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My husband and I went wild-blueberry picking in an Icelandic national park last week. It was a gorgeous day and evening, perfectly clear skies and mild weather, and the drive was only 45 minutes. No tourists to lug around with us, for once.
We pulled over and hunkered down into some bushes by the gravel road, and it was utterly quiet except for the occasional passing car (every 10-15 minutes). There were berries all around us in the moss and shrubs, and we worked in silence, sometimes near each other, sometimes not... our knees and fingers getting stained as we went.
Eventually we got a bucket full of berries, as the sun was setting and the air grew a bit chilly... so we drove around the lake to the geothermal energy plant, where a hot river was flowing and we knew that we could have a good soak. A sheep stood on the road in front of us at one point, and we slowed down to laugh about it while it blinked at us driving by.
There was no one else at the river, as usual--the current was fast and the water up to our waists, and the temperature was around 40 C (well over 100 F)--perfect for soaking. We stripped down, didn't even bother with swimsuits since it was just the two of us, and settled ourselves into the river for a good 20 minutes or more. The sun set and a few stars began to come out.
Eventually we got out, dressed, and headed home, utterly relaxed and pleased with our little after-work trip.
For me, this is one example of the good life. I could describe many, many other days like this, moments where I am just so aware of (and happy about) being alive. I don't know how else to explain it--you just know it when you are living it.
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And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran
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