International Day of Friendship
Sharing the human spirit through friendship
Our world faces many challenges, crises and forces of division — such as poverty, violence, and human rights abuses — among many others — that undermine peace, security, development and social harmony among the world’s peoples.
To confront those crises and challenges, their root causes must be addressed by promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms — the simplest of which is friendship.
Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good. ~ United Nations
The value of friendship is strongly felt through a Spa Wellness Travel experience. With our personalised service and our of the importance of connection, we discuss needs and outcomes for guests wanting to retreats.
Over the years it has been wonderful talking with solo guests who are going to retreat or take on a program. Although they are travelling solo they are not alone. They very much inform their friends of where they are going, the activities they’ll be participating in, treatments they’ll be experiencing and the reason why they are retreating. The purpose to retreat if often a gift to ones-self to celebrate a significant birthday, an achievement in life or milestone or to simply focus on a wellness outcome.
Then there is discussions with friends. They have a plan and we discuss the options. Once decided, there is the shared anticipation and excitement of their investments. The treatments, therapies, activities and cuisine they are going to be experiencing, whilst on a spa wellness retreat. It is always the detox programs that ignite much banter; whether it be their first time or whether one or both are signing up for their annual cleanse.
A spa resort holiday is a more relaxed approach, as days are taken leisurely. They need for excursions, shopping, dinning out or whatever else takes their fancy. It is a holiday and friends are happy to be sharing time together, but also understand that a moment of alone is sometimes appreciated. With the spa wellness package there is the discussion of will it be a separate or shared room for their spa treatment. But it is a given, they will be sharing meals and creating memories together.
Taking time out with a friend is a very personal thing. As mentioned in the United Nations excerpt, there is a bond and trust and more that makes a friendship. A solo guest has to ponder the feeling of being solo and be comfortable with it. There is the independence or freedom of choosing when or how interactive they wish to be with other guests.
When you put yourself in an environment of a spa resort or spa wellness retreat, you may engage with another who has the same intent or like mindedness, who may just become a new friend.
“I retreated for week at Kamalaya after my first breast cancer diagnosis. That was my personal time out, that I needed. I needed to sit quietly within myself and embrace the time as a marker between ending months of treatments and resuming my adjusted life. I spoke with no one but therapists and practitioners when required for six days, I was not the mood or had no need to speak with others. But then on the seventh lazing by the pool a conversation started with a guest from the other side of the world. We chatted and enjoyed discussing freely our life story and encounters. It was a great way to end my retreat.” ~ Karen
A friendship can take many forms. Be it due to longevity, to sharing a drink after work with a colleague, to a sporting mate or other group. But, it is you who will define what makes your friend your friend. A book that I was given as a gift, to which I then purchased to give to a friend was The Circles by Kerry Armstrong. A book that had me pondering the value of the friendships in my life.
Hugs & Happiness, Karen
