Thoughts From The Wilderness – Obey The Signs

glenmckenzie(justabitfurther)

Oct 4

It goes without saying, that in life there are some timeless messages that first of all "we hear" from time to time, and along with that those messages that "we should do."

One we've all heard(I'm sure we all have) or some version of it is "slow down and enjoy life."

You only have one life to live. From my understanding, you only get one simple chance at it.

Take time to slow down and relish those moments. There may not be a "yield sign" stuck on the shoulder of the road of life suggesting you slow down. It may be something much more subtle or perhaps a major event dealing with your health.

Regardless, carve out time for yourself; and for your family; slow down with no clock or agenda and love those moments; cherish them.

A few years ago when we were still living in Ontario along the shores of Georgian Bay, Lynn and I spent five glorious hours hiking a rail trail through a beautiful forest area close to where we live. As well, it was also the start of my week of holidays. Not that I'm bragging or anything.

To be honest I really wasn't overjoyed in going. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to go, but we had been on the trail many times in the past and I find it really isn't challenging in terms of effort.

But, what we thought, or more of what I thought might be an hour or so out there, turned out to be five hours and 10 kilometers later, a soul-refreshing afternoon. Scrambling down ravines to check out small tiny waterfalls and rapids; a side trip down a snowmobile trail and a slow and leisurely pace, for the most part, created and added up to an afternoon that was just needed when needed.

Although the sign is meant as a reminder for snowmobilers in the winter, there is much wisdom in the advice and direction the sign provides.

However, and a big, however, is.....only if we apply it in our lives.

For most of us, our days can be a whirlwind of work, home, family, and all the responsibilities that go along with each of them. It all leaves little time during the course of the week for anything other than the above.

We need often, if not weekly or even daily to carve time out for ourselves. To get away from responsibility if only for an afternoon; a few hours; a few minutes.

A hike in the woods; a paddle on the still waters of a northern lake. It doesn't matter. Reading a book while sipping away on a hot cup of tea on a wintery Sunday afternoon sounds good as well.

The key is to slow down and enjoy it. Don't make "your time"; that time in the woods, paddling on that pond, or reading that book is just something else to "clock watch" and another activity to check off your already long list of things to finish by Sunday night.

Doing that sort of defeats the purpose of ........