Unexpected Blessings & Simple Joys

A friend of mine in the cancer community expressed a hope for me today... that I might find "unexpected blessings" and "simple joys".   As I read his note this morning I was just hoping that I would have the energy to finish my bran flakes!  But it has turned out to be a day filled with unexpected blessings and simple joys!

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To begin with, the debilitating fatigue which has plagued me for the last week is gone!  Cause enough for celebration!

Shortly after breakfast I had an unexpected call from daughter Kelly.  She had no classes until this evening and time to spend with Dad!  Always a blessing and a joy! We decided we would take in the meditation session at InspireHealth, "do lunch" on Granville Island, and have an afternoon stroll on the Seawall.  A good plan!

We met on the bus downtown and had a totally awesome hour of meditation with 20 other cancer pilgrims at InspireHealth, my integrated cancer care community.  Such an incredible experience to find inner peace and outer stillness in the midst of our busy city lives, and to do so with others!   For me, today, to simply SIT (without pain), and to be AWAKE (without dozing), was blessing and joy enough!

Feeling both "at peace" and"energized", Kelly and I walked down to Granville Island where our "Netloft Lunch" was serenaded by a couple of maritime musicians playing a joyfully simple set of "jigs" and "reels".

A further treat was the "ferry ride" across the calm waters of False Creek. The view out from English Bay was beautiful.   There was a light off-shore fog partially obscuring the ships at anchor.  Otherwise the sky was mixed, cloud and clear, with warm sunshine prevailing.

Every view along the Seawall was a gorgeous palate of reds, oranges, greens, browns, and yellows.  The leaves are falling but the color in the trees is still spectacular.  A few more days perhaps!

We walked the Seawall along English Bay, past our Sylvia Hotel to Second Beach and then went around "Lost Lagoon" on our way back to the Westend Condo.  The last, and most unexpected, blessing was a beautiful Swan dance which I have never seen before.  Two large male Mute Swans, with wings preened, were turning synchronized circles, pirouettes really, in a very elaborate dance.  We were amazed!

This was truly a good day.  

Joyfully blessed...   Rob; in Vancouver

"It is the sweet, simple things of life

which are the real ones after all."

Laura Ingalls Wilder