Weekend Meditation

I’m sitting at my desk. It’s as good a place as any to be sitting, and begin this blog post. But I haven’t a clue what to write about. I’ve been reading this weekend’s Weekend Meditation over at the Kitchen, and ruminating on my own mediations for what the previous week has held, the up coming week has in store, and where I am at right now in my life.

It’s Summer. I’ve been busy revelling in it. Being outside. Just being in nature, which for me, in Amsterdam, means the park.

Predominantly I walk through the park, but sometimes I just want to sit and take it all in, and watch the passers by. The families who are playing with their children. The balls which are being thrown for enthusiastically exuberant dogs. The couples who are oblivious to everything outside of the depth and colour of their lovers eyes …

Then I get a little bogged down in the fact that there is no where in Amsterdam to really “get away from everyone” unless you’re in your own home and behind closed doors. The city is just so densely populated. And in my summery and relaxed frame of mind having random strangers stop to chat to me can be taxing, no matter how hospitable and friendly they might be, it wasn’t the aim of my being outside.

So I created a little oasis for us both on our balcony. Somewhere relaxing that we can just go to sit, surrounded by greenery, to be at peace and soak up the sunshine. Of course, that’s on the inside of the apartment complex. Where several of our neighbours have children within yelling/screaming age ranges. (I’m sure one baby has colic! The poor wee mite.)

Sometimes I miss the desolation and isolation of the countries we grew up in.

Then I realise that that is remarkably unsociable of me! Wanting to be away from the other humans like that! And my Big Girl Panties go on, and I head off to knit night to chat with some like-minded souls about the joys (and frustrations) of fibre.