DAY 266 - SAINT-THIBAULT-DES-VIGNES TO VINCENNES (OUTSKIRTS OF PARIS): 14.6 MILES (29,200 STEPS)

Friday 13 January, 2012

14.6 miles (Total: 2561.4 miles)– 29,200 steps (Total: 5,791,001 steps)

Today was a very good day:

For about five of the fifteen miles of walking I was making my way along beautiful forest footpaths (see pic) alongside the River Marne through places like Torcy, Vaires, and Chelles. The Sun was shining, it was about 9 degrees and, probably for the first time since my assent up the Simplon Pass in the Alps in October, I can say that I found my walk today pleasurable, borderline enjoyable. In addition, I knew I was staying with friends that night in Vincennes and therefore had no worries about accommodation. Moreover, as I walked I knew that my sister, her husband, and her son were on their way to Paris with my new Blackberry phone, with which and with whom I would be re-united tomorrow.

As I walked, my mind couldn’t help but wander off occasionally to the tough days which were behind me, and the other tough days which were ahead of me. However, I gave thanks that this was not one of them. This was a good day and I should celebrate that by staying ‘in the moment’, although that is easier said than done.

I recalled the fable, Persian or Jewish in origin, in which a King sets a challenge for one of his subjects to bring an object which when looked upon will make a happy man sad, and a sad man happy. The challenge remained unmet for many years until one day a traveller presented a ring to the King which he believed would meet his challenge. The King looked upon the ring and initially dismissed it until his eye caught the inscription on the inside of the ring. His face fell sad for it read simply, ‘And this too shall pass away’.

The broken arm has passed, well almost, and the storms of Suippes and Verdun have passed, whilst the loss of my Blackberry for nearly a month will pass tomorrow. Storms pass, but so does the sunshine. That’s life. It may sound a bit depressing but it shouldn’t be. It should simply remind us to savour the good times to the last drop and not think that they will be there forever. Conversely, we should not despair during the darkest times for the night will pass and there will be better days ahead.

One of the reasons I love living in Britain is because of our seasonal climate. I visited Colombia a few years ago; situated close to the Equator, all of the seasons are the same and I began to think how depressing it was. I love seeing the snow melt and watch the green buds re-appear on the branches and the green shoots in the fields, and then for the sun to shine and the blossom to burst and make way for the fruit to ripen, then for the leaves to turn and eventually fall. It is a circle of life. Each season has something to offer and something to take away. So too with the seasons of the soul and we should wish neither away, but take from each what it offers and give to each what it demands.