Basic Survival Skills for Travellers

🌿 Back to Basics: Your Survival Skill Reset

Ever feel like life’s just… too much? Like your body’s waving a white flag and you’re not even sure where to begin? Trust me, you’re not alone. When the chaos hits, the best thing you can do is hit the reset button and go back to basics. I mean really basic.

As a therapist (and someone with a bit of military grit from back in the day), I’ve seen it time and time again—people spinning in circles, forgetting the simple stuff that keeps us alive and thriving. So let’s strip it all back and talk about the real survival skills. Not the fancy self-care routines or the latest wellness trends. I’m talking about the core stuff—the things your body literally needs to keep going.

🧘‍♀️ 1. Breathe Like You Mean It

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

Without breath, we’ve got about 3–5 minutes. That’s it. So yeah, breathing is kind of a big deal. And not just the automatic kind—conscious breath. Deep, intentional, life-giving breath. Bonus points if you break a sweat while doing it. Movement + breath = magic.

💧 2. Water: Your Inner Ocean

“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” — W.H. Auden

You can go 3–4 days without water, but your body won’t thank you for it. Hydration is healing. So grab that cool, clear glass of water and drink like your cells depend on it—because they do.

😴 3. Sleep: Your Superpower

“Sleep is the best meditation.” — Dalai Lama

Restful sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s survival. Without it, your body starts to unravel in just a few days. So if you’re burning the candle at both ends, it’s time to snuff one out and get some zzz’s.

🥗 4. Food That’s Alive

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” — Hippocrates

We’re talking live food—fresh, vibrant, nourishing. Not the stuff that’s been sitting in a packet since 1997. Your body craves energy from nature, not preservatives.

Now, once you’ve got those basics down, we can talk about the squidgy stuff—emotions. But here’s a little secret:

“The only true emotion is love.” — Linda McCall 😉

Love is the foundation. Everything else is just noise. But let’s save that juicy topic for another day.

🛠️ Your Survival Checklist

Before you rush off to the doctor (again), ask yourself:

• Am I breathing consciously every day?
• Am I drinking enough water?
• Am I sleeping deeply and regularly?
• Am I eating real, live food?

If the answer is “meh” to any of those, start there. Your body is wise—it just needs you to listen.

And most importantly?

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” — George Bernard Shaw

So go on—remember to PLAY. Laugh, dance, be silly. It’s survival, too.

With love and breath, Linda McCall, Dip Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies

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