Alexandra Massey - Lifes A Beach: Keep that holiday feeling all year round

About the Book

Weve all experienced that wonderful holiday feeling. With the sand between our toes and bathed in the suns warm rays, we feel relaxed, happy and contented, far away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

All too often, though, we leave this feeling behind with the empty bottle of suntan lotion. The dramas and anxieties of modern life creep back in and once again reality takes its hold.

But what if you could capture that elusive holiday feeling in your everyday life? Alexandra Massey argues that you dont need to jet off to some far-flung location to enjoy that glad to be alive feeling its accessible to everyone at any time.

Discover how to bring the holiday feeling back home with you

Learn to kick back and avoid letting everyday stress get to you

Nurture your emotional wellbeing and discover harmony within yourself

Achieve a sense of liberation within your hectic lifestyle

Take practical steps to getting more fulfilment out of your everyday life

Drawing on the elements of holidays that make us feel positive about our lives, Lifes a Beach will show you how a few small, but dynamic, changes can help you feel happier, more relaxed and able to enjoy that holiday feeling all year round.

About the Author

Alexandra Massey is a bestselling author of Beat Depression, Super Foods, and Happy Kids and has written extensively about recovery from depression. Alexandra is based in Hampshire.

Also by Alexandra Massey:

Beat Depression and Reclaim Your Life

Super Foods to Boost Your Mood

Happy Kids: Understanding Childhood Depression and
How to Nurture a Happy, Well-balanced Child

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

Version 1.0

Epub ISBN 9780753519035

www.randomhouse.co.uk

First published in Great Britain in 2008 by
Virgin Books Ltd
Thames Wharf Studios
Rainville Road
London
W6 9HA

Copyright Alexandra Massey 2008

The right of Alexandra Massey to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 0 7535 1393 4

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION: BEACH LIFE

If theres one thing in the year that we all look forward to, its a holiday. Oh, that glorious sinking into the sun lounger feeling with the sand between our toes and the sunrays feeding us large doses of happy vitamins to make up for our winter depletion. With a drink in one hand and not a worry in the world It is wonderful to let go of all concerns for a week or two. No thoughts of what weve forgotten to do, whats gone wrong at work or what we meant to tell to whom. Who cares about the office politics, the lists that never got completed or those nagging doubts about the way your childcare arrangements are going? On holiday, those life hiccups seem so far away and so irrelevant to what really matters just feeling great. The simple things can be so much fun: even food shopping is a pleasant experience, not to mention all the extra things you do on holiday, like eating out or taking a walk, which are pure joy.

But why is it that, when you return home, that holiday feeling disappears after a few days or weeks? No matter how hard you try to maintain the holiday high, it doesnt take long before you slump into the old routine and those days of pure enlightenment seem so far away. Before you know it, the whole trip seems like a dream, you are back to normal and that familiar feeling of dissatisfaction creeps its way back in. It can seem that the only way to get that sense of space and freedom is to book lots of time out then youll be able to get back to that great feeling of being away! Realistically, it would be so much better if you had more happiness in your everyday life, rather than just waiting for those two or three weeks away on holiday.

Maybe you are now looking for something more. Do you remember your younger days when you thought you would feel free and happy at the age you have now reached? You were convinced that you would have enough money by now and your career path would be clear and that all your problems would be sorted and you would be in charge of your life? Instead you find that you are a few steps behind your ambitions and you are still trying to figure out what you really want to do! Or you are lurching from one drama to another and feel as if its other people who seem to be calling the shots?

Whether its pressure at work, your childrens constant demands, frustration at your partners inability to understand you or the size of your mortgage, its hard to see how you got here and you certainly never planned it to be this way. Perhaps you want something else, maybe more freedom or more hope. Maybe you are questioning the way its turned out and you want more more happiness and this is why you have picked up this book.

There is a different way and getting there is simple but profound. If you glance around, you will see that there are some people who have tapped into that different path. These people seem to be living their life like us but also as if they were on one long holiday. They go through the everyday dramas, stresses and strains that we do, but they seem to take it in their stride and the situations that might drive you and me demented just dont seem to affect them in the same way. How do they do this?

You dont need to hide in a retreat for weeks or months or give up all worldly possessions to get that glad to be alive feeling. It is accessible to anyone. It also doesnt require you to change your lifestyle: you can have the same size of mortgage, the equivalent office politics and the same humdrum routine, yet feel that life is a delight and joy comes at a moments notice. Yes, joy at a moments notice it really is possible.

When you go on holiday, certain things happen to you that allow you to feel happy, full of fun and pleased to be there. This book will show you how you can bring that same intelligence home to get that Beach Life feeling all year round. As you move through the book, it will bring your attention closer and closer, gravitating towards the profoundness that is at the centre of your capacity to feel great joy. This evolution may happen over time but it could happen very quickly. It is different with everyone, but one thing is certain: if you look in the right place, you can attain the contentment you crave.

Using This Book