Life is a journey, or rather a walk along which one travels various paths, some smooth and easy and others not so much, sometimes with steep climbs and other times with steep descents. But the important thing is to travel that path, regardless of the final outcome.

In recent years, nature has become a way of connecting with myself but also with the whole, a space, whether among trees or walking on the beach, that gives me energy and vitality, as well as answers or perhaps motivation, inspiration and often ideas that might not otherwise have come to me.

The walks I take in places such as forest parks, mountains, woods and gardens always present me with paths to choose from, choices, just like in life. There are forest parks that, due to their size, would take days to walk through, to explore all their paths. Just as one has infinite paths in life, one only walks some of them, although I hope to walk all the paths in the parks I have in the city.

Two paths, two possibilities, and behind me another path. I always want to explore new things that come my way, so I chose the third path and the trees embraced me. They were everywhere, ready to welcome me and show me their beauty.

Pine trees predominate in this park, and the most common species in the area is the Aleppo pine, but there are also other species of trees. I love the smell of pine; it's like an aroma of freshness and oxygen. Pine leaf tea is also very good for your health because it has many vitamins.

Walking among them gives me vitality and renews the air I breathe. Walking as exercise is also very good for both physical and mental health. I prefer this exercise to being cooped up in a gym; I don't think I could stand it. I prefer nature because it gives me so much more, a mental clarity that I had never experienced before.

In addition, depending on the terrain, there are many challenges, just like in life and its paths. And on either side of those paths, I could see different levels of terrain, which were also full of pine trees. I thought... I have a lot left to explore, but I had taken a path and I would follow it to the end. Another time, I would choose another one.

Sometimes I like to stray from the beaten path, now in summer, not so much because of the risk of snakes, but rather to see what I might find.

It often happens, and I learned this from a gardener friend of the family, that species are planted very close to each other, without considering whether it is viable or not, and then one dries up because another tree, for example, was too close and blocked the sun. I saw this in some places in this park. Many pine trees in the city were planted to prevent the disasters that rain can cause when it runs down the hillsides, and perhaps these things have not been taken into account.

There were areas where creeping plants covered the ground, creating a beautiful green blanket over it. The park is very cool because the sun hardly penetrates the thick vegetation.

I found some bushes or plants with small purple and blue flowers that added colour to my walk. I thought about the good things in life, those that add colour as we walk and encourage us to keep going, or the small goals we achieve that give us the courage to go for more.

A path of comings and goings, of curves where you didn't know what was behind them.

But at one point, it opened up and I could see a beautiful landscape among many tall trees. The day was cloudy, which helped with the heat.

The city was very far away, and the buildings, the port, the hustle and bustle, the people, everything was very far away, and I observed everything from that height and distance. Wonderful.

There were few houses in the lower area, which looked picturesque against the landscape.

I continued on my way, entering the trees again, but now I looked up and saw a nest, surely there would be new life there. And the trees embraced each other, reinforcing the energy. They say that hugs can heal, because energy is transmitted and sorrows are released. Could it be true?

I continued on my way through the tree-lined paths until I came to this sculpture surrounded by animals, which I think are a dog and a bird, perhaps an eagle. I believe that those who are surrounded by animals have positive energy because they attract them. I liked that this sculpture was the one to greet me as I left the park.

Thank you very much for accompanying me on this reflective Wednesday walk. I send you my warmest regards. See you soon.
Amonet.

All photographs are my own.