A Week of Gratitude - Day 6

Jumping right into the list today:

1. Nature.

I'm fortunate to live in a smaller sized, green city, situated at the junction of two rivers.  From the air it appears to be a mass of parkland, the neighbourhoods and streets lost in swaths of lush, green foliage (unless it's winter - then that green turns brown, turns white!). And we do have a large percentage of our city land set aside as park and recreation areas which further increases the perception of living in a prairie forest.

The benefits are numerous.  Aside from the outdoor activities supported within such an urban oasis, the abundance of birds and wildlife that share our city eases the harsh edges of cold concrete and softens the inevitable noise created from its inhabitants.  On a personal level, our back yard is bounded on three sides by other lots, and buffeted around its edges by walls of trees - creating a private green space worlds away from the hustle and energy of the streets.

Nature provides a refuge for our souls, a location where we can reconnect to the natural rhythms and cycles we've lost as we've become city dwellers. For me it's critical to have that space and place to regroup and recenter, and I am grateful I do not have to venture further than my back door to arrive there.



2. Architecture.

As much as I need nature to feel human, I also have a need to be close to or have direct access to well designed structures and buildings.  Humans interact with their surroundings and are influenced by their spaces.  Good design promotes harmony and sustains the human relationship with the space.  Poor design inhibits it.  A well designed building might be compared to a work of art, form and function blended seamlessly with intelligent choice of materials and texture.  A poorly designed building? Not so much.  

Winnipeg is home to the largest collections of turn of the 20th century commercial architecture outside of Chicago and was known for years as the Chicago of the North. A walking tour of the district today is a step back in time, but it is a refreshing trip that allows you to immerse yourself in the intricate details and craftsmanship of the period, something missing in many of today's new building projects. The history and artistry of the craft has given way to speed and economy.  Cheap and fast to maximize profits...

But it's not just old, well designed buildings that I am thankful for, I appreciate cutting edge designs and integration with surrounding landscapes as much or more so.  We are blessed with an abundance of land up here, yet we still design and build as if we are restricted by space, and most designs look out of place in size and scale.  When you come across a building that fits into and complements it's environment, you know it even without realizing why it speaks to you... 



3. Travel.

I am grateful to be in the time and place I am these days, to have the ability to travel at will (finances allowing!) and to experience different places, cultures and lifestyles.  Travel is freedom.  It is adventure and expanding your horizons and broadening your understanding of how people work and live in places different than where you are from.  It is history and geography and sightseeing and a way to make this planet just a little bit smaller through hands-on experience.   Travel allows me to deepen my understanding of the differences and diversity that exist all around us, giving a context to the subtleties and nuances between us that can be fundamental in how we see and perceive each other.

Travel is a choice, and a lifestyle in a sense, and it forces one to prioritize other areas in order to allow the time and expense of visiting new places, or familiar ones repeatedly... :D. And it will never get old!