Strolling along a lonely path on the banks of a local river, the early morning air is cool and fragrant. At this time on a summer’s morning when there is no one else around, the only sounds to be heard are those of singing birds, gently moving waters and the hushed rustle of leaves blown by a gentle breeze.
Here in this haven of peace there is an almost tangible sense of calmness, which creates a deep feeling of serenity within. Ambling along this morning, one recognises that we need so very little to experience true happiness. A little food, some light summer clothing, a roof over our heads, friends and the willingness to leave ourselves open to the beauty that surrounds us. Ah; the fleeting calm pleasures of an early morning in summer.
Have you ever walked in a summer meadow? Wild flowers abound here; their scent fills the air and their colour dazzles the eye. The beauty of the meadow, the whole landscape that you walk through, is no grand display or dramatic expression of what nature can do rather, what lies before you is like an intimate sigh; the merest hint of a breeze on a summer’s day. Stop for a moment, sit down and simply watch the world of nature at work. Watch and allow yourself to become absorbed in the timelessness of it all; release yourself and become captivated by this very moment of the present: there is real meaning in moments like this.
During the gentler weeks of summer it seems easier, more natural, to find pleasure in the simpler things of life. At times such as this life itself, can become like an intimate sigh on the merest hint of a summer’s breeze. Body relaxed, mind content, life’s cares forgotten for a while on the beautiful banks of the river, or in a flowering summer meadow; who would not be relaxed, as life’s stresses melt away.
To simply enjoy a warm summer’s breeze is to discover contentment
And to cap it all a lovely poem from Claire Torrance . . .
