Jogging along the river towards my secret rest stop, my special rock, I saw a couple walking ahead and getting rather close to the rock entrance. “Noooooo, don’t go left, don’t go left” I said in my head, glaring at them with lazer eyes. I knew I couldn’t catch up to them in time and overtake them, so I just kept hoping/glaring/lazering. Then, they got to rock entrance and just kept on strolling. They didn’t stop. “Yes” I thought and felt super relieved. The relief lasted a mere two seconds…because when I went left onto the rock there were some other people there. People sitting on my rock. “Nooooooo.”

I did wonder if I should stop or just turn around and go. I wondered if I’d enjoy the rock if others were there too. I wondered if they’d been there a while and if my presence might make them go…but oh, what if others come along too? My rock time was now or never. I chose now.

I sat, I breathed, I looked out at the river, I felt the cold hard rock, I heard the other people chatting quietly, I smelt the mangroves. I melted into the moment. I was right where I needed to be.

Nowadays I don’t look ahead. I don’t try and guess what others might do, or how it will affect me, I just do me in the now. Me in the now.

Love Stripes & Trees xxx

My recent attempts at finding stripes have been rather unsuccessful. I’ve seen many manmade stripes – plastics, metals, stripy envelopes (thanks Mum), but not the usual stripes of nature.

Hmmm. I thought we saw what we wanted to see. Well, it’s not happening folks. Right now I seem to be seeing how I am thinking, and my thinking is certainly not linear, but instead a jumble of tumbleweed. There is lots happening to those I love.

If I saw straight lines everywhere it might be a sign that things were just fine and dandy – stable, smooth, clean, certain. But I’m not sure that’s realistic, or sustainable, or even good for us. I’m thinking that a straight line life might be monotone not a melody, and personally I’ve always liked a good tune, especially a catchy chorus, or the lulls of melancholic pop.

The other day on a bush walk, my kids said something along the lines of ‘it seemed to take longer on the track than the road’ and we talked about not knowing where you are going when there are bends on the track. Never knowing what’s around the corner, not seeing the goal, but instead navigating the moment and noticing things along the way, and growing and learning as you go.

Straight lines do give us a breather though, and for that I am grateful. It’s a mini break from daily stresses. Tracking along the 180 is far easier on the eyes than following a spiral or any angle. Less energy expended and the satisfaction of completion – from start to finish. Sometimes it is good to know there is an end.

But best of all, when you have several straight lines you have stripes. I’d like to gift a few straight lines to my family and friends who need a break at the moment too. Or find your own stripes, they are out there somewhere, lurking beneath the tumbleweeds.

Love Stripes & Trees xxx

So many decisions, always.

So many consequences.

The blessing and the curse of freedom.

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Which way is the way?

This way, that way? Which way?

Any way.

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Walk, run, skip, hula hoop if you like.

Just choose and move.

Forwards, sideways, even going backwards is fine, it really is.

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Any way is the way.

Any way.

Love Stripes & Trees xxx

(If only our options really looked as beautiful as trees).