Well, today is the last day in Ucluelet, BC. Tomorrow we head to Courtney as we begin to head back to our home on the prairies. Most of the return trip is about visiting extended family. Needless to say, I miss being in my own home and in my own bed after more than two weeks of being away. There is still another week and a half to go before then.
Hiking has made up the bulk of my activity for more than two weeks. During this time I hiked about 170 kilometres, hiking in sunshine, rain, and overcast skies threatening rain. I has been a blast. I am certain that the exercise, along with a reduction in boredom eating, has allowed me to feel so good about my body.
This is an important realisation – treat the body as though it is a temple. Eat well to feed the temple and exercise to allow the temple to withstand the ravages of time. The biggest winner in all of this is my psyche. The whole process is like a full body meditation. The Tibetans don’t just sit in meditation. They engage in walking meditation. Their daily chores are another offering of meditation. And, their exercise is purposeful meditation. I am no where near this level of mindfulness, nor do I expect to ever get there. And that is okay.
For the past four days, and for two days earlier in this journey, I have been enjoying time in a hot tub. Naturally, in all instances, even at my brother’s home, time in the hot tub was done while clothing free. Once inside our accommodations, clothing was again dispensed with as unessential. With the body uncluttered by clothing, the mind was uncluttered as well.