Arabian Dusk in Abu Dhabi

Near a hotel in Abu Dhabi, the coast unveils a view that seems almost suspended in time. Out on the Gulf, a handful of long, wooden sailboats drift offshore, their tall, triangular sails angled to the wind. The canvas catches the fading light, glowing in shades of tan and rose. For centuries, these vessels have crossed these waters with pearls, fish, and trade. Even now, their silhouettes against the dusky sky appear unchanged as if they sailed straight out of another era. Before we wander around, let's take a brief moment for a wind down exercise. For tonight's wind down, you're going to use your imagination. So, get your imagination ready and let's begin. So, no matter what's been going on today, whether it's been a busy day or a calm one, this is an opportunity to put everything down, to let go of any inner chatter and find a place of rest in both the body and the mind. So, first, get yourself comfortable in bed, just taking a moment to pause and be still. And when you're ready, take in a big, deep breath, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. And as you breathe out, allowing the body to sink down into your bed, feeling the weight of the body, allowing thoughts to come and go. Now, imagining, a steady flow of warm sunlight flowing down through the body, dissolving any tension, any discomfort, as it begins to fill the body, starting with the toes, moving up through the feet and the legs, being filled with sunlight. The qualities of warmth, space, and ease as it continues to travel up through the body, up past the waist to the back and the stomach. It's as though it washes away any discomfort. It continues up through the chest and the back into the shoulders and down the arms, all the way down to the hands and fingers. A sense of relief in the body and stillness in the mind as it continues to travel up through the neck and the throat into the head and face all the way to the very top of the body until there's nothing other than that sense of stillness remaining. And now just gently bringing the attention back to the body. (fireplace crackling) (silverware clattering) Inside the hotel is a lounge called the library. It's not a library for studying, although you certainly could, but rather, a quiet space for coffee, tea, and small indulgences. More than a lounge, it feels like a refined hideaway, designed as its own private retreat. The walls are decorated in orange-toned panels and polished black marble. Books and curated objects rest on open shelves, giving the room the intimacy of a private study. Low armchairs are gathered around small, circular tables where porcelain cups sit beside plates of handmade chocolates and freshly baked pastries. The air holds the essentials, roasted coffee, steeped tea leaves, and the sweetness of cakes cooling nearby. In the...