Making Lemonade

Life is not always easy, especially in times when there is so much sadness and pain in our world. Vehicle accidents, people dying way before there time, countries at war and the slow destruction of our environment. We are constantly being faced with news that is hard to bear. We never really know from one day to the next what will happen in our lives. We all have our hopes and dreams, some of us even plan way into the future. Many times those dreams are not filled because life doesn't always go as we want it to. 

It's important even on the darkest of days for us all to find the good and be thankful for what we had or have and what we are able to experience. Even as we grieve, depending on the loss, we can remember the good times or we can seek new directions and allow ourselves to move forward. 

On days when life doesn't go as we want it to or be what we had hoped for and sadness enfolds us, it helps to get outdoors. When we are outside in nature we can soak in the beauty that surrounds us and eventually we can let go of some of the pain we are feeling. 

Being out in nature restores me, reminds me of all that is good in our world, reminds me to be thankful for all that I have. Breathing in the fresh air, soaking up the sun or the rain, depending on the weather, energizes me and gives me a sense of joy. Whether hiking a new trail or an old trail there is always something to new to see and be amazed by. 

Bright colours that catch my eye, beautiful greens that are even brighter in the rain and fungus of all shapes and sizes. 

Sometimes the tiniest of things in life can bring us great joy and help us to breathe and get respite from our struggles in life. When I see something so small growing against all odds it brings a smile to my face and gives me strength reminding me once again how blessed I am. It can give me hope that tomorrow will be a better day. 

Some say "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" and for me hiking on the trails, exploring the forests that surround me and being amazed by this extraordinary world of ours, helps me "squeeze out the juice" to make that lemonade. There would be no joy or love shared without there also being some pain so on those painful days get outdoors, it's the best medicine life can give us.