It’s a bright, sunny Autumn day and a perfect day for enjoying life’s simple pleasures. A day for spending time with friends or family soaking up the sunshine and fresh air.
Today, for the first time in what seems ages I went for a bike ride with my good friend Christine. It was the first time I took my new e-bike anywhere on the bike rack I bought especially for it. Man, that bike is heavy! I had to get my husband to lift it on and Chris and I lifted it off together and back on again at the end of the day.
Life feels good at the moment. Today was a good day. We had a ride out into the country and had a nice lunch together – probably putting back on the calories used up when biking – and enjoyed chatting while we rode. We have a lot in common including our grandchildren and often talk about them when we are together. I am thankful that I can still have days like this and soak up every opportunity to ride my bike and get out in nature.
Life can feel hurried in these busy times, but today was about taking our time, enjoying the ride and not rushing to get to our destination. In epitomizes my new attitude to life. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, don’t think too much about the destination and enjoy the moments shared with the special people in my life. Many years ago, my husband and I joined an ‘Over 40’s’ tramping club to try to increase our social circle. Not hard, as our social circle is very small indeed. We went on a couple of tramps with them, but decided not to continue. The reason for this is their attitude felt contrary to our own philosophy. The leaders seemed hell bent on getting to the top of the hill, or wherever the destination was and not enjoying the journey. I remember stopping when we came out of the bush and looking out at a riverbed surrounded by beautiful trees. The leader came along and admonished me, saying ‘We haven’t got time to stop, hurry up!’ Needless to say, I was not best pleased! If stopping to admire the beauty of nature is wasting time, then count me a time waster! I will stop to admire the song of a bird, watch a bee on a flower and watch a fantail flit from branch to branch. I will pause at a waterfall to admire it’s beauty, or a stately tree in the forest which has seen more years than me. I will not rush headlong through life missing the opportunity to truly experience it.
Long may I continue to experience and celebrate the simple things in life, for they are the things that nourish and support my soul.
My journey with Parkinsons 