PERSONAL GROWTH STRATEGIES & STORIES

Spaces That Comfort Me

When life becomes too fast-paced, slow it down to bring back balance

“Good morning passengers. This is your captain speaking. We are going to start our descent towards Changi Airport in Singapore. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet…”

I woke up to the captain’s voice. It was an overnight flight from Berlin — via Dubai. I opened the windows to see the sunny sky of Singapore.

I was moving to Singapore after staying in Europe for a while.

A part of me was excited. Then there was that part that fell in love with the countryside of France, the food and the culture of Europe.

My life was going to change — once again.

I have lived in 3 countries and 8 houses over the last 5 years. My workplace and educational institute have also changed multiple times. I got used to my environment changing frequently.

Change has indeed been one of the constants in my life. And it has been good to me. The change pushed me beyond my comfort zone and helped me grow. But change was also often overwhelming. I felt I could handle my dynamic life better when I had access to literal comfort zones.

Like comfort food, these places comforted me. Like an anchor to a ship, these zones helped me stand firm. Like the deep roots of a tree, these spaces enabled me to grow healthy branches in other parts of life. Like sea breeze on a quiet night, they washed away my stress.

It all started when I went to France to study

France is amazing — With its culturally rich areas including Paris, Bordeaux, Champaign, Loir Valley, and Burgundy. The food and desserts were extraordinary — with their array of bread, cheese, meat, and all kinds of baked goods. The way of life was beautiful and comforting. I had so many new things to experience.

My study, on the other hand, was quite challenging. The intellectual demands were there. On top of that, there were fund-raising, competitions, and personal development activities. I was running from one place to another, one activity to a new one.

Life was fun yet demanding. Time was starting to slip by like sand. I was starting to get a bit overwhelmed.

One day, when I was walking past the city center of Fontainebleau, I saw a gate that led to a park. I had some time so just wanted to explore. That gate was the backdoor to the Fontainebleau castle. It was a small park with trees and sitting areas. I was walking around when I saw another ally which I took. And that led me to —

Château de Fontainebleau

This Palace of Fontainebleau served as a residence for the French Monarchs for years. It was converted into a museum. With its water bodies, carefully trimmed plants, and beautifully planned open area, the palace turned into a hidden gem. The pace in the area was slower than the rest of my life. I found an area where I could spend hours.

And I did just that.

I would often take a book or my kindle to spend a few hours sitting on the benches. I felt my stress melting away.

I realized that it was more than a beautiful place for me. I needed a place that would allow me to think and spend some me-time. I needed to slow things down in my fast-moving life. And I couldn’t have asked for a better space than the Chateau.

That space helped me regain control of my life.

So, when I moved to Singapore eventually, I knew I had to find a similar place. A place that was just far enough from my daily life. A place that represents the culture of the country. A place where I can spend hours minding my own business.

And I found just the perfect spot—

Esplanade — Theaters on the bay

Just by the bay, Singapore has built the Esplanade. It’s a performing arts center with an open-air amphitheater, indoor stages, a walking & sitting area by the bay, and numerous food stalls.

The place was 40–50 minutes away from where I lived. So, I would go there once a week to listen to some music, watch performances, walk by the bay, and, if time allowed, read some kindle.

I remember going there and listening to music during the stress-filled job search process.

When life became too fast, I needed to slow it down to bring back balance.

These two areas in Singapore and Fontainebleau helped me do just that. They allowed me to take a small break from my fast-moving life.

A space just doesn’t host us. It embraces us with its beauty and personality. It recharges us by changing the pace of life. It beautifies with its diversity. It adds spices to our days. It engulfs us with the memories it lovingly stores.

That is why we seek vacations — to find that missing piece of the puzzle.

That is why we go back to places with happy memories — to make us feel more alive.

That is why we sing — there’s no place like home.

And all that adds up to make our lives whole.