Day 10 was a nice, warm summery day. I decided that the best form of exercise would be a walk around the neighbourhood. It’s rather fun going past people’s houses, and hearing the day to day noises of life! Especially after the tough times we’ve been having in Christchurch.
On a summer’s evening, people tend to gather and spend the evenings outdoors. You can hear laughter, music, the sound of people eating, and oh, the smell of food cooking on the barbeque. There really is nothing better to relax you. Even when you are in the middle of a disaster zone, like we are here with the Christchurch Quakes.
Nature has given us a tough time as the planet reminds us that we are just parasites living on it’s back. We’ve been through nearly 10,000 aftershocks (hard to believe we are getting close to that number). But even with all the horror and challenges Nature at its worse presents us, you can also find signs of beauty.
Walking around the neighbourhood, as well as the noises and smells I’ve mentioned above, you also get to experience life at it’s best. Kids happily playing in the park or in their back yards. A well tended garden with beautiful roses within reach, their scent filling the evening air. People out walking or jogging, enjoying the warmth and the sun and each others company.
The thirty minutes went quickly, and as I turned down the street leading to mine, I noticed the damage to the houses, the bricks that have been removed from the walls and replaced with temporary plywood cladding. The widening cracks in the foothpath. The deepening potholes in the road. The liquefaction around lampposts. Even with these reminders of the earthquake, I managed to keep my mood positive. After all, on a night such as this, it’s good to be alive, and I feel grateful that I do have the ability to exercise and improve my health, fitness, energy, moods and well being.
What have you done today to appreciate the good things in your life?
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