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This weekend we went for a hike to Cape Split and while we were walking through the woods, I realized several amazing things. We had been on the trail for about an hour, talking as we went and as it does, conversation slowed. I found myself listening to the sounds around me, truly looking at my surroundings, taking it all in.
I absolutely love spending time in the woods. A huge part of my childhood was spent exploring in the forest around my parents’ home with my siblings. The rustling of the leaves, the smells of the different vegetation, the colours, the sounds of the birds and critters, all remind me of those wonderful times spent in the woods growing up.
Walking on the Cape Split trail, I smiled as I recalled those childhood memories. Glancing up at the trees with a more mature perspective, I felt a sense of calm, peace, solitude and a sense of being at home within myself. The forest reaches up to the sky, so tall and strong. The trees, moving in the breeze, show signs of adaptation in the way that their trunk or branches grow straight but then veer off at an odd angle due to some stress or obstacle that was in its way at one point during its life. Fallen trees, now full of new growth, prove that even a huge change can lead to a whole new opportunity. Life finds a way.
The reminder that there is always a way to get through, around or over things was uplifting. That sense of peace that fills me when spending time in nature, especially with my husband, feeds my soul like nothing else.
Our day ended up being so amazing! Having a picnic, literally at one edge of our province, enjoying the awesome scenery, was a beautiful experience. I love the feeling of success after a nice long hike and this particular one was so peaceful and inspiring. We celebrated our successful journey, with a stop at the Lookoff in Canning on the way home, enjoying another breathtaking view. (There may also have been ice cream involved…) We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful province.
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