Toronto, Lourdes, Cologne, Sydney, Taize, Madrid, Rome, Assisi, Paray-le-Monial, Santuario de Loyola and Međugorje. This time however I felt God was prompting me to go on a holiday to rest and relax and to feel that sense of being fully alive in the sunshine. I also felt it was a time of healing and deliverance from some of the struggles I’ve experienced over the past number of years. I never doubted God’s presence and often recalled the final verse of ‘The Footprints Prayer’:- “My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.
After experiencing a week of prolonged sunshine while on pilgrimage in Međugorje last August I knew that going on a sun holiday would lift my mood. I also felt the great benefit of more sunshine hours and Vitamin D while I lived in Rome for a year in 2011-12. I’ve experienced how getting more sunshine can be a remedy for stress, worry, anxiety and depression, so Lanzarote was the perfect opportunity to to get out in the sun and enjoy what I love, being close to water, running on the promenade and on the beach.
I also hired a bike and cycled from Puerto del Carmen along the coast towards Costa Teguise, a seaside resort town on the eastern coast of the island. That was the warmest day of my holiday and one of the highlights of my trip – to cycle so close to the coast in the splendid sun and spectacular scenery. My interest in cycling has grown over the past few years and I particularly like the sense of adventure and the challenge of navigating the way on new routes.
During my time in Lanzarote I wanted to see and explore. I discovered the contrast between the north and south of the island on a guided tour. I visited Tamanfaya National Park and Jameous Del Agua lava caves to watch the geothermal activity that provides heat for the island. I learned about the volcanic eruptions of the 18th century and I visited the famous green lake of El Golfo and discovered some of the flora and fauna, farming and horticulture on the island.
I trusted that God was with me on my journey and was blessed to visit three churches during my stay. The last evening of my holiday was a fitting way to offer thanks for my few days as I attended a very uplifting Mass in San Ginés church in Arrecife, the capital city. I felt that this was my little pilgrimage in the midst of the holiday, embarking on a 40 minute bus journey and 1 mile walk to find my way. When I got there the large congregation and great sense of community among the parishioners was uplifting to see, as was the intercession and devotion to Virgen del Carmen, for blessing, increased faith, and protection against evil.
As I left Lanzarote and returned to the Irish winter I felt renewed by the sunshine and the pleasant 22ºC temperature I’d experienced for the five days. It increased my gratitude and joy. I was thankful for the rest and relaxation I had during my time in the Canary Islands, a new experience which reminded me to be grateful, to strive to enjoy life, and live it to the full. I believe that we’re never alone, wherever we go, God travels with us; and I look forward to brighter days ahead and more sunshine for the rest of this year.
