From where you’re sitting right now, if you look to your right and to your left, what do you see? And then, pause for a moment to listen. What can you hear? Are there fresh smelling scents to lighten your air? Now pause to think… When was the last time you stopped to  smell the honeysuckle, so to speak?  It’s out there, you just have to go searching for it.

For some of you it’s in your backyard where you enjoy gardening, digging around in the  fresh black dirt, watching worms slither in and around the clods.  Many of you find your connection at the beach, where just the sand under your feet takes you to your happy place!  Wherever it is, I encourage you to find it as often as possible.

Last week in my blog post titled Together we can learn to fly – I mentioned I couldn’t seem to get back on the trail. Running in the woods is what really keeps the clock ticking right for me.  Hearing all the birds chirping, watching squirrels start to run in front of me on the trail but then decide “no, better let Flo have it right now.” Sometimes I pause and give it up for a long black snake to finish his journey in front of me. But then to my right – the wonderful smell of honeysuckle in bloom. And now that the run is done, as I sit here on the park bench in front of me I see a pretty red cardinal flirting around, a green lizard making her way up her tree while I sit here writing.  Meanwhile swatting mosquitoes!

My love of running in the woods began in the forest when I worked at Duke University in the library. What an amazing break from slapping OCLC Numbers on the back of books!  After moving to Pilot Mountain, I found the trails behind our house an enormous refuge. From there, living in downtown Frankfort, Kentucky in a second-story apartment I struggled with the concrete and pavement until one day I decided to venture up on Fort Hill!  Amazing trails with daily deer sightings and a wonderful view of downtown Frankfort! For 2 1/2 years I frequented The Hill whenever weather permitted. Since moving to The Big C, (Charlotte, NC in case you didn’t know) it’s challenging to find safe trails! But today this one has allowed me to again realize how important it is to get out and be close to nature.

Working as a tennis coach in the great outdoors is a privilege in itself!  However, there are elements to contend with just like any JOB you have. Perhaps the AC doesn’t quite get enough cool air into your cubicle, or maybe your kids have been told daily to get their clothes up off the floor and you again see the big heap today , or maybe your boss came in to work in a really bad mood and you’d like to tell her to take a flying leap!  Farmers contend with natural elements like snow,  rain and wind, wondering if there will be a harvest this year?   With outdoor tennis courts  being our work-space, we compare ourselves to farmers in the sense that STUFF HAPPENS!

Regardless of where you find yourself today, I encourage you to take time to connect. Get out somewhere you can enjoy this great earth God has given us to live for a few short years.  It’s amazing how those annoyances diminish in our minds!