featured – Page 8 – N A Waterman Talks About…

On this day 4 years ago at 6:32pm, I sat next to my dad’s hospital bed as he took his last breath. It was a surreal moment…something that will never leave my mind. I was in complete shock, as I never expected that to happen. I will never get over that moment. It’s something that I relive in my head all of the time. And after 4 years, I still haven’t really grieved. I think I just keep it bottled up in me. It’s almost as if I’m in denial and don’t want to face the obvious reality.

There are literally times where I wonder if he’s really gone. He literally did not look like himself when he passed. According to the funeral home, we had to do a close casket because he didn’t look good enough for a viewing. So I’m literally driving myself crazy with all these thoughts in my head. I know my dad would want me to move on and be happy, but how can I fully be happy when a big piece of my heart is missing??? Grief is a beast…

And P.S. I know I said literally so many times. My dad use to tease me about that. I literally said it all the time. Lol.

There was a leak in our main bathroom a couple of weeks ago and we had to call a plumber. The first thing I said to my brother was that our dad would have been able to detect the leak and fix it himself. My dad was the go to for everything in my life. Anything that went wrong with my house or car, he was the first person I would call. I would not make a major purchase without getting his advice first. Anyway…

They say everything happens for a reason. I’m still trying to figure this one out.

Love you daddy. I literally miss you every single day. Not a day goes by that you’re not on my mind.

So I’ve been wanting to go to a wellness retreat for a few months now. However, they are quite pricey. I get that most of them are all inclusive, but the cheapest one I found was in the $800s per night if you go during the week.

I’m not a frugal person at all, but it just cost way too much to go to a wellness retreat. How can I relax and enjoy myself knowing I’m paying between $1,000 to $2,500 per night? And that doesn’t include a plane ticket to fly to the retreat…

Don’t get me wrong, there are retreats outside of the U.S that are more affordable, but you’ll have to fly at minimum 10 hours to get there.

For now, I’ll take a weekend and create my own wellness retreat at home. You can do the same.

Below are the items you will need to create your at home wellness retreat:

Candles: (preferably soy) with the scents eucalyptus, ginger, lavender, sage, white…you see where I’m going
Robe: a good wellness retreat is not complete without this essential item
Water: not just plain water…water with lemon, cucumbers, ginger or fruits…basically infused water
Your tub and/or shower: If you have a tub with jets, perfect. If not, it’s ok. A regular tub is perfect to fill with very warm water. You want to feel like you’re in a sauna. Add eucalyptus to the water. If you only have a shower, you can add a eucalyptus tablet or spray the shower with the eucalyptus spray. Pure zen
Portable sauna (optional): so I don’t know if you’ve seen the portable saunas that can go inside your homes. My husband bought us one and it is amazing. You can purchase one anywhere between $100- $200. Definitely worth the price.
Music: You want to listen to relaxation music. You want music that puts you in complete tranquility
Facial mask: I always feel relaxed with a nice facial. Get a facial mask, lay back and relax.
No phones: section out your time and tell your family and friends not to disturb you, as you will be ignoring your phone. No scrolling on social media. Just you time.
Meditation: take a few minutes to meditate. Do a breathing exercise
And lastly, you need some healthy snacks. Just like at the wellness retreat, you can get salads, smoothies, fresh juice, fruits, etc.

Now this isn’t a luxury wellness retreat, but it will definitely help to relax you. Sometimes you just need to block out a few hours to yourself. Me time!