50. The Novotel hotel drinks tea

☰ Many years ago during a particularly stressful time in my business I felt the need to get away from stresses of big city living and took a three day weekend down to Wollongong - A small seaside city about 1 to 2 hours south of Sydney along the coast. And I stayed at the Novotel hotel. ☳ Since that time, I have gone back at least two times. And both those times were spent at the Novotel. The hotel is right on the beachfront, quiet and when I go, I am usually lucky enough to get the jacuzzi all to myself while my family plays in the main pool. ☵ And all the while I am thinking about my business, my baguazhang 八卦掌 and what is happening in my life. The first time was particularly acute because if I hadn't gone with my wife's insistence, I would have surely had another one of my collapses from over-exhaustion. ☶ Not exactly Tea Time equals Me Time. I had to be convinced to go. And what made me want to resist? Easy answer... There is a popular saying amongst guys which goes: "Go Hard or Go Home!" ☷ That saying is supposed to be motivational footie slogan. I learnt it at a business coaching seminar when I thought doing okay in business wasn't good enough. But the thing is, 'going hard' just leads to more hardness. ☱ The body can only take so much abuse before it rebels; Just thinking back on it, feels like a losing boxing match. ☲ In martial arts, the first sign something is wrong is the sudden unexplained tiredness that hits, even though we are getting enough sleep, nutrition and exercise. The second sign something is wrong is the world becoming one's enemy. And that's a bad place to be. Really bad. ☴ All of this I only started learning after I took myself out of the game and rested at the Novotel hotel. And realised I needed more Me Time... ...Tea Time equals Me Time. Liked what you heard & want to connect with me? Join me at… linkedin.com/in/peterhainzl/