Earth Week

This week a life event has been taking place for my sister and her life partner Blaine. As I have mentioned before, Blaine has cancer and each day his health has been declining more. It looks as if the end may be very near and they are together now sharing their last hours. I read a quote today that goes something like; 'Life is great, death is peaceful, it's the transition that's so troublesome.' All of my loving thoughts and compassion is with them at this time.

This past week has also been Earth Week. I did my best to get involved and do take reducing my carbon footprint very seriously. As I was walking the 8 km home one day I kept thinking about how far it was to my house and getting very tired and frustrated. When I realized that all my thoughts were focused on arriving, I switched to just thinking about the walking. I looked around and noticed everything around me more clearly and even found a new path along the river. Of course this parallels life in general; being able to live each moment, each day to it's fullest. I am grateful for today.

Over My 1st Hurdle

I have not said much lately about this walking thing, because all I have been able to think of is the pain and I’m not much of a complainer. The pain, that moved from my left arch to my left knee, then to my right knee and then seemed to find a permanent home in my right arch. Every step included a sharp jab through my foot, not to mention the stiffness that was making me move like I was ninety. A couple of weeks ago I decided that orthotics would help, so I ordered some and the pain continued, along with the strange feeling of these foreign things in my shoes. Falling back on the old life lesson “just when you get so frustrated that you want to quit, don't give up because things are about the change” I kept going. Today I am elated to have just walked 2 kms at lunch and NO PAIN! Not a single jab  It took a month and 150 km, but I am sure that I’m over this 1st hurdle. The next challenge will be hills. Currently everytime I see one I walk in the other direction.

Yesterday was my 54th birthday and I’m feeling pretty positive about being another year older. I feel grateful for everyday that I am given the opportunity to experience life, whether in easy or challenging times. Next year at this time I plan to be walking across the Pyrenees from France to Spain. The 1st mountain is a steep walk through wooded areas from altitude 50m rising to 1400m. I need to start walking towards those hills!

London's Walking Trails

What a great discovery! How have I never been aware of the great walking trails right near my house? London is just full of wonderful walking\bike trails and there is a map of them all here. I'm still struggling with pain quite a bit though and I have some orthotics ordered. I'm sure hoping they help the situation.
What a beautiful Easter weekend it was! Happy Spring to all.

Walk for Blaine

Walking with intention is much better than just walking to see how far I can go. For one thing it combines two things that I've been telling myself I need to do for years..... exercise more and meditate. Today's walk was filled with thoughts for a wonderful person; my brother-in-law Blaine. Blaine's battle with illness is a very tough one right now and I send lots of love to him today.

It is Easter weekend and I have 4 days off work. I plan to spend much of this time with my family and also lots of time outside enjoying this glorious weather. I have finished reading 'The Pilgrimage' by Coelho and I wasn't crazy about it. This was the 1st book that he wrote and even though it was about the Camino de Santiago, which I am very interested in, there was just too much weirdness in it to keep me from loving it. He spent lots of time talking to spirits and even at one point fights a dog because he needs to exorcise the evil spirit that lives within it. So that's my big book review for you. I normally do love Coelho and the next one I have to read of his is 'eleven minutes', which apparently is about sex, so hopefully he won't get too weird about that too! First I will read 'Hypnotizing Maria' which my daughter Grace lent to me and she seemed to like it a lot. Between working, walking and reading, housework is getting lower and lower on my priority least these days. Good for me I say!
Happy Easter :)