A Restorative Walk

Like many people, I find it hard to talk about my inner battles.  It is so much easier to put on a smile and say “I’m fine, thanks” than to be honest.  Maybe it is because I don’t want to invite advice.  There are times when one just wants to be alone and allow the emotions to wash over one.   On Saturday night, I encountered a real wobbly.  It was not only a feeling of grief as I read the last email Tom had written to daughter, but also a sense of being worthless and of being a failure.

After a good night’s sleep (despite waking very early), I felt a lot better.  The day continued to get better as I encountered things that helped to put everything back into perspective again.  I shall discuss them, but not in chronological order.

After attending the early morning church service, I had breakfast and then took Suki for a walk.  I walked slowly, trying to make use of my senses to become aware of all that was around me. I inhaled deeply and tried to register the different smells.  I stopped and listened, trying to distinguish the different sounds. In the woods, I rubbed my hands on the trunks of trees and in the fields I allowed the air to gently blow on my face. I kept my eyes open to spot anything new or unusual on our regular walk.

Is it any wonder that I was taken out of my preoccupation with myself and caught up in the wonders of nature?

If you're trying to reach perfection, be prepared to try forever.
Perfection isn’t a place, or a destination, or a goal.
That’s a myth.
That doesn’t exist.
You’re on a long road to nowhere.
And yet, perfection does occur.
It occurs every day in fact...
It’s in the moments, the minutiae, the everyday.
It’s that feeling when your beloved snuggles in and two souls become one.
It’s the love in a fleeting look that says, ‘I got you’.
It’s the table filled with food, family, friends and laughter.
It’s the achievement of another battle fought and survived.
It’s the smiling eyes that look like your own and those who went before you.
It’s the knowledge that you can, no matter what.
It’s a safe roof over your head on a stormy night.
There is no such thing as a perfect life my friend, there are only perfect moments in every day.
The real worry, is a life spent chasing perfection when actually, it’s passing you by. 
In all the little moments, right here, right now.
Donna Ashworth, Author https://www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1...

I know that some readers do not share my Christian faith, but I found that going to church first thing on Sunday morning restored my sense of perspective.  The reading and expounding of the Scriptures especially brought me great encouragement.  The reflection on the gospel reading spoke of Jesus meeting with Simon Peter and restoring him to love and service after his denials. God’s love is there to meet us in our sense of failure.

After leaving church I delivered pew sheets together with a short note to each of two elderly housebound ladies.   It was a very small thing but I know that it made a big difference to them.  Afterwards, I read this post by “The Crystal Goddess” quoting an unknown author.

You might think you don’t matter in this world, but because of you, someone now likes themselves a little bit more because you made a passing comment that made them feel good. 
Someone has read a book you recommended and they got lost in the pages. 
Someone has remembered a joke you told them that made them smile to themselves on the bus. 
Someone has tried on an outfit and felt beautiful because you complimented them on it. 
Never think you don’t have an impact, your fingerprints can’t be wiped away from the little marks of kindness you’ve left on the world - Author Unknown

We all matter in this life and we all can make a difference by practicing kindness.