Welwyn Hatfield Cllr Michal Siewniak on his summer holidays

Life outside of holidays seems quite manic and busy. During the summer season, most of us enjoy travelling, visiting unknown places, trying out new cuisines and learning about new cultures and traditions.

Welwyn Hatfield Cllr Michal Siewniak (Image: Michal Siewniak)

It is so true that travelling is an enriching experience, which helps to widen our horizons.

There is so much that I am taking away from my annual leave this year; from opportunities to recharge my mental and spiritual batteries to admiring wonderful nature or getting to know the history of new countries and communities.

This summer, I was lucky enough to travel abroad and spend holidays with a group of 40 people.

This year, like never before, I felt the need to re-evaluate the way in which I live my life. Am I looking after myself well enough? Do I pay attention to my own health? Do I exercise enough? Do I really do my best to find the right work-life balance?

The answer to most of these questions, unfortunately, is no. Equally, it was also important for me to detach myself from Britain; getting perspective on my life in the UK from another angle was very useful.

None of the above would have been possible if I hadn’t tried to create and then enhance relationships with people that were part of my 'holiday experience'.

From daily Mass, some stunning walks in North Macedonia or Slovenia, delicious cups of coffee or spontaneous karaoke nights, each conversation, big and small, helped me to grow and appreciate the real beauty of building deep and meaningful dialogue, which became a critical ingredient of rediscovering myself.

It is good to remember that despite a number of challenges, we truly are a family and we are all called to be at the service for one another.

At the end of the day, this is what really matters.