Empty Benches - Lives Well Lived

I have spent these last four days exploring Comox and the Sunshine Coast with good friends. We walked a few trails, spent much time along the ocean and just enjoyed life. Whether I am walking along a coastal path, a path in town or hiking in the mountains I always come across benches. These benches have usually been placed there for people to sit upon and take in the wonderful views. Many are in memory of loved ones, of folks who obviously lived lives well, people who were loved and valued. The benches are a way of saying thank you for the gifts you gave to others in life. 

The conversations these benches have heard and the memories they hold would make a lovely book.  I enjoy taking pictures of the benches, waiting there, to be filled with adventurous folk. 

This past week as I came across these benches I thought about how empty they look, sitting there waiting. In life we can sometimes have that empty feeling inside of us. A feeling of unfulfillment, loneliness or of something just missing. Even when our lives are filled with the busyiness of life, filled with family and friends there can be a small spot of emptiness. 

I am certain there are folks out in our world who often feel that emptiness, that hollow feeling that maybe can come when we don't feel grateful for all that we have. Times when we desire more from life and I don't mean in material "things". It's most likely that those who have little in life feel more grateful for what they have than those who are very blessed in life, but even when life is full there can be a desire for something more. 

Being outdoors always brings me a sense of gratefulness. Grateful for this wonderful planet we live on, grateful for all of natures beauty and all the places I am able to visit. 

Mostly in life I believe we need to be thankful for all of our family and friends, those people whom we love and who love us in return. The people we journey with who will sit next to us on the empty bench and be there with us as we absorb and "fill" that emptiness we may have inside. 

It's important to take that ten minutes each day to stop what we are doing, take a few deep breaths and look at all we have in our lives, count our blessings and let that grateful feeling expand and fill the emptiness we may be feeling. 

We need to have meaning and purpose in life, we have to feel valued and value ourselves. Life is short and we don't want to spend it just waiting, waiting like the benches, waiting to be filled. We need to get outdoors and live life, be adventurous and absorb all of the gifts we have been granted and say "thank you".

To those folks who take care of our planet, to those who build the walkways and trails, to those who place the benches for us to rest on and take in the wonderful views that surround us I say "thank you" for all that you do and all that you have done  - it has brought joy and fulfillment to so many. And especially to those who are always there in my life journeying along beside me, to those who gave me an appreciation for the outdoors and allowed my adventurous spirit to explore the trails, and to those who sit beside me on the benches, for all of you, I am most thankful, you have helped me to feel valued and to be filled with gratefulness. 

Living Life

This past weekend was a long one and in many ways. It was a weekend full of laughter and tears, celebrations and grief, and time spent in the outdoors. Life is so very precious and I always try to make the most of each day and fill it from morning to night with friends or adventure but mainly both. 
It began with the wedding of my daughter's best friend where I happened to run into two of my childhood friends who I haven't seen in some time. It was good to share memories and get caught up with their lives. It was wonderful to witness two young people beginning their life together. There was so much to be thankful for. 

Sunday morning, a friend and I headed over to Gabriola Island to do some caching and to meet up with our kayaking friends on the beach for lunch. It was a beautiful day and we needed to be outdoors. The day before we had lost a good man who left this world way too young. So we spent the morning finding caches and then we received the coordinates of where our lunch gathering would be. Being great "cachers" we had no problem at all finding the lunch "cache".

It was good to be with pals and share stories about our friend , it was a time to laugh and a time to mourn and in sharing our grief the healing process began.  
Gabriola Island is full of parks and trails and we never seem to have enough time there. One could walk for hours crisscrossing the trails near the shore and traveling to all the little beaches. 

Today was our lucky day. Just before heading back we found two caches that we had searched for three or four times before. Today we made the two quick finds and so our bushwhacking effort was well paid for and we left the island feeling quite successful  and a little more accepting of the sadness in life. 

The following day I was blessed to be able to go kayaking with my buddy who paddles as often as I hike, actually more than I hike. We headed out from Genoa bay and traveled down the coastline and around Separation point to Sansum Narrows. It was a glorious day to be out on the water. 

