
~
a walk in the woods
crisp air, warrm hues, earthy smells
nature’s medicine
~

~
The colors around town were actually better than in the woods this year. I’m grateful for many outdoor choices, reliable transportation, and easy access to parks to refresh my body and spirit.
The job has pushed me on many levels. I was exhausted the first week, overwhelmed by the pace and volume, and ready to quit. And I didn’t expect the packages to be so grungy. My friends know how much I love to keep my car and home clean and tidy so the dirty packages and messy car have been really pushing my buttons. I could easily lose myself in the emotional reaction and give up on my goals. Thankfully, I took some time to be quiet, look at the situation more objectively, and remind myself why I’m doing this job: to build up some savings, push myself, and try something new. And it’s helpful to acknowledge the good in this job too; being paid to walk, exercise, and deliver gifts. Not a bad gig!
The challenges are manageable as long as I remember my reasons. I’ve recommitted to staying with the job through the end of December. Thankfully, I have friends, solitude, and autumn treasures to help me recharge for the weeks ahead.

~
May we have dreams that inspire and gratitude for whatever shows up.

~
May your days be full of blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!
#gratitude, #Thanksgiving
Glad that you had a refresh of your energy — taking a walk in the woods does wonders for helping to calm stress.
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Agreed Dave. Thanks for connecting.
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Brad, with views like these around you I feel you soon will get used to pay the price.
I would love to sit at the creek ( colourful contrasts) and just be.
Maybe you could bring one of your blankets to sit on and wash it ever now and again.
I have the same attitude to cleanliness as you so do understand…..you will find a way.
Miriam
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Thanks for understanding Miriam. Yes, I’m finding ways to manage the dirt, and breaks by the creek are always refreshing. Hugs.
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Beautiful images and words Brad, but I especially love how you’ve reframed your experience and found your why, as well as the things to be grateful for around the job. A great example for everyone!
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Thank you Tania. You’ve been a good model for me. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Dave, and Astrid! 😍 🍂
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Thanks so much Brad! Warmest Thanksgiving wishes to you my friend!!! 🥰
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👣😍
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I admire your perseverance Brad and your captures are beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving! 🥧🍾🦃🥂🍽️
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Thank you Cindy. It’s more challenging physically and emotionally than I imagined, but I’m glad I tried something new. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 🍂
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‘May we have dreams that inspire and gratitude for whatever shows up.’ …love these lines. Beautiful scenery around you. Great pics 😍👍
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Thank you. I’m working on that new skill of holding both satisfaction and wanting more. Happy Thanksgiving! 🍂
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Happy Thanksgiving to you, Brad. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos and best wishes with the new/temporary job.
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Thank you Michele. It’s been more challenging than I imagined, but a good experiment. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Happy Thanksgiving to you. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you Odee. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Brad, Your concern with clean home and car I get. I so get! I think the fact that youre looking at it like this : “And it’s helpful to acknowledge the good in this job too; being paid to walk, exercise, and deliver gifts. Not a bad gig!” is perfect. Paid to walk, I’m already sold on that 🙂 Walking in beautiful surroundings like yours, will be a treat for you too. You will begin to enjoy it ❤
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Thanks for understanding and the encouragement Zeenat. I’m making the best of it and adapting. Hugs…🧡
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Loving self-awareness, Brad. ❤ Hugs flowing to you. Xx
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Thank you Jane. I’m getting better at loving awareness. Hugs and blessings… 🧡
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Brad, nature has incredible healing power, recuperating and re-energising us when we need it most. The photographs are stunning and love the creek one. It sounds as if the time of serenity has helped you find some new grounding and decisions made for the immediate short-term. I feel for you with all the dirt in your car and hope you can find a workable solution. Wishing you a peaceful and enjoyable Thanksgiving! I’ll toast to ‘May we have dreams that inspire and gratitude for whatever shows up.’ 😀
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Thank you Annika. Nature is a great healer and source of renewal. I’m adapting. Happy Thanksgiving! 😍
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Happy Thanksgiving dear Brad. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful pictures of nature. Best of Luck with your new job. Being grateful for everything is to be thankful for all little mercies and blessings that is showered on us.
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Agreed Kamal. Thanks for sharing the journey. blessings…
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Welcome always dear Brad. We are all going on one journey to realise ourselves. Take care and stay safe 😊😊😊😊
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HI Brad, you haven’t committed to doing this job for very long so you should manage to see it through. Keep your eye on the money, its always useful to have more. I love your beautiful pictures.
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Agreed Robbie. If this was longer, I wouldn’t have made the commitment. I’m grateful for the job and friends who support me. Hugs.
