Tranquility Amidst a World Gone Crazy

I've never liked watching the news, unless it's something very, very close to home. Well, there has, in fact, been a heck of a lot happening here in South Africa for many years already that affects all the people of our beautiful country, but I've become tired of listening to all the degradation in the cities and towns.

Since moving into my new home, where the kitchen and living room are an open-plan design, I've started watching world news while having my early-morning coffee.

A world gone crazy, with Breaking News at the bottom of the screen only emphasizing that fact. There's nothing I can do to change things, so what is the point of watching if it's only going to make me miserable!

I've been taking control of my health, or rather, been trying to do stuff to improve my health. Looking back, the prolonged bronchitis was possibly a good wake-up call!

The very best therapy has been walking, and there are many pathways to choose from where I now live; some in shaded areas, which feel like one is walking in a mini forest. Others in open areas, that's really nice if you're looking for sun. This walk took me to one of the estate's property boundaries, a bit of a harsh section showing that we need electric fencing here. At night, security guards still do their patrols, as criminals will find a way. Security is so strict here, though, that there has never been an incident.

I've come across so much tranquility during these walks: waterways, stunning plants, and birds of all kinds. Many of the homes look out onto small lakes and waterways.

The Dassies (Rock Hyrax) have become a problem, and together with KZN Wildlife, they have been trying to curb their numbers, removing many from certain areas in the estate. Some of them carry rabies, and no one wants to be bitten by a rabid animal, no matter how cute they look. If you look carefully, you can see quite a big one sunning himself on top of the giant rocks.

Recreation areas are scattered in the different sections, often next to one of these small lakes. I truly live in a paradise and feel immensely blessed. This pool area near my home is very pretty, and also has a large covered area with tables and chairs, and braais (BBQ). Don't think it's always this empty. I took that photo on a weekday morning. Yesterday afternoon, some of the residents were making the most of the facilities, a great way to cool off in our hot summertime and get to know your neighbours a little better.

I know it's difficult for those living in the cities, but make the time to go to a public park and find an escape to nature, and start going for regular walks. Obviously, when the weather permits. Weird to think that we're in the midst of summertime, while the other side of the world is experiencing snowstorms and bitter cold.

I did see that on the news;)

I hope you enjoyed walking with me, and that some of you start taking control of your health, and not wait till you're in the autumn of your lives! As for me, I am just enjoying this new chapter, been through deep waters, but thankfully did not allow grief to break me. That for sure is not what my beloved hubby would have wanted!

So, get off the chair and onto your feet and start walking, open your eyes and see the little miracles in nature.

And remember, it really is never too late, until it is!

To end, I would like to share a little Hauser music for Three Tunes Tuesday #244, an initiative of @ablaze. I'm sharing a very different genre from the usual #ttt fare, and hope some of you will enjoy my choices of the Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser's music. He performs solo, has been called a real twenty-first century cellist who has revolutionized classical music by blending it with other genres like pop and rock. Together with his friend Luka Šulić, he also performs as a member of 2CELLOS2.

The idea of Secret Garden is one that everyone can relate to. We all have landscapes inside us, secret rooms where feelings and impressions grow as a little garden. We have individual ways of finding this garden. Some talk about it, write poems or letters, paint, or even talk a walk to reflect over life. We all have our own way. But what is common to us, is a strong emotional feeling that is an essential part of our nature... -Rolf Lovland, Composer

Historia de un Amor" (Spanish for "Love Story") is a song about a man's old love written by Panamanian songwriter Carlos Eleta Almarán. It was written after the death of his brother's wife. It is also part of the soundtrack of a 1956 Mexican film of the same name starring Libertad Lamarque. The song tells of a man's suffering after his love has disappeared. It holds the world record as the most popular song to be translated and sung across the world in various languages by various singers from the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Source

performed Caruso as part of his "Alone, Together" project during the 2020 pandemic. He dedicated it to the amazing efforts of frontline workers around the world and paid tribute to all that is good in humanity.

I hope you enjoyed listening to Hauser. It may not be your cup of tea, but I dare you to listen, and you may change your mind;)

^{I am combining #ttt and #wednesdaywalk, because my next three days will be taken up by a visit from an old school friend, all the way from the Netherlands. It's going to be a busy time!}

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