A giant bonfire lit up the beach.  The evening was crisp and clear as people of all ages gathered for the annual winter celebration.  City workers and volunteer firefighters oversaw the event, ensuring a safe and enjoyable evening for all.  This was a gloriously magical night, with flames shooting 10 feet and more into the night sky while a stream of decorated boats paraded by, their rainbow colours reflecting brilliantly upon the waters’ surface.  It was a feast for the senses with the spectacle of boats and blazing fire, sounds of crackling wood and pounding surf, scent of ocean air and taste of sweet hot chocolate!

The fire offered warmth while the ocean offered coolness, creating a dance of people moving back and forth from the fire to the shore and back to the fire again.  Standing too close to the fire risked overheating while standing too close to the waters’ edge risked chill.  Establishing the right balance was important, similar to everything else in life,  There is a time for closeness and connection, and a time for space and solitude.  Such is the dance of life.  Embrace life for all it has to offer and dance like there’s no tomorrow!  Cha, cha, cha!

“I’m going to Hawaii for a week,” states my friend.  “Can you watch Ella for me?”  “Sure” I respond.  Ella is a beautiful orange manx cat who is the queen of her roost.  She lives on the top floor of a condo with magnificent sweeping views.

Ella walks demurely around her home.  She holds a stately pose fitting for a queen and exudes this most of the time except for when she races wildly from room to room, as if chasing elusive prey.  Ella exudes both the grandeur of royalty and the simplicity of a fun-loving child.  She reminds us of some important life lessons, such as:

• Take time to relax and be your natural self;
• Let loose once in a while and have fun;
• Eliminate the ‘hairballs’ of life (aka stressors);
• Retreat regularly to your private sanctuary;
• Spend quality time with those you love!

Ella and I bonded in our 7 days together.  She came to trust me and be fully relaxed with me.  We gazed into one another eyes and pondered the mystery of life together.  Nature reveals much wonder for humans.  I wonder what comes next in this wonderful gift of life!

*

Winter is fast approaching. The leaves have changed colour and fallen to the ground. The air has grown cold and become frosty at night. Darkness comes before dinnertime now as we gradually adapt to the seasonal changes. Even mother nature’s creatures must adapt to these changes.

The raccoons and crows have turned to winter foraging for survival. Every morning, I open my blinds anticipating their visit.  I know they have been here when my front lawn resembles a churned up ocean.  The crows scatter chunks of sod helter-skelter while the raccoons overturn large sections of turf, sometimes creating perfect jellyrolls.  I was once a fan of jelly rolls but not so much these days.  I am intrigued by the ingenuity of these creatures but disheartened by their destruction.

We all share this planet together.  Whether masked and furry, dressed in black and feathered, or human, we must cohabit in harmony as much as possible.  The cycles of nature reveals immense lessons for us to learn from, every moment of every day.  I asked myself how I might honour nature while honouring myself at the same time.  The result is a restorative ritual.

I begin by putting on my garden boots and embarking on a restorative dance.  I methodically stomp pieces of grass back in place, one by one, while chanting “All is well.”  My neighbours have other strategies.  One has erected a glaring owl in the center of destruction, another has laid wired fencing over ravaged areas, while still another has planted colourful pinwheels throughout.  These have become common lawn decorations for the winter season.  Soon they will be accompanied by giant nylon snowmen, luminous deer and the echo of Ho, Ho, Ho ringing through the air.  And the cycles continue.

There is a group of four young women whose birthdays all fall in September.  They regularly get together to share fun and camaraderie.  On the last get-together, two were not able to make it.  As a result, two peculiar looking gourds took their place.  One was round with many short legs and the other was oval with a long curly stem.  Each had two eyes which had been drawn on paper, cut into circles and attached with sticky tape.

Although the gourds were only playful representations of the two absent women, creative imagination and technology allowed this foursome to stay connected without missing a beat.  Using their smart phones, conversations and laughter transpired with the spontaneous sharing of photographs and text messages.  The foursome wined, dined, and enjoyed one another’s company as they always had.  A photograph of the two gourds sitting comfortably at the edge of a hot tub while the other two lounged comfortably within was testament of their strong friendships.

This is the month of Thanksgiving.  These creative young women brilliantly shared their joy and appreciation for one another in a unique and fun way.  They stay connected and fortified their bonds into the future.  Friendships are a gift not to be taken for granted.  Show appreciation to those you care for.  Love and laugh often.  What you give to others will be returned to you in ways you cannot perceive!

Block parties are usually fun, social events that unite family, friends and neighbours.  I arrived at an annual block party expecting a large gathering of people engaged in boisterous conversations, laughter and good food.  To my surprise, there was an eery quietness and only a few people standing around.  The host approached me and quietly explained what had happened.  Everyone was having fun and enjoying themselves when one neighbour’s dog attacked another neighbour’s smaller dog.  Unfortunately, the smaller dog did not survive.  Distraught residents who witnessed the traumatic incident had withdrawn to their homes.  Only a handful of people remained, huddled in a circle.

The tragedy happened at the start of the evening and as time wore on, people slowly emerged from their homes.  Even the owners of the small dog emerged, who were greeted by heartfelt exchanges and tears of sadness.  It was truly a poignant moment and I could not help but feel their pain even though I had never met them before.

This is life.  When we least expect it, tragedy strikes and takes our breath away.  It feels terrible at the time, turning our stomach and world inside out.  Then somehow, some way, we find the courage to return to living.  We find a crack of light in the depths of darkness.  We find hope and reach out to friends to help ease our pain.  We allow our tears to flow very naturally.  Albert Smith once said “Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it”.  Tears are good.  Tears are healing.  Tears cleanse us from the inside out.

“What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul” – Jewish Proverb

Be thankful for the tears that flow.  Tears are an important part of being human.  Embrace your humanness today.