Hello there,
Seventy-four hours ago, I let out a huge breath closed my eyes and sunk back into my chair having just clicked submit on an assignment due in that day. It felt especially good to have it finished as it was the last assignment due in before my university study finished for the summer ahead. No more deadlines for the whole three months ahead and a much-needed break from academic reading felt good. Don’t get me wrong I do enjoy studying and working towards a degree feels great. Each module completed is a step closer to graduation and recognition of all the hours spent studying. Still, it is tiring at times especially fitting in studying around family life, pets, employment, and other commitments the summer break is eagerly anticipated and enjoyed.
Yesterday we went on a slightly different route to walk the dog than usual, and I couldn’t help but be reminded of all the beauty that is outside waiting to be noticed. A variety of flowering trees decorated the landscape in various colours from bright bumblebee yellow to deep mahogany creating an eye-catching scene. One of my young sons noticed an abundance of buttercups and roses and commented on how nice they looked. They did. He was fascinated at the sea of yellow and wanted some to keep. Although I did let him pick a couple of buttercups, I gently told him to leave the roses of which there were few. “We can come see them again anytime” I told him with an encouraging smile.
As we continued along our walk this led to me considering how so many people in the world just rush around their daily lives transferring their stresses into the next moment of the day and causing others to rethink interactions and worry. How refreshing it was just to take some extra time to appreciate nature. To slow down. To smile at what can grow despite the sometimes-harsh conditions of severe wind and hammering rain that arrives every now and again. Maybe to ensure we are not getting too used to sunshine and warm dry weather or a message to look after nature and be mindful of how we treat the planet perhaps.
Nearing the end of the walk as we stepped gently along the grass, I especially liked how the greenery added a mysterious element to the easement concealing what was ahead.
It looked as if we could be anyone headed anywhere.
I quite liked that thought.
