Our recent trip to Europe happened to fall completely within my Week 2, what my family calls my “happy week.” Hormonally, it’s the time in our cycle when we have the most energy, optimism, confidence, and curiosity. It’s the perfect time to travel. When we realized the trip would fall during this time, Mr. B and I were thrilled. If you remember, last year, I was between Weeks 3 and 4 and it wasn’t as great as it could’ve been.
Most of our vacations, even quick weekend family trips, have happened to fall in my Week 4. That means I need lots of quiet and alone time, I feel irritable, tired, and cautious, and physically I am uncomfortable with muscle aches and headaches. Sometimes I surprise myself, but in general, those trips have required more effort on my part.
(Maybe it seems strange to you to fit events within a menstrual cycle timeframe? I certainly never used to think that way. I wasn’t really aware of my body’s rhythms until trying to become pregnant, and I remember a friend telling me about all of that and feeling completely amazed that all of this was going on in my own body without my knowledge. I have been using Hormone Horoscope to help guide me over the past few years. It’s packed with knowledge and useful tips about diet, exercise, sleep, and other ways to control the PMS beast. )
During this trip, I wanted to be with people. Instead of it being Mr. B as usual, I was the one of us who wanted to stay out into the wee hours because I was having such fun, wanted to laugh and talk much more, go shopping (what??), and was coming up with and organizing plans for group dinners, feeling especially social and romantic. I meandered along scenic lanes and rivers, pausing to smooch Mr. B (most unlike me). I wanted to linger at restaurants for hours, which is how long the dining experience in Europe usually is anyway. I was carefree and happy.
Me at a casino??? Hilarious.
I had loads of energy, so much so that I only slept 3 hours of the final 48 hours of our trip. Mr. B was amazed and delighted, as was I. I must have been slap-happy… taking pictures of architecture and carpets and just about anything.
I wish I could be that person all the time. I truly felt like myself. There were more than a few moments when I wondered why I’m not like that at home with friends. But then I realized that having balance is better. We weren’t designed to be social, confident, and impulsive all the time. I probably would not have started this blog 7 years ago if I hadn’t felt the need to express my emotions, to connect with like-minded people, and to be introspective. Those are all non-Week 2 attributes and they are just as positive. (Plus, I didn’t think twice about spending money on taxis, food, and handbags… which is not good!)
It was a fantastic week in so many ways. I feel rejuvenated, more in love with Mr. B, and very connected with some new and old friends. That feeling of contentment… I have to say that I have always felt and thought I was content, but I got even closer to that feeling of such bubbling up joy. I feel blessed in so many ways, even now that I’m home, tired, and in “regular life.” It’s so so good.
