Janet Moore - Reflection

Where have you been going and what has been drawing you there?

So it is clear to me so far that i definitely 'access nature' more on

the weekends than the weekdays. it is also clear that weather is a

huge factor in vancouver. On the weekend we got the beach at Jericho -

put our feet in the sand, ran down the docks to the the crab

fisherman. marvelled at sea stars. full skies. vancouver perfection.

we also went to the aquarium in stanley park and took a bike ride and

spent time checking out gardens in our hood. i could write a book of

reflections on the aquarium but that's another story for another time.

the kids had the dolphin play with them through the glass for about 15

minutes - trying to unpack what that means and how it connects to our

relationship to nature is mind boggling.

last night if we had warmer dryer weather we would have played in a

park or in the garden but instead we went to the pool at the community

centre. it made me wonder - is a pool my way of accessing water? it is

too cold to swim in the ocean so the pool will have to do.

really though the week has been rainy and busy and so my moments have

been on my bike ride home.

What have you been noticing while you are taking your moment?

I did take a moment leaving the community centre to breathe in the

trees of little mountain. I do like that about this challenge. That I

am reminded each day by Becky's voice in my head that I should 'take a

moment'. I have been doing this riding my bike home - noticing a

branch covered in moss. I stopped to take in the magnolia tree

blooming on 10th avenue. Humungous pink leaves scattered on the road.

Today I am at my office and I am now thinking I'll ride home via the

seawall to take an extra moment with the sea birds that hang out on

false creek at this time of year. I noticed them while biking earlier

this week - spent time thinking about them more than normal.

How have you been feeling after your moment?

I feel good taking an extra long breath - so that is a good thing. I

do feel like this is something that I'm not doing fully - perhaps the

'accessing' nature feels like too much - that 'appreciating' nature

might be a challenge I could get a gold star for. i do like winning

and so far I don't feel like an access to nature winner.

What is standing out? What, if anything, has been unexpected?

I think the noticing is standing out. That subtle changes can be big

changes. I notice that wanting to stop and take a picture while I ride

home feels like a disruption in the act of getting home. I've been

trying to stop on my bike when I think about the access to nature

challenge and take a photo - perhaps this is a good way to document my

moment. The moment becomes longer - stop the bike. take the photo.

take the breath. that is a huge branch covered in moss in the alley.

What changes, if any, are you noticing over the course of the challenge?

I'm looking forward to the weekend so i can access nature again.