BEING IN PLACE
by contemplativeinquiry

The first days of November were kind to me, with bright sunshine and temperatures good for walking. I have felt fitter and healthier than for awhile, and completed a 7 mile walk on 1 November without much sense of wear and tear. I felt alive in an everyday kind of way and appreciative of the spaces I moved through. My main focus was movement itself, and I took photographs only of places beyond my current ‘normal’ range. Nothing mystical: just the simple pleasure of being in place.
1 November gave me autumn at its best rather than any sign of winter. The canal had, in places, a kind of dappled intimacy, aided both by unmanicured foliage and architecture on a human scale. The quality of light was heart-lifting too, always significant for me.

There were also other spaces, more open, allowing an overview of the canal landscape. The picture below gives an indication of how much blue sky there was, on the day. It was a delight to be able to see so far, and so clearly. I realise how much my resilience, at times wobbly, is supported by simple experiences like this.

That is a lovely place to walk. Seven miles? I couldn’t do that 40 years ago, let alone now.
I got into better physical shape three or four years ago – losing weight, transferring to a largely plant based diet and increasing exercise. (I’d put myself at a worrying level of risk fora heart attack or stroke). The new habits have worked well, and my walking is at last getting back to pre-pandemic levels,