sunshine for my soul.

I’ve never been one to go to a gym. Never in my life, ever, have I driven to a gym and paid for a membership, or even a one-time use. This is not only because I’m not especially athletic or co-ordinated. There are other reasons; mainly that I couldn’t be bothered, to be honest.

But then, last summer, we moved to a condo with a nice gym (including a salt-water pool, hot tub, and steam rooms) downstairs. At first we felt sometimes like we lived in a hotel. And when we stay in a hotel, we generally find we can work up the motivation to make our way down to enjoy the facilities. So, naturally, we signed up for gym memberships. And it’s been great. All through the long, dark, cold winter (we live in Alberta, Canada- not commonly celebrated for balmy temperatures) we’ve exercised. More than ever before.

Now, of course, the gym is closed, like most other things. Thank you, COVID-19.

Thankfully, it’s spring. Our version of spring involves a lot of snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures, but I’ll take what I can get. The sun shines longer and longer every day. And sometimes, like today, the temperatures are above freezing, and the snow and ice are melting. There’s mud!

And I’m so grateful that the beautiful Bow River is just outside. I can decide to look past the thick (gradually melting) ice on the riverbanks, and notice instead the gorgeous glacial colour of the water.

I took these photos just before writing this little post for you, and I’m aware that not everyone has lots of nature right outside their door. While I want to be real and specific about the blessings I appreciate from day to day in my real life, I don’t ever want anyone to feel sad if you don’t have the same good things to cheer your hearts as well. This really matters to me. So that’s why I titled this, ‘sunshine for my soul’. Because whoever you are, and wherever you live, the sun is always up there above us in the sky. Even when there are clouds in the way, and we can’t really see it shining in a blue sky, it’s there. That’s how we can see anything at all.

Yesterday I wore fuzzy mittens on my walk, and today my hands were bare. Tomorrow, there is snow in the forecast yet again. But, look- see the sun on the water? It was there today, and I felt it bright on my face, and warm on my hands.

So blessed,

Leah