Reset to Refresh

Last week I took a walk in our local conservancy which had been flooded in parts, the river was bulging and some pathways had been completely flooded. Reminiscent of April 2022 when Durban was hit so hard with flooding and we were able to paddle the kayak down the pathway!!

I walked with my two dogs. I was playing it safe with the mud and water, going cautiously. I got to a flooded bit of path and thought, not sure if I want to get my takkies (trainers) wet… and then I thought “what they hang, why not?!!” I waded in, the water clear and as deep as mid-calf. It was awesome! My big dog absolutely revelled in it!! She was bouncing up and down and all around, trying to get the little dog to play with her (he was simply attempting to hold on to every ounce of dignity he possibly could!)

As I walked, I thought of the concept of fresh hope again and how we can cultivate hope in our lives. Life has been busy, I’ve worked some pretty long days. There is a lot going on, as there always is. By the end of the week, I am weary. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this and we all relate to a level of weariness that means we feel depleted and are in need of replenishing. Depletion in a physical and/or emotional sense can allow cynicism, negativity and overwhelm to take centre stage most especially when we don’t (or can’t) do anything to replenish ourselves.

Hope is cultivated in moments of joyful delight. To experience spontaneous play and adventure is to feel refreshed from the inside out.

By the way, it’s so interesting that many, many ideas for blogs or other creative endeavours come while I walk! When I neglect to walk because I am too busy then very often I neglect to sit and write because I just don’t feel the inspiration. I get to feeling stuck and out of creative juice.

Walking lifts me out of myself and elevates my perspective. Nature is a natural anti-depressant and anti-anxiety tonic for me. Especially when I choose to do something different – like wade through puddles or change my route, or stop to watch and listen to what’s happening around me.

Hope is cultivated when we change our perspective. After a week of working hard, I knew I needed a different view other than my office or playroom or laptop. I needed to be away from home so that I didn’t just quickly do this or that task. I needed to step away from my phone and not be contactable.

If you’re struggling with hope, I would say stop trying to generate it from within yourself. We need to see things differently to start thinking differently. You may need to step away from watching or reading world news, and focus on the good and beautiful you see around you. Find a little time to play - spend time with a playful dog, or a toddler if you're needing inspiration!
Get out there, get your feet wet and muddy, walk, notice what captures your attention and makes you smile.

As we head towards the end of Term 1 of 2025, take a moment to refresh and reset.