The waters were calm and so it was an easy paddle and a time to be reflective and just enjoy the animal and sea life we saw along the way. I found it especially wonderful as I could look up at the hills I normally hike and see where the view lookouts were. It was great to see it all from the "other side". It is always helpful in life to be able to see things from both sides, it just gives one another perspective. 

We stopped at three beaches, morning hot chocolate break, lunch break and then a final stop to hide a cache and take a swim. Yes, the water was a bit cold but totally refreshing. It was a day of light conversations, sharing of childhood stories and just being thankful for natures beauty. 

It's hard to believe that so much could happen in just three days. Life for one ended, a marriage began, friends explored the outdoors together connecting with nature both on the land and on the water. Sometimes I wonder if I should keep myself so busy but then something happens and once again I am reminded how short life really is and how precious each moment is. 

Time spent with family and friends needs to be valued, time spent outdoors on the trails or on the water needs to be savoured. When the time comes that I am no longer able to hike or explore I want to be able to look back at all the wonderful times I had being out in creation and remember how healing it was. Life is hard, but life is also very good and for me, to keep it all in balance I need to connect with creation often. It gives me time to breath, time to reflect and reminds me of all the good in life there is. The blessing we have here on our island are abundant and they out weigh the hurts and the pain we sometimes feel, a million times over.  Life is good. 

Blessings in Adventures

It's been an awesome weekend with each day full of adventure! Friday I was blessed to go hiking with two of my children and three of my grandchildren out to Stoney Hill. The first time we have actually gone out on a real trail together with the two little ones hiking along and not in carriers. 

They did so well and had no problem what so ever. They even found a couple of Nana's caches along the way. Since the day they were born I have dreamed of the day when I could take them out hiking and caching and it was just wonderful to have that dream fulfilled. Although we have hiked together before this seemed like a true hike out in the forest with trails, views, caches and a snack a long the way. 

They are great little hikers and I can't wait til we can all go again and hopefully my newest grandson will be able to join us. 

Saturday my pals had planned an adventure for us all and off to Gabriola we went. It was raining on the way and when we arrived at the selected park the wind coming off the water was quite cold but we braved onward and found a little spot out of the wind and thankfully the rain stopped. 

We had a wonderful lunch cooked on their "Jetboil" stove and just enjoyed being together while soaking in the beautiful ocean views. 

After lunch we were blessed to be able to walk along the trails in the wind, without the rain. I love Gabriola and every time I go it is so fulfilling and lifts my spirits. It brings out my inner child and I can't help but just laugh and have fun when I am there. I'm not sure if it is because I am on a different island away from home or just being near the ocean in the wind that has me dancing inside. 

Sunday I joined one of the local hiking groups and hiked up Eagle Heights in Shawnigan Lake. It was 8 km and only 3.5 hours but it was very steep, both going up and coming down. It definitely gave me and my knees quite the workout. 

It was a lovely forested trail with waterfalls, moss covered rocks and slopes and lovely arbutus trees. 

There were lots of different tiny flowers along the way.  

The view at lunch wasn't too bad either but the trail coming down was very steep, narrow and loose rocks from dirt bikes going up and down. Thankfully I managed to get to the bottom without slipping or falling. 

It's always great to get outdoors and to have three days of adventures, each very unique from the other, made for the most fantastic of weekends. Life is so short and time goes by so fast that one just has to make the most of each day and each moment.

Tomorrow it is back to work which will be filled with blessings of it's own but I know what will get me through each day will be the respite I received this weekend. Wonderful trails, time by the ocean, awesome family and friends, great food and Mother Nature, it just totally restores my body and soul. 

Self Care in Solitude

A few years ago I stopped hiking on my own due to the wildlife that kept getting reported. I still remember the day I went out on my own and turned around because I was scared to be in the bush alone even though it wasn’t out in the “wild”. I’ve spent the last two years always hiking with friends which I absolutely love. It brings companionship on the trail and someone to share nature’s gifts with.

