Feeling Like Atlas

Feeling like Atlas by ACES PA of the Year, Gail Welsh

I don’t know about you but I often feel that I am carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. Like Atlas, I feel like I am carrying something heavy; something that slows me down and keeps me from my daily tasks. Thankfully, I have learned and experienced that if I look after myself properly this can load can be lightened, even if only for short space of time.

I have found over the years (and I’m not that old really) in my role as a PA I have to give more and more of ‘me’ to whoever I’m working for and with.  In doing so, it’s very often the case that there’s no time or energy left for myself.  This was when I first found out that it’s sometimes difficult to achieve a healthy work-life balance.  Very difficult. Thankfully I am armed nowadays with the experience to  know how important that is. If I don’t look after myself properly, I am worth nothing to no one, so I regularly treat my body (and soul) to a spa visit.

After winning the Scottish PA of the Year Award at the ACES conference last month, I was given the opportunity to visit PURE Spa & Beauty.  As I am originally from Edinburgh, I was delighted to book in for a couple of treatments at their shorefront location at Ocean Terminal.

It was lovely to chill and reminisce as I drove through the streets of Trinity, past the church I was married in, past my old school, before arriving alongside The Britannia.  Admittedly, I was already pretty relaxed when I entered the tranquility that is PURE Ocean Terminal.

From the moment I popped on the fluffy robe to the time I “left the building” I felt that I had been transported into a world of peace and serenity.   Tara, worked wonders on my feet and then, through a fabulous hot stone back massage, was able to untie the knots which have been weighing my shoulders down for a few weeks. I can now hold my head up high again.  Jenny then gave me a lovely manicure – my nails were a bit of a mess through the usual housework, but she transformed them with a beautiful, summery orange nail varnish by Leighton Denny.  This colour complemented the sparkling watch I had been given from the office as a leaving present recently!

I then walked out into the hustle and bustle of Ocean Terminal, found myself amongst the tourists and having lunch with my niece and nephew.  This is what life is all about – the balancing act of looking after yourself, so that you can look after others!

Thanks to everyone at PURE and their team at Ocean Terminal for making me feel “on top of the world”. I will certainly make a return visit.