I was walking along the ocean on the Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas, Australia. It was a very warm day; I could feel the heat on my skin. The ocean breeze was lightly blowing fresh, salty air which was delightful to breathe. The sky was bright blue sprinkled with white fluffy clouds. Large palm trees bordered the far side of the ocean path and unripe coconuts could be seen laying at the foot of the trees. Sand crabs of various sizes were busily creating dynamic art sculptures which made it challenging to walk through without stepping on them.
I felt calm, in unison with nature, in awe of the beauty of the moment and so grateful to be where I was. I definitely felt a sense of wellbeing. Even though I knew that this moment would quickly be a memory, it was a beautiful feeling to rest in, for as long as I could.
As I continued to walk, I thought more deeply about wellness, about what wellness is and how to embrace feelings of wellness more often. I found a log and rested on it, observing the beauty around me and feeling fully present in the moment. It felt good.
Thankfully, it is not necessary to have such optimum conditions to experience feelings of wellness. I have had similar feelings during a great conversation, watching children play, being creative, laughing deeply at something very funny, hearing a beautiful song, dancing in the kitchen, overcoming a challenge, playing with a puppy, reconnecting with an old friend, painting a mug, cleaning out a storage closet, sparking a new idea……
For me, I have feelings of wellness when I feel calm, present in the moment, confident and competent, and I know that there are people in my life who I care about and who care about me. And of course, all of these things combined, leads to feeling strong and capable, and being valued. Feeling that no matter what, everything will be ok…which leads to hope.
Nearing the end of my walk, the sun was starting to set, and a rainbow appeared over the ocean. It was beautiful and I was delightfully surprised as I thought rainbows only appeared after it rained and yet to my astonishment here was a spectacular rainbow. What a magnificent way to end the walk and reinforce the presence of hope.
I am curious, what does wellness mean to you?
Submitted by Della Massey, Regional Support Staff
