"Diving together with meditation is like balm for the soul"

Hi Annelie
Now I have been at home in Sweden for a month after 6 weeks with you on Koh Lanta. It was nice to come home. It is good to be home again even though it is pitch black in the day, soon it will be brighter. The retreat has really pushed me in the right direction so that every day I can pick up my new tool. This brings back the wonderful memories of early meditations and yoga and all the interesting moments with you.

Why I went to Koh Lanta? More than a year ago I ended up like many others have when they don´t stop until it´s to late. I had kept far too much in my backpack for a long time in a stress condition that quickly was followed by chronic fatigue syndrome. I got a lot of malfunction and to top it of, I was depressed too. I had pain and no one understood how I felt. I was very scared and drew me even further away from everything. After six months I began to medicate so I could sleep and function in daily life. First I was singed as half-sick and tried later in the spring to work full time.  

In May I came in contact with a doctor who specialized in this and he explained why I had ended up where I was… oh it was the first thing I felt hope again.
After the vacation, I was registered half-sick and it couldn´t go on like this. I have a job as a personnel manager and everything was done only half-heartedly, both private life and my job.
At the end of September I decided that I had to do something about the situation. I had in mind that I read about the retreat in Thailand so I goggled and found Annelie, decided over two days that I would go.
Before I had tried relaxation tape which I thought had helped me. So I thought meditation for 4 weeks and some yoga would probably be good for me. I got in touch with the social insurance and there was no problem with them, they approved it.  

So I went to Lanta all by myself and came with a hanging head and a weary soul.

The chemistry between Annelie and me was one hundred immediately. She had me starting directly with mediation and yoga every day. In the afternoons I always went to have massage and I did mindfulness practiced on the beach, a perfect start.
My own aim of the trip was of course to find new energy, to feel happy again able to laugh and to find the strength to transform my own life. From being a tired, stressed out soul with sprained confidence I slowly got my strength back. Meditation in mindfulness has helped me to quickly unwind o find new power again and all this just through breathing.

The secret is to do it every day and to be disciplined. I can conclude after two months that it is a tremendously beautiful change. I never done yoga before but it is really a great addition to mediation, to train the strength and agility while being in the moment. My four weeks became six and again it was no problem to extend the stay.

It has been very important for me to get distance to myself and everything at home. The thing that struck me most of all is our western life style. We live in stressful society and how little time we have for each other. How we consume all our time with more or less meaningful activities. When one goes from almost fully fit to be disabled you experience it as awful. When you become so vulnerable that everyone is talking about how bad it has become and the help you receive doesn´t work it´s easy to be scared shitless.
It takes time to get back and it should take time because I do not want to get back to my old self again. Staying on Koh Lanta with Annelie has allowed me to come in touch with my emotions again and has showed me in a new direction. This old life style can not continue and there will be setbacks at times but I know it's the right way.

I find myself that enjoying the small things that happen every day and it is great for me. Above all, I feel that my happiness starting to come back.
There have been revolutionary to get to know you Annelie, you really started kicking me with your dedication o steered me back with your vast knowledge; you have touched my heart and brought home my spirit again. Your availability for the talks when needed and your pure natural explanations I always carry with me.
Would also add that the diving together with meditation is like balm for the soul and has also become a major new interest for me
I want to mention my warm love for the owners and staff at "Somewhere Else", Long Beach. The accommodation is magical. All are wonderful to us guest and the food is fantastic. Stay there!
Thanks Annelie
Hugs Robert
20091220