BECAUSE WE CAN
Friday, July 8, 2022
Observation is an obvious byproduct of my morning walks, because those thoughts that flow, fuel my day and inspire so much of what I write.
Afternoon walks, evening walks – or middle of the night ones too, it’s the observations that race inside my head alongside recollections of crazy-makin’ moments from my life, or from the day just past, like a pinball machine of noise inside my head while the outside is still and fresh with morning do, afternoon sun or evening’s chill.
Walking around, looking around, all the time can be a distraction or avoidance tactic – I know it has often been so for me to divert my attention from essential obligations. Conversely, it has been the source of so much creative energy. I feel the best advice is to always keep a pen and some yellow stick notes in your pockets for making notes of thoughts when they erupt, sights and sounds that trigger an idea or emotion, to capture them rather than lose them. A nice variation is sending texts to ourselves – whether it’s a reminder of where we are parked, to call someone or a simple word or phrase that will trigger a recollection of what we saw or felt …
Today is special for me in a very significant way – tune in tomorrow, and I’ll elaborate.
And for Calgarians and our tourist visitors, today is kick-off day for the Calgary Stampede, beginning with a morning parade followed by a ten-day-long party with rodeo and cotton candy woven in – what happens in Calgary is transformational for a few long days and even longer nights of whoopin’ and hollerin’ …