The view of Samsun Narrows from Stoney Hill

These past two weeks have found me wanting to be outdoors and no one available to be with. Twice now I have gone off on my own for very short hikes, no more than 30 minutes from where my car is parked. Each time I have sat for an hour or two and enjoyed the beautiful views of the ocean, once from Stoney Hill and once from Genoa Bay.  

The view from Genoa Bay  - the other side of Stoney Hill

It has been such a blessing. It has given me some much needed solitude time out in nature. I had no idea how much I missed it and yet I truly did miss having my friends with me. However, on the Genoa Bay hike two of my friends were down below paddling their kayaks. It was comforting knowing they were there and yet I was still alone in the silence of nature. 

May pals below paddling into the marina at Genoa Bay

I guess life gets busy and I try and fit both family and friends into whatever free time I have and it’s wonderful to have people to be with but I realized how important it is to have time to reflect on life and just sit and soak in the beauty around me. 

Awesome pathway through the little oak trees - looking out to Cowichan Bay

I had fun finding little treasures along the way and just sitting in the sunshine warmed me and calmed me from some of life’s frustrations.

Tiny Shooting Stars along the pathway

I obviously need to do this once or twice a month. It really only takes a couple of hours and can be so “refueling” spiritually. I don’t have to hike or drive far. Just fifteen minutes up the road and twenty minutes down the trail. I believe it is important to practice self care so that we can be healthy for others that we love. Life is full of stresses so making sure to take time out for oneself is important. It’s not selfish but very necessary.

Beautiful trillium

Today not having time to drive anywhere I spent half an hour on my patio just sitting with the evening sun on my face listening to the cute little birds chirp around me and bees buzzing happily in the flowers. 

My backyard companion

Spring has finally arrived and it was so peaceful and nourishing for my soul. Later this evening I decided to take a short drive and watch the sunset. It’s always so soothing to watch it slowly sink below the mountain. While I waited I was entertained by the sounds of birds chirping, the quail quickly dashing and the baby bunnies hopping down the trail. It was nature showing me that spring really is the most wonderful season. 

The ending of a wonderful day

Today was a great day and I feel rested, restored and renewed all on top of feeling so very blessed to live on this wonderful Vancouver Island. Life is good especially when you take the time to get outdoors and appreciate the world around you. 

Extraordinary Day!

Today I joined a hiking group to and headed down to East Sooke Park to hike from Anderson Cove out to the beach along Copperhead Mine and back through Anderson Trail. It was a beautiful sunny day and just the perfect day to be out doors enjoying the forest, trees, creeks and then of course the beautiful views of the ocean. 

Today's hike was 12.5 km in length and took us about five hours to complete. The sun was shining, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees brought a peaceful feeling to me. I quietly hiked looking in all that surrounded me.  The many greens of the forest always looks so lush to me and the sound of the little creeks bring me joy. 

I had hiked along the coastal part of the trail before but one of the hikers had just recently moved here from Ontario. Although she has traveled all over the world, it was wonderful to hear and see her excitement upon reaching the water. Her excitement was contagious and gave us all a new appreciation for sights that were somewhat familiar to us. 

Our world is so full of so many beautiful places. I would love to travel and explore the world hiking and seeing all the wonders of this planet. However, although I am unable to travel everywhere I would like to go, I am so thankful that my island home is full of beautiful sights to see and places to have adventures in.  Sometimes the best places our right out our own back doors.

Whether I choose to drive north, south or west on the island there are mountains to explore, beaches to enjoy and many many lakes and rivers, each so very unique in their own way. There is always something new to see as nature is always changing and evolving. 

Life is not always easy and there always seems to be lots of horrid things happening in our world. So many people struggle with illnesses, both physical and mental. When it hits close to home it brings many worries to friends and families. Today I spent much of the time thinking of a friend who was just diagnosed with cancer. As I stood looking out at the ocean, feeling the wind off the water I prayed for all those who are struggling that they find strength, healing and peace. We never know what will come our way in life and if we think too much or worry too much about the future we will miss out on so much of today. 

I know the day will come when I am no longer able to climb the mountains or hike the trails. Each time I go out I spend time absorbing the sights and feelings that surround me. I breathe in deeply to connect with nature and all that it gives to us and I say "Thank you". Life is so short and we never know what tomorrow will bring. It is so important to live each day fully.  

