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1 November ~ 2007

With sun far in the south now, the winter light has taken on a unique yellow tint, whick marks the character of the holiday months here in Colorado.

We have been blessed with calm weather, and I took advantage of it with some very active days - raking the leaves in the yard, walking on the Greenbelt with Ben and Maggie, and travelling the 20 mile round trip to my storytelling class mostly via bicycle.  

I rode my mtn bike from home to downtown, then put it on the lightrail to go south. After the class I rode the bicycle back downtown, and ate at the Corner Bakery on the 16th street mall. I put my bicycle on the 38 bus to get back home. I was exhausted by then and slept most of the way, which renewed my energy to get dressed and go out dancing til midnight.

A dear friend was telling me she isnt happy right now. I resisted giving any advice for fear of sounding trivial. I am a believer that happiness comes to those who immerse themselves in simple, healthy activities, who are grounded by spending a lot of time out in nature. Naturalist John Burroughs said that happiness is found by those who don't go searching for it, who have a simple and busy life:

"Happiness comes most to persons who seek her least, and think least about her. It is not an object to be sought; it is a state to be induced. It must follow and not lead. It must overtake you, and not you overtake it. How important is health to happiness, yet the best promoter of health is something to do. "

I learned that very quickly when I was working to recover from my life partner leaving. Rather than sit home and mope about, I got up and got moving - backpacking, walking with the dogs, riding my mountain bicycle all over Denver instead of driving, and dancing. My volunteer work is an extension of that - sharing my love of nature with children and their teacher and parent helpers, and helping out at Colorado Horse Rescue.

And I have to say, happiness overtook me several times this weekend - bicycling into downtown Denver and seeing how beautiful the strong afternoon light was on the trees in city park and on the tall buildings and statures. I always make sure to circle around in front of the statue of the trapper and his dog, because it reminds me of me and Ben.

Then there is the peaceful companionship the rest of my household beside Ben and Maggie. I put Amy's Bunny and Guinea Pig in the front yard to enjoy the warm sun. Later I went out in back and sat down and talked and petted Amy's cat who sleeps in a box under the picnic table on the deck.

After petting Gizmo I went down to walk in the leaves that are on the ground in the back. They remain where they fall, to in time become soil again. I found several good pears on the ground cushioned in their fall by the leaf cover, and even found a few delicuous ones still ripe on the trees, softened by our morning frosts.

Ben and Maggie follow me around in the backyard and sit at my feet in the chairs I have placed at the base of the trees. Those two are the best friends, and I sometimes think they and my other dogs have been my greatest teachers. We walk out into the cold Colorado mornings with pure hearts and perfect happiness - and an unspoken gratitude for and freedom in another day of this life, together.

(to see a 700 pixel wide image of the above collage, click here; to see a 1400 wide pixel image of the above picture, click here.)

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