Belated musings on the homecoming

(written a couple weeks ago)

Home again after many weeks away. Although I wasn't desperate to stop travelling I am happy to be here. And on the final stage of our journey, the drive from Toronto to Ottawa, I found myself really excited for a number of things coming up in the near future: reconnecting with Ottawa friends, watching Leo change and grow and achieve new milestones, and organizing/tidying/purging in our home. 

 

Cactus garden in Holon, Israel

I hope to maintain that excitement and inspiration as this family once again finds a daily and weekly rhythm. I'm also striving to lighten up on the pressure and expectations I impose on myself (and others, namely my husband). Hmmm, where is the balance in motivating myself to work towards goals while being patient and realistic with my process? 

 

View over Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

In a recent yoga class, when the instructor asked us to set an intention for the class, I had a realization that my intention is usually to remain grounded. Perhaps I need something a little different now, I thought: inspiration! I don't think it's too late to revisit this idea for this year... I aim to inspire myself and to keep my spirits joyful and uplifted. To enjoy what I have and also to keep my eye on possibility and creativity.

 

Playa del Coco, Costa Rica

Call your grandma

... or mentor, or elder, or ...

Photo by Layton Reid

"Everywhere, there are blessings, there are miracles, there is a universe tending to our million needs for air, comfort, love, support, good roads, kind hearts, tending gatherings and delicious mountains.

And they are the sentinels watching for them, praising them, delighting in them, alerting us all to them."

Looking/Finding

Taking on the challenge, I looked for hearts today as I was walking to meet a good friend for lunch. Can you see the one above?

As much as I hate to see all the snow melt (I still want to skate and snowshoe this winter!), it was lovely walking for almost an hour outside without getting cold. And actively looking for something specific put me in a different mode than usual. I was walking fairly quickly and wondering if I was going to fast to really see the hearts in the world around me. As I continued, I started looking for patterns in the objects, lines, and shadows - looking for the curves that could form the sides of a heart. I noticed where there were a lot of straight lines (buildings mostly) and where there were curves (loops among the otherwise straight power lines, tree branches, forms in the melting snow, shadows). I also would stop and examine complex or "jumbled" visual areas to see if I could spot hearts there.

Do you see it? This one comes across more clearly in a smaller format, actually. It's part of the shadow of this lovely new art (supposed to be bike racks, I've heard - not the best design for that but a great addition to Bank Street anyway).

I started my walk wondering if I would find any hearts at all, but through attention (and imagination) I was pleasantly surprised. This makes me wonder what else I might find or attract into my life if I intentionally look for it.