Listen.

My word of the week is LISTEN.

I've never had a word of the week before but I do like the idea. And to be honest, lately I don't think I've been very good at listening. Hearing the noise, yes. Feeling and reacting for sure. But taking the time to stop and listen to what is really going on is something else entirely.

This morning in the midst of the morning chaos I took a few moments alone to listen. I heard the early morning birds calling out to each other, I heard the girls calling Jo Jo, Jo Jo, Jo Jo, I felt that Miss Indi might need a little extra loving and I felt stuffy and claustrophobic and a yearning for space and time.

Then I really listened. And I heard that I needed to break the routine, to get outta here. To clear my head and get some space.

I suggested a bush walk to my farmer boy and to my surprise he agreed.

So after dropping the girls and sorting a few things out, we walked up the back of our property, climbed over the barbed wire fence and into the bush.

And it was exactly what I needed and just so wonderful to see the reflection of the trees in the lake-like puddles. To breathe in the icy mountain air and have it burn my nostrils and fill my lungs. To spend time with two of my favourite boys. To explore with no plans. To walk behind and watch my farmer boy's cute bum. To start off freezing, but slowly become hot and tingly. To visualise the blood pumping around and healing my sore shoulder. To listen to the birds calling and the water rushing by. To remember how much we loved walking in the bush when we first moved here. To realise that I still do love bush walking. To watch Jo Jo run and jump and leap and climb and to watch as he ran off hunting for minutes at a time but always coming back. To discuss which animal made which poo. To wish so hard to see a wombat. To make a mental note to bring the girls along next time. To find a hundred year old drain under the train line. To marvel at the amazing effort of the men that built that tunnel by hand and imagine what their lives would have been like. To day dream. To chat. To be in silence. In the moment.

And then to return a few hours later refreshed and ready to take on my week. Everything looked different, even our house from the top of the hill.

It's going to be a wonderful week I think.

I wonder what adventures it will hold. I'm listening.

Are you?

xx