“Sit by a river. Find peace and meaning in the rhythm of the lifeblood of the Earth.”
- Anonymous -
In our old city of Montreal, we were surrounded by concrete, nerve-racking traffic, the flood of tall buildings, urban sprawl, crowds, noise, impatient people and a frantic pace. I found myself rushing like everyone else, and could barely hear myself think.
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| Colonel By Lake near Kingston Mills Lockstation |
In Kingston, a much smaller city, we are surrounded by greenery, less traffic and less density, fewer tall buildings, a quieter environment, a slower pace and a more patient population. And best of all, we are always just a few minutes away from a body of water.
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| A serene setting at the Jones Falls Lockstation in Elgin, Ontario. |
Being near the water is very important to me. It’s where I’m most at peace. The ocean, the sea, a river or lake, a pond or creek...no matter what type, these places speak to my very soul. I am always happy and at peace when I’m near these gifts of nature.
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| Sunset at Lake Ontario Park |
Since we moved here five years ago, I’ve never been in better spirits. Leaving the big city and slowing down was certainly one of the best decisions we ever made.
Where do you find your peace?
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
By the water, the river, always, like you. But I lived in a house that was so quiet and I was a few minutes from the river, I wasn't well but would get better when I REACHED the water, until my landlord decided that money was more important than me, he broke his promise, and I lost my house, my peace, my river and my sweetest cat. Now I live in an apt, in traffic, and it's hell. One good thing came out of it, I was able to rescue a cat that was in cage going to be sent to her death because she was ill. So I took her (Sam) to the Vet, got her well, and she's been with me since. I WISH I had the money to rent a house but it's too expensive now and my beautiful little town with forests and rivers, were cut down to build condos, after condos, after condos...So I'm happy for you that you found a lovely place to live in, and I ENJOY your photos very, very much
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear all that, Lorraine, but your move did save a cat whose life was about to end. Sometimes things happen for a reason. Perhaps more change will come into your life; good ones! I know what you mean about condos. When I was living in Montreal, buildings popped up all over the place. The density became worse and worse, and I really began to detest big city life. I am much more at peace here.
DeleteLooks wonderful. I think there are water people and mountain people. I find that same peace in the mountains.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right! There are water people and mountain people. My ideal world would include both because I also love mountains, but if I have to choose only one, I always pick water.
Deletealso by the water ... gotta have it .... gorgeous gorgeous pictures, Martha!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carolyn! Water...always water for me. Love it.
DeleteKingston looks so beautiful and all that water is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love the water but the mountains here in Colorado give me the same peace as the water.
We have many lakes here in Denver and live on one and love it.
I am looking forward to going to Nova Scotia in the fall and I shall be by the ocean again
Wonderful photos, Martha.
Have a good weekend.
I love mountains, as well, but I always prefer water if I can only have one or the other. I envy you that trip to Nova Scotia...an area in Canada that I would love to see! Enjoy the weekend, Margie!
DeleteNature provides me peace in all of her natural settings, but by far, her bodies of water do it the best.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Susan! And I agree. I love many things about nature, but water takes the top spot.
DeleteCountry living for me, it's fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI bet it is! A very peaceful way to live.
DeleteIt is. Though we are close to down
Deleteif we need to get there and then
just down the road are some good stores
as well. But where we are, we're far
enough away from all the hoopla.
How goes you this weekend?
It's been a really busy one. Yesterday it was raining, so I spent the entire day painting. I painted some of the room doors in our house (white). When we bought the house, none of the doors were painted; just primed. Well, it certainly took me long enough to get to them, but i started yesterday. I have quite a few more to paint, but the ones I finished turned out great. After the doors, I have bathroom counters to paint. There are two to get done, both of them ugly wood. I'm going to give each one a soft colour. Then I have to finish the wood trim in the basement. Before Christmas, I painted the whole basement but didn't finish the trim. I'll get to it. I don't mind painting; it's kind of fun. And today, I gardened. Lots of work out there to keep me busy! It'll take weeks before I get everything outside finished, but that's okay. It's nice working outside and listening to the sounds of nature. Tonight we relax and watch a movie. With homemade popcorn, of course! I hope your weekend it going great!
DeleteAh Montreal! I loved my year there but I certainly understand what you are saying about Kingston. These photos really give me a feeling of serenity, Martha. I wish Kingston was a bit closer - I would love to see more of the area.
ReplyDeleteI love visiting Montreal, Francie, but I don't want to live there. At least not anymore. In fact, it's not just Montreal, any big city is not attractive to me anymore. I like living in a smaller area where the pace isn't as frantic.
DeleteI'm glad you found a place that is relaxing for you. My inner peace can be found either hiking in my beloved Cascade Mountains or Columbia River Gorge -or- skiing in the mountains.
ReplyDeleteThey all sound great, Linda. We all have those areas that work best for us!
DeleteI hear you loudly and clearly, Martha! Water has such a power in nature and being near it, in any of its forms, is magical.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful. Have a great weekend.
Well, you of all people certainly know the magic of water! Being near bodies of water is certainly something we both can relate to! Enjoy the weekend.
DeleteI don't think I could live in a city too large, but not one too small
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Adam. I like one that is big enough to have everything I need.
DeleteI agree with you that small cities make us feel better. My city is 100000. It was nicer when it was 20000.
ReplyDeleteNot everyone likes smaller areas, but it's definitely what I need. The frantic pace of the big city gets on my nerves!
DeleteKingston looks MUCH more my speed. I love the quietness and calmness or a more rural area. I would never be happy in a city.
ReplyDeleteI did it for 44 years, and when I was much younger, I was able to deal with it. As I got older, the big city wasn't for me. I enjoy the slower pace, and the friendlier environment.
DeleteWhenever I go back to Montreal, I find everyone so hurried and harried and frantic, and even rude. Where we live now, people say "hello" and "good morning." When I try that in Montreal I am met with silence. I also find driving in the city very stressful. I guess I've really slowed down since I moved away 16 years ago! Does that make me a bumpkin?
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean! And it's because they are hurried and harried and frantic, and even rude! It's hard to live in a big city and not eventually get caught up in that cycle. And as for driving, I used to hate driving in Montreal, and it just got worse as the years went on. I started to enjoy it again when we moved here. Not only is it much MUCH less stressful, but the people are also more courteous. If you've lived in Montreal, you know how aggressive, discourteous and obnoxious the drivers are there!
DeleteWhat a pleasant place. Love your shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks, and thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
DeleteBeing born under an earth sign, I find solace in places like gardens, forests, wooded areas, prairies. Water is a great solace and I love being around it. Happily no living being can survive without it. Great post! Cheers!!
ReplyDeleteI love all the places you mentioned! Just about anything that is nature-oriented is my favourite place to be. But water is at the top of the list. There's something magical about it.
DeleteOh what a lovely post! "I found myself rushing like everyone else, and could barely hear myself think"-----wonderfully expressed. Time passes every moment and we are lost while counting it!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to slow down and enjoy every moment we have here. You just never know when your time is up...
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