walka walka walka

flowers in buckets, west hillhurst

Things have been crazily busy lately - putting in a few 14-15 hour days at school (deadline coming up)... sneaking in a few hours at the studio whenever I can (which is more than you might think!)... and collapsing into bed every night ex-haus-ted but happy....

To tell you the truth, I can't remember the last time in my life that I was working so hard and feeling so happy.  Every day is a good day, in one way or another.  I don't know if I've ever felt so peaceful and productive, and balanced.

The other night when I got off the bus, the man walking in front of me did a little jump, and his arm shot up to touch a gnarled branch hanging low over the sidewalk.  This small act of joy was so simple, but so contagious.  It reminded me of something I don't think about often enough - we all have the power to inspire happiness in others.

I've been walking a lot, trying to keep my body healthy, after days spent sitting hunched over a microscope (dissecting things), or over a flame (making things).  No matter what has happened during the day, walking lets my mind wander, and reminds me to take time to breathe, to let my spirit wring itself out so that I can absorb what I see as I move along.  Things underfoot.  Things in the sky.  Things across the street.  Things in cars as they zoom past.

I notice the smallest details... tiny exuberances and gestures of daily life... and they make me smile.  A little girl's bouncy curls.  The crunch of gravel under my shoes as I trek across a playground - between the swing set and a metal frog on a giant spring.  The red glow of a heater in the bus shelter on a cool evening - the kind where you pull your sweater a little tighter around you.

Looking up, I see a pink, purple, grey sky, and the moon glows white on blue.  I think it's going to rain.

Comments

[Kirsten]

Julie - I think it is so neat that chocolate milk makes you happy right now. I am going through a major chocolate milk phase and can't get enough of the stuff! If you are ever in Saskatchewan, make sure you get your hands on Vico. Hands down, THE best chocolate milk in the world! :)