Quite often in life we get used to the beauty that surrounds us and we forget how blessed we are. Things become ordinary instead of extraordinary. I continue to remind myself what a gift life is and not to take any moment of it for granted. I want to make memories that will carry me through long after I can't get out on the trails. I want to be able to look back and say WOW..wasn't that an extraordinary day! And today certainly was!

Circle of Love

Love comes in so many forms in this world. I love potato chips, I love hiking and exploring, I love my friends and I love my family. Now I have to admit that the love I have for my family totally out weighs the love I have for anything else in life. 
My family continues to grow and grow. Every year we seem to welcome new souls into our family circle. Children marry, friends are adopted into our family and even some pets join the circle, and then grandchildren our born and our circle of love just keeps expanding and expanding.
It's only the beginning of March and I have already welcomed two new babies into my life and into our family circle. Both boys born four weeks apart. They are a blessing to all of us and each a sweet little soul with their own looks and characteristics. One has an older brother and one an older sister so they will both be the "little" brothers in their families. 

Life is full of wonders and mysteries and so much love. Love is what brings warmth to our hearts and joy to our lives. There can never be enough love and yet there is always enough. The more there is to love the larger our hearts expand with that love. 
When I gaze into the eyes of my new born grandchildren I can't help but feel the love and then wonder what gifts they will be to this world. I am thankful they are healthy and have loving parents to give them all the necessities of life and surround them in that unexplainable parental love. That unconditional love that we all have for our children. 

When I play with my older grandchildren who are two and three I can't help but love them more and more as they each develop their own little personalities. They are so open and honest with their feelings and they share their love openly with lots of hugs cuddles and giggles. 

My oldest grandson has been staying with me these past three days while his Mom and Dad were in hospital welcoming in his new little brother. As we packed up his bag this morning I told him he was going home to sleep with Daddy tonight. Now I know inside he was ecstatic to be going home because he has asked every night for his parents, but what did my sweet little three year old say to me "Oh I'm sorry Nana, I will miss you. Sadie will miss you too because we love you so much"  Now if that doesn't bring a tear to one old Nana's eyes nothing ever will. He gave me a big hug.

So now we shall head out and have one of Nana's adventure days together and then I shall return him to his family my heart filled with love that hopefully will last me through these next few days til I get some more Nana cuddles from one of my littles that so bless my life.
Love its what we all need, its what our world needs and it comes in so many forms that there has to be enough for all people. We are all so very different and live such different lives but we all need to open our hearts and open our circles and let our circle of love just grow and grow for all people everywhere. 
Ah my heart is filled to overflowing with love from all the blessings in my life...i am one very happy, love filled Nana.

Back in Balance

This morning I left home not knowing where I was really going to go but ended up heading towards a short little 5 km trail at Jack Point that I have been wanting to hike for years. Up until a month ago though, I didn't know where the trail head was so was unable to come here and explore.

So although it was raining I decided to give it a try and wow...it was a beautiful little trail and the perfect place to find some alone time and just soak in the quiet of nature. 

Life doesn't always go as we would like, there are curves and twists in it all the time, which I guess is a good thing. As I walked among the arbutus trees filled with twists and curves it reminded me of what life is like. 

They, like the people in our lives are all beautiful and amazing to be with yet there are some trees that look like I feel at times...old and gnarly!

And then others looks so very perfect, like I wish I could be. However nothing is really perfect in this world and we just have to take it as it comes.

We are all so blessed to be surrounded in such beauty and it is a great reminder for me to always be thankful. There is just so much to be thankful for.

And when some days you feel like you are all alone in the world....

a friend just pops by or up and reminds us that we are never alone, there is always someone there when you need them. 

It was a great morning, sitting quietly by the water listening to the waves gurgle around the rocks. As much as I love hiking and caching with my pals, every now and then I need to escape out on my own and just be still with nature.

And as always, after a few hours out in the rain and wind, surrounded in beautiful creation, life is back in balance and my soul is recharged with hope and an inner peace. I am thankful.