It’s increasingly difficult these days to find balance in our lives. Balance between anxiety and joy, between despair and hope. In the famous words of musician Bob Dylan, the times they are a-changin.’ In recent months, much of our familiar has been replaced by the unfamiliar. The line between trust and mistrust, ally and enemy has been blurred.
In these difficult shifting-sands days, it’s important to nourish our well-being and remind ourselves goodness and kindness are still prevalent in our world. Of course, we should not ignore troubling world events, especially those happening south of what is a very close international border. We should access reliable news sources to stay informed about changes shaping our world and our future. But we shouldn’t succumb to despair or rage. They help no one.
These days, I hesitate before turning on the kitchen radio at breakfast time. The radio is tuned to 100.3 FM, good old CBC, and the morning news have been a familiar part of my routine for some time. But this changed recently. A barrage of upsetting news is not good for my digestion, so the radio stays off while I enjoy a boiled egg or bowl of oatmeal. My breakfast is undisturbed by reports about Trump and trade wars, spats in the White House, the bullying of President Zelensky and deportations. Increasingly disturbing news can wait while I fuel my body and rally my resilience.
Another important element of my nourish-the-spirit routine is an afternoon walk. Like many other locals, I enjoy getting outdoors most days. A brisk walk gets the heart pumping and helps clear the head. Thankfully, our beautiful valley offers a myriad of quiet trails and back country roads to choose from.
I tuned into CBC radio recently to discover a broadcast discussing the benefits of forest bathing. Had I heard right? Forest bathing? Imagining an odd outdoor plunge for nature enthusiasts, I was amused to discover this unfamiliar term is modern jargon for quiet time spent in a wooded area. Known also as shinrin-yoku, a Japanese term, it is said to promote calmness and connection to nature. Don’t we already know that? Sadly, it appears that far too many humans are out of touch with what is wild on our planet.
A quick Google search confirmed others were unfamiliar with the term. “Does forest bathing involve water?” was one common search command. “What do you wear to go forest bathing?” was another. The Forestry England website goes so far as to offer a guide for beginners, including links to Sensory Walks (thumbs up) and Explore the Forest on a Segway (big thumbs down).
Many of my afternoon walks take place in the Wildlife Management Area, so perhaps I should embrace new age culture and call myself a wetlands bather. The images that spring to mind are certainly entertaining. Retiree Margaret splashing in the ponds among honking Canada Geese or sloshing with a family of otters. It could be fun, if it wasn’t too cold. But I digress.
Another ingredient in my finding balance program is attending community cultural events. Creston offered a rich variety of cultural events recently: musical performances, a mountain film festival, art exhibitions, The Red Thread by local writer and performer Ellie Reynolds and an ambitious production of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream by Kootenay River Secondary School students.
And on Feb. 22, the ballet came to town! There wasn’t an empty seat in the Kootenay River Auditorium when Ballet Victoria gave their premier performance of Carmina Burana. It was a delight to see the talented young dancers and happy faces of adults and kids in the audience. Kudos to the Creston Concert Society for making quality events like this possible in our rural community (and a reminder of the society’s Keep the Lights On fundraiser to upgrade an aging system with energy efficient LED lighting).
The first months of 2025 are certainly challenging and a test of our resilience. Stay properly informed and consider the impact of your actions. Meanwhile, fly those bright flags, hang onto a sense of humour and, when possible, bathe in goodness and beauty.
Margaret Miller is a long time resident of Creston Valley.
