The Beautiful Outdoors....

What an exceptionally beautiful weekend, the first holiday long weekend of the school year, and nothing but sunshine. The only thing to make my weekend more satisfying would have been popping the top of my Westfalia VW van, camping out for Thanksgiving weekend, and eating a deep fried turkey by the fire....oh well, that one is still on the bucket list. Having said that, I made use of every opportunity to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.

My activities included a couple simple walks through the neighbourhood breathing the fresh ocean air, watching the squirrels scamper to collect the last of mother nature's food, and pondering the housing crisis which seems so non-existent. On my street alone two new houses are framed up and waiting for the windows to be installed while a couple streets over a mini subdivision is being developed where two lots have now become six. Now this may not be an example of insufficient housing, but it certainly demonstrates the increasing cost of home ownership as outlined in the Vancouver Sun article, The High Cost of Home Ownership. The average "Vancouverite" can now expect a mortgage in the neighbourhood of $346,000, the highest in Canada outside For McMurray.

My family and I ventured on our bikes for a journey through the trails. My son, the opposite of Max van Manen's son, barely focusing on the task at hand and more concerned with the many other ideas floating around in his 5 year old brain. So entertaining to listen to him and his mother discuss the why's, what's and how's of the world. The notion of an "active mind" is truly at play here and it highlights the need for students both young and old to be physically active in order to be mentally active. Meanwhile my 2 year old daughter is enjoying her therapeutic ride in the bike trailer, copying all the words possible that her older brother is saying while pointing out all the dogs we pass.

Even my most productive moments of the weekend were occurring outdoors. Washing the vehicles, mowing the lawn, decorating the yard with autumn and halloween displays. This is truly where I am in my element, as much as it pains me to put in the time and effort, the final product is like a masterpiece. All the components coming together, the clean and shiny car, the beautifully manicured lawn and garden beds (pesticide free of course), and the festive themed decorations positioned throughout the yard. It is an unusual activity to experience flow, however out of all my experiences this weekend my alignment in the flow spectrum was centred during "yard work." It truly meets all the requirements focused; sense of ecstasy; great inner clarity; knowing activity is doable; sense of serenity; timelessness; intrinsic motivation. Now, if I was not a teacher I could envision myself as a Landscape Architect but once the rain comes I will be more assured than ever that the HEAL program is where I belong.