Ah, it is a great day outside. And although I’ve had my lunch a little bit late today (and at my desk infront of the computer), I’m making some time to get out and enjoy it! Vitamin D is only one key reason for getting outdoors; but agreed Kathryn, I think it’s about ‘food for the soul’.

Getting some sunshine can pick you up emotionally. Go outside. Stand or sit still. And take a deep breath. Because when you’re sitting at the desk all day, under artificial light, you forget to breathe. Look outside the office window… go and get some of the real thing!

“Life’s too important a thing to be taken seriously.” – Oscar Wilde

Not a cloud in the sky! Together with a gentle breeze the warm sunshine takes immediate affect. I notice my irritable mood quickly fades; my breathing gets deeper; I feel more serene and my senses come alive.

I hear my recently widowed budgie singing again and that makes me smile. I hear a loud siren sounding in the distance and this unnerves me. The sound disappears; the breeze picks up and I breathe deeply. I love the feel of the wind on my face.

I hear other birds communicating to their own; first behind me at the creek; then up ahead near the macadamia tree; then in Mrs Mac’s yard; wow, they’re everywhere and they’re all different.

I hear Filomena’s rooster crowing; no sooner does he stop then her turkey’s start making a “gobbly” sound. I giggle. The wind is whistling now and I hear Tony the horse pulling at short strands of grass behind me.

I wander through the garden, what’s left of it and I find a couple of peas hiding in the trellis that the recent severe frosts failed to claim. Yummo. I gather some old spinach leaves to feed the guinea pigs and I pull out 3 beetroots; shake off the earth; cut off the leaves and SMELL. I have lost connection to the earth. For a moment in time I am connected. I am drooling as I think of sweet roasted beetroot, tossed in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cracked peppr and salt, crushed garlic and a little sugar.

I wander up through the citrus trees and observe the limes, lemons, oranges and cumquats scattered on the ground too ripe to wait to be picked any longer. I eat a couple of cumquats and their sweetness is astounding!

I am so in touch with my surroundings that I don’t want to go back inside. I’m loving this awareness and I’m loving this warmth.

I close my eyes, rustling breeze, warm rays, birds, birds everywhere, cars a long way in the distance; I’m so calm.

My son appears “mum, I’m hungry. What are you doing?”

Back to reality. Much calmer! Thanks Kathryn.

Very visual, Mariana!

Unfortunately my lunch time venture outdoors wasn’t as pleasurable as I’d hoped. It’s quite dark and cold in the city; the tall concrete and glass buildings guarding against that sunshine warmth that I craved.

Ah well. As I look outside today (Tues), and see another wonderful day, I wish more and more I’d chosen to be a lifeguard as opposed to a ‘business executive’ Boooorrrrringg…. ZZzzzZZZzz (in the sun :D)

Thanks Paul. A shame you couldn’t enjoy your 15 mins.
It was lovely, I did it again yesterday and again today.

Mariana, thank you, thank you for your thoughtful and beautiful contribution to the 31 Days. You seem to have such a bounty in your garden.

It was a glorious day on Monday. I spent my fifteen minutes on Monday outside, scanning the paper and watching my cat Trilby, bouncing around chasing leaves and other imagined creatures.

And Paul, I hadn’t thought about those cold, wind tunnels in the City, but there are a few patches of brightness. On TuesdayI had lunch, sitting in the warm sun in Wynyard Park. Laughing and gosspining with Richard and my very closest friend (happy birthday Ms K). It definitely was food for the soul.