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Hugs back.
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You have some beautiful scenery to refresh yourself in Brad. I hope the job gets easier.
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Thank you Andrea. Arkansas has many limestone bluffs to enjoy.
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Even faded, Mother is just so magnificent. As for your job, Brad, change is really not easy especially when we are pushed out of our comfort zone. When these things happen I tend to look at the situation as a big learning opportunity, or a growth opportunity as well. Uncomfortable as all get out, yet, IF we hang in there, we will notice a change in our thinking, our “reactions”, and how we reason to accept what is. We then attain another notch in our belt! Hang in there, my friend. You’ve got this. Rest when you can! (((HUGS)))!!! xo
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Thanks for understanding and the pep talk Amy! Yes, I’ve got this! 🙂
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XOXO
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Beautiful photos. Use those as comfort as you move through this time in your life.
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Thank you Diana. Yes, the photos and my time in nature help carry me forward. Happy Autumn.
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What beautiful photos, Brad. Nature is a natural pick-me-up and sure has a way of putting things into perspective. I’m glad stepping outside helped you refocus. I hope the month ahead goes well, and you manage to stash away lots of loot for the next step in your adventure! Lots of love and hugs, my friend. 🍁💕
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Thank you Tanya. I’m realizing this choice was mostly about money and maybe not the best course, but I’m making the most of it. To new adventures! HNS! 💕
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With nature and scenes that you have around you ~ it seems all in life will be worth it for the opportunity to visit and take in all you see, love the photos! Your line “push myself, and try something new” is just the spirit that pushes us humans up to another level, those micro-evolutionary moments that in the end make such a great differences in a life and the lives that surround. Cheers to a great start on the holiday season ~ no matter how wild it will get for you, it will be an experience to treasure 🙂
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Thank you for the beautifully supportive comments Randall. I love your perspective and idea to view this as a micro step to shift bigger things and an experience to treasure. Thank you! 😍
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Beautiful poem and lovely photos of fading autumn, Brad. I’m glad you’re finding ways to make the job work for you as you spread cheer around your community. Have a wonderful week, my friend. ❤
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Thank you Diana. It’s been a challenge, but I’m feeling better and adapting. 🙂
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Ah so much to be thankful for walking in our beautiful countryside Brad! It allows you put everything into perspective… putting up with the disadvantages… and looking forward to some extra saving! I thought my husband was alone in loving everything clean and tidy! I’m more wild and untidy🤣😂 sending love to you❤️
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Yes, gratitude is a great way to shift our perspective. I’m glad your husband can relate to my tidiness! 😂
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Love the captures, Brad!! You are blessed to live in such a beautiful place!! Keep the faith and my best to you on your job!!
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Thank you Kirt. Yes, Arkansas has some beautiful areas, and I’m grateful for the job and easy access to the woods.
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Gratitude is such a gift and magic that opens the door to so much more, and relief and solace. I love how you give yourself balance with the right medicine – nature, solitude, and good friends. I feel joy to read of your gratitude for everything that comes your way, everything that you have available. I feel very blessed when I am able to live that way.
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Yes, gratitude is a high level way to live that I only occasionally visit! Kudos on your attitude!
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“May we have dreams that inspire and gratitude for whatever shows up.” Perfect! Beautiful and inspiring post, Brad. Thank you ❤
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You’re welcome Natalie. I’m glad you can relate . 🧡
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I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your new gig is treating you well, Brad! Your photos are lovely, the colours and settings are divine…
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Thanks Kim. I’m glad I got out in nature before the job got busy. And the weather has been warm and wonderful for delivering packages.
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I received my first holiday package on the first of December…what a lovely job you have, bringing joy to others…enjoy every moment, Brad!
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Thanks. Its good to be reminded that there are people and gifts involved!
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The best medicine in the WORLD is a walk with and within nature. I couldn’t agree with you more, Brad. And that medicine helps us walk in the world with jobs and amongst others that may be challenging. You’re finding the right balance to be able to succeed. Best to you!
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Thanks Pam! I agree about nature’s medicine. I’m glad I got my nature time in before we got busy. At least I’m getting lots of fresh air and exercise delivering packages!
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And your fresh air is sweeter than ours right now (in that the end of November and early December, here in NE is bitter and cold. ;-0 Stay warm and keep up the exercise my friend.
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Yes, we’re having a warming trend while the NE is having a cooling trend. Climate change is weird.
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These are beautiful photos Brad and I love your positive perspective. Keep your eye on the why and December will fly. Take care my friend. xx
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Thank you Miriam. I’ve been working on my attitude and perspective to help me keep on track.
