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A Victoria Day Weekend to be Grateful For

“I live to enjoy life by the littlest things, feeling the grass between my toes, breathing fresh air, watching the wind sway the trees, enjoying the company of loved ones, a deep conversation, getting lost in a good book, going for a walk in nature, watching my kids grow up. Just the feeling itself of being alive, the absolute amazing fact that we are here right now, breathing, thinking, doing.”​ - Marigold Wellington

It’s interesting how, when something is put out of reach, it leaves one wanting it that much more.

Up until a couple of days ago, all Conservation lands and water access in this area were deemed off limits due to Covid-19 restrictions. My craving to get out on the water exponentially increased as a result. When the word came that the restrictions had been lifted I couldn’t have been happier and was thrilled to be the first one out on the lake this morning.

I don’t use the word “bliss” very often but the first pull of the paddle brought on a wave of pure joy that left me smiling. With the sun burning off the last of the morning fog, I followed the shoreline and enjoyed the geese and the song of countless red-wing blackbirds, just perfect.

At the northern end of the lake, my favourite part as it is loaded with hundreds of partially submerged and gnarled tree trunks, a pair of swans greeted me. As I sat quietly, they confidently approached, craning their graceful necks and honking, a sound that echoed in the quiet morning.

I lingered there awhile, sipping good coffee and appreciating their company.

Gratitude; the word popped into my head right at that moment. We are in the middle of a pandemic and I just recently lost a dear family member and yet here I sit, feeling grateful beyond words. The healing ability of nature, it truly is remarkable.

I was reminded of a recent Meeting House podcast I listened to last week. Danielle Strickland spoke so eloquently on the overused hashtag #blessed and how we can frequently apply it to the unremarkable or mundane but in this setting, free to immerse myself in my thoughts, I felt it truly applied.

It was good to see the trees turning green and feel the sun on my face. Good for my body and good for my soul.

It is my hope that the sun shines on you wherever you are today. Enjoy the day and be grateful for it.

As always, thank you for reading my blog, I truly appreciate having this outlet and thank you for your comments and your time. Happy Victoria Day!

#Kayaking #Hamilton #nature #Ontario #Dundas #outdoors #environment #photography

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