Exhaustion

I am tired. I long to return to this beautiful small island and walk through the forest and climb among the moss covered trees.

Last September a young couple had invited me to their wedding. As one of only 40 guests I was very honoured to be there to witness the day. The ceremony took place to the left of that tree, in the forest, beside a small creek, with light rain falling. It was one of the loveliest weddings I have attended.

Almost three years ago my father and I visited the Cathedral Grove and walked around many giant Douglas fir trees in the old-growth forest. It was a place similar to Galiano Island where one can spend time just sitting or walking and breathing in the pure, fresh air and feeling such a close connection to nature.

It reminds me of the times in my youth when I would plop the canoe on the roof of my car, and drive down to the lake to canoe all on my own, soaking in the fresh air and enjoying the stillness. Life changed shortly after that, with marriage, children, work, career. All of that has left me exhausted. The next few days will be the busiest in a long time. I used to accept work to survive, now I need to decline work in order to survive.