winter

A Winter’s Day Walk with God… and Kylie

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

It’s only in the teens today, but I was ready to get back out on my new daily walks with Kylie. The last few days have been frigid and awfully windy, so we didn’t get our walks in. It seemed to take me forever as I got my snow pants on, two shirts, one sweatshirt, jacket, headband, two sets of mittens, and finally my jacket. Kylie stood patiently by, her tail wagging, looking at me, then glancing out the door and back to me again. I said, “I’m putting my fur coat on Kylie- hang on- almost ready to go.”

Today the sun is bright in the sky making swirls of colors appear on the white crisp snow on our walk. I thought, wow, isn’t nature magnificient? How did God think all this up? I’m grateful He did. It is quiet when we walk on our path- well- at least it is for now. Our path leads around an athletic field, which is also wooded on the outskirts- but in spring, summer, and fall it is busy with baseball games and soccer.


As I took in the quiet and only the crunching of my boots in the snow and the occasional sniff of Kylie smelling deep into the snow, I took in the silence and the beauty around me. It made me think about choices I have made in my life. The choice I made years ago not to be in the corporate world any more- the choice to no longer work for my husband’s business where I worked in the office for many years- the choice I make to try and live simpler, so I can enjoy these daily walks with Kylie.

I remember working at Kohl’s Department Store many moons ago. A woman I worked with hated her job, but didn’t want to quit because she was coming up on four weeks vacation. It struck me odd, and more so now, that she would continue to be miserable everyday, just because she would lose out on four weeks of vacation if she quit. I realize we all have choices but it made me sad to think how unhappy she was 48 weeks out of every year to only be happy for four.

As I continued on my walk, I thanked God for my time with Kylie which I consider a little vacation each day. How often we store everything up inside us thinking we will relax and be happy when vacation comes, when we could have enjoyed a simple, small pleasure every day. And isn’t that what life is all about? And yes, vacations are good too. I do enjoy them- but I also like coming home again to my daily walks with God… and Kylie.

 

From my Yogi Tea bag:  “Nature is a giver, a true friend and a sustainer.”

Paying Attention to My Corner of the World. Are You Paying Attention?

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

I wonder how often we pay attention to the things right in front of us as well as right around us. This was something I became very aware of when I gave myself the gift of a life coach many years ago. I was yearning for more fulfillment in my life and didn’t know how to go about finding that for myself.

As I went through the coaching process I found myself seeing things right in front of me that I had never seen before. The colors of the world seemed to explode right before me. I wondered why I had never seen this before. The sky was so blue, the green, green grass dancing in the wind, the dog prancing down a sidewalk happily, an older couple out on a walk holding hands.

I recalled years before working at a job that was a half hour from my home. I don’t recall enjoying ride there and back because I was usually worrying about one thing or another, or just not wanting to go to work. How much did I miss?

Once I began noticing nature around me, I wanted more and more. When my husband built my writing studio for me a few years ago, I said I wanted lots of windows. My studio sits on an angle so I am able to see all four corners of my neighborhood and I have 7 windows in my little 10 x 12 room.

Today as I glanced out my windows to the east I saw the light beginning to make its way down into the earth for another night. I quickly grabbed my camera and captured the photo (above). As I look at it is as if the trees in the background look like the tress are in full fall foliage, while the forefront definitely shows winter.  A few moments later I glanced back outside again… and the entire landscape changed… just like that… now early evening setting in, the sun having gone to sleep for the day.

It only takes a moment to capture a moment of nature that can take your breath away… make you appreciate how intricate and magnificient nature truly is… no matter what corner of the world you live in. If you believe it, you will see it.

Even my little Frankie appreciates her view out the window…