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Always a good thing
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So glad you’ve found a way to cope with the job, by seeing the good in it. And thanks for the uplifting pictures and post, Brad.
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Thank you Cynthia. It’s been a good test and stretch for me. Hugs!
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Beautiful autumnal colours in your corner of the world, Brad. It is indeed nature’s medicine. Lovely to hear you are working hard at your job despite the challenges. Perhaps you can line your car with some towels or mats to keep the dirt and grunginess at bay. I am a neat freak and hope it gets better. Take care out there, Brad. You make people happy by getting their packages to them 🙂
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Thank you Mabel. Clearly you understand about the grungy packages. I’ve lined my back with sheets! Thankfully nature is good medicine and I can clean my car. 🙂
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Hope the sheets help keep the grunginess at bay. Take care of yourself this holiday season, Brad. Many more walks in nature for you 🙂
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🙂
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Being away so long dear Brad,, so many changes here and there and each adapting towards those changes..
Natures gifts in allowing you to walk and feel her presence to recharge and breathe in her spirit, I am pleased you are still able to take time out to do this.. So important during these challenges we are all facing as we sense and feel that need for inner peace and reflection…
I hope dear Brad those challenges subside and you can regain not only your finances but your inner balance as you set your goals to achieve your objectives… Knowing that at any given time, you can always choose a different route…
This New Moon is a perfect alignment to set our intentions, with positive thinking on future outcomes… And we have to be very mindful of not attracting what we do not want. as often our thoughts stray to those negative aspects of our daily routines…
So it was good to see you checked yourself to see the positives from your job…
We can always find a silver lining in every cloud if we look from a different perspective…
I know you continually try in keeping your perspectives high….
Sending love and well wishes dear Brad as this Holiday season is fast approaching … Too fast for me… As I am far from being prepared this year…
So I thank you dear Brad…. for your lovely friendship Stay Blessed…. and Enjoy those silver linings… ❤
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Thank you Sue. I’m regaining my physical health. Maybe clarity and mental health will follow. Hugs and blessings. 💕
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Sending thoughts that the strength to heal will follow
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Congratulations on being paid to walk, exercise, and deliver gifts! The Beautiful photos suggest the perfect medicine.
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Thank you JoAnna.
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I had some work issues push me to my mental-health breaking point recently too, Brad. I also went back too… then relapsed with a personal life trigger. Back on top again for a whole 2 days, lol. I feel you! Thank God for nature! (And the hidden meanings, lessons, and blessings of such knock-outs.)❤️
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Hi Laura, I’m sorry you’ve had work and mental health challenges. Life can be hard. I’m glad you’ve found your way back on top. May we find our way to flow and create from joy. Holiday blessings. 🧡
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I know what you just commented about yourself on my blog, Brad, but you sound pretty positive here! You really do. You’re acknowledging the rough bits while forging ahead and trying to focus on the positive. That takes grit–good for you:).
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Thank you Kristine. I have my moments. I would like to savor them and build more positive in my life.
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Thanks for these gorgeous autumn photos, Brad, and your words of gratitude.
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You’re most welcome Jet. I’m a little disappointed at the muted colors, but we must work with what we find. Happy Autumn!
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Such a great post Brad👏👏👏
The poem is a most accurate description of natures medicine🤩
Your commitment to finish what you started, in lieu of the challenges that push your buttons, is a refreshing and inspiring attitude.
One that sadly stops most people in their tracks. Your resolve is a beautiful and powerful thing.
So glad you shared this ❤️🤗
And the nature photos are stunning❣️😄
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Thank you Teri. I appreciate your kind support and that you visited my blog. Nature is the best medicine for me. I’m glad you could enjoy it with me. Happy Autumn! ❣️😄
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My pleasure❤️
Happy Autumn to you 🥳😀
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🙂
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I love your poem and your ability to stay the course Brad with friends and nature to support your journey! 💖💖❤️
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Thank you Cindy. Nature and friends are definitely needed and appreciated! 😍
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You’re so welcome Brad..Yes for sure!!! 💖
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I sense the fresh air in your poems and poetry. I can get frustrated when things are messy, too. I also have a wild side. I imagine you had fun exploring all the ways the “gifts” come! Lol. Happy 😆 to “see” you, Brad! Not sure what you are up to now, as this post occurred in the past, but I hope you had a good Holiday season and have that extra cash!
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Thank you Ka. I’m glad I stretched myself a bit with the job. Now I’m enjoying a little break before the next gig. To a year of love and experimenting.
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Sounds perfect, Brad! 🙂 Cheers to that!
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