During my recovery I often visited nature.
Join me now on a journey of rejuvenation.
Rejuvenation by the seaside.
Our journey starts on top of the headland by the sea.
Whilst the wind is strong,
A little cold perhaps,
A little uncomfortable,
Join me to take a moment to find out what is positive despite the discomfort.
A moment to explore and to discover and to take in the splendour.
As you look out to sea,
You see the white caps of the waves padded by the wind.
And as you look to the beach,
To the south,
You see the salt mist sweeping the landscape.
To the north,
Your view is blocked by trees,
So you move up the headland despite the wind,
Despite the discomfort.
Looking for change.
Looking for a new path you haven't been on before.
And as you do,
The sound of the ocean joins in chorus to the wind.
Take a deep breath now,
Letting the healing salt air permeate your lungs.
And as you approach the top,
You see a gap to the north and the most unexpected vista.
A calm,
Smooth ocean.
Clear air.
A landscape protected from the onslaught of the wind by the very headland that you have climbed.
As you squint through the salt spray,
You choose to move forward and take just one little step forward.
And then another step.
And another.
And as you take steps forward,
You notice that you're on a slight decline,
Making each step easier to walk now.
You suddenly see a gap in the brush.
A path.
As soon as you take a few steps through the soft grass,
The wind eases just a little.
Each step easier than the last.
Each step giving you more shelter from the wind.
Feeling warmer.
Each step becoming more solid as the squishy grass becomes thinner,
Worn down by those who have gone before you.
As you enter the coastal woodland,
New sounds appear.
The ground is a little uneven,
So you watch your step and step between the rocks,
Slowly,
Carefully,
Safely.
With every step you take,
The ground gets smoother,
More solid,
Less rocks,
Safer.
More comfortable.
Familiar somehow.
And as you walk,
You notice how the sun flickers through the palms and other trees.
You stop.
You smile.
You appreciate the beauty of this place.
You notice the smell of the earth.
It must have rained this morning.
The smell of the flowers.
And then,
Two birds are flying towards you and land on a branch a few meters from you.
They are rained by lorikeets.
You're still calm,
Looking at the beautiful colors of these wonderful birds.
Their bright green wings.
Bright blue faces and bellies.
Their beautiful yellow and orange chests and bright red beaks.
Almost too beautiful to be real.
They hang upside down,
Whilst nibbling on a flower.
The four flying off again.
You move on.
And as the path opens,
You come to a small clearing,
Shouldering the headland.
Leading to rock pools below.
And to the beach to the north.
A flock of seagulls takes off from the beach below and head out to sea.
A few head your way.
Again you notice how pleasant it smells.
How fresh the air is.
The smell of the salt in the air.
A tinge of seaweed from the rock pools below.
As you enjoy the peace,
You see a bird,
A large bird of prey.
Copper and white.
Majestically soaring towards the headland.
It glides closer and closer.
A Brahmin kite.
Its strong,
Coppery wings,
Easily holding it in the air cards.
And as suddenly as it appeared,
It disappears.
You realize that there is a difference between looking and seeing.
Between listening and hearing.
Between believing and knowing.
And as you connect with everything around you,
All the sensations.
