Happy Birthday to me (Stevie Wonder style!)
Another trip around the sun with hope in my heart.
This is my birthday month. I love October, for sure.
There is something about this time which is transitional, moving between doing and being, at pace and slow, productivity and rest.
And the colours just give me a warm hug every time I see them. Yellow, orange, red, burgundy and browns.
Just writing them down here makes me smile.
Since 2021 when I turned 50, I’ve managed to do something special for myself for my birthday week.
2021- VW van hire to drive around the Isle of Arran with only a heron as company.
2022- Two weeks out in Washington State to visit a friend I hadn’t seen since 2018 when in Iceland. WA was mountain lakes, pines and coast.
2023, this year, sees me walking the West Highland away with my oldest friend from University. 96 miles of breathtaking beautiful with my knapsack on my back.
I relish the thought. The feeling of just getting up each day, packing up and walking.
Over the days, you can get into a rhythm where you can walk for longer, walk further and still have that warm glow at the end of it.
Day two of walking and things are going well. We’ve had rain and dry. No bright sun yet but I hold out hope. Hope. This is what this walk is gifting me. Hope. After being stuck inside for weeks it feels t be outdoors stretching out my legs and taking deep, heartfelt breaths, is a gift. It gift to myself in partnership with nature. I’m filled with a child-like wonder as we course through the woodlands and forests, around and over mountains and scrambling along Loch Lomond which has a tendency to go on and on. But I’m not complaining.
I’m taking each step at a time, each day at a time, each rest at a time as I give thanks for meeting another birthday, meeting another trip around the sun, more or less in my full glory.
Happy Birthday to me. And many happy returns.
Until next time
All the best
Sheree
Happy birthday, Sheree! Enjoy your trek and your next trip around the sun!