Enlarging My Territory

Why is it when faced with a passage of gentleness do some of us refrain from using it? Why do we place ourselves on a walkway where half of the boards are missing and the others remaining, have rusty nails protruding through? 
 
I believe as long as there remains an opportunity to take the road less traveled, to set our feet upon vestal ground, some of us will continue to push limits. 

A few weeks ago, I decided to test how far my healing was coming from the work injuries I sustained. I picked Mount Douglas in Victoria to see how much distance I could gain in a hike. 

There are several paths to chose, both offering lush greenery, curling ferns, an eclectic array of fungi and trees whose presence demand respect in the woods. 

With trail tape in hand, I forged onward to what I discovered were three escalating layers of roots, then rocks. For me, it was not how fast I could trek to the top, rather to show gratitude for Our Creator’s handiwork all over the land. 

Many of my snapshots capture stillness in the depths of the forest, where technology is out of its element. Reaching for the trunk of a birch tree, I recalled the Celtic meaning of their exalted frames: in the silence, you may hear murmurs of change in the core of your soul and in alignment of the birch groves. 

As I continued on, mapping my way, the rockery underneath my feet forced me to slow down and watch my footing. I learned long ago, the importance of proper foot placement and it has been entrenched in me, ever since. 

Once at the top, I saw a mound of rock that signified the very tip upon which I needed to climb. As I stood looking over the never ending blue sea on one side and the city of Victoria on the other, I took my walking stick—who I have fondly named Balzar — and captured some of the brilliance. This accomplishment was accompanied in my mind with a “Well- done!” 

Later, returning home, I knew another quest was taking place. 

In my pursuit of a job where I can use my skills to contribute, I broadened my search for employment. This required me to further my applying beyond a cover letter and resume. I tapped into my creative abilities and drafted a job portfolio, which leads potential employers on a storyboard of my work and volunteer history. In putting the time and effort for my portfolio, what was revealed, came to light.

I have worked as a house-cleaner, polishing floors and people’s grime for over a decade. I sat at a desk and wrote for a newspaper as a columnist for several years. My job search took me to the realms of Government as a Policy Research Analyst, while years of dish-washing, waitressing paid the bills and helped raise my daughter. Yet, it was the countless times spent volunteering, which brought me a sense of purpose mixed with joy. 

Whether speaking publicly to students about mental health awareness, cleaning a home of a non-profit organization assisting woman, or tying the shoe of a man whose sight was gone; these are the moments where no Hallmark cards can convey the sentiment. 

In seeking work, I want to make a difference in peoples lives. There needs to be fulfillment; a connection between what I am doing and who I am.

This quote by Henry Van Dyke sums it up best:
To be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars- to be satisfied with your possessions but not content with yourself until you have made the best of them- to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice- to be governed by you admirations rather than by your disgusts- to covet nothing that is your neighbors except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners- to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends, and every day of Christ; to spend as much time as you can in God's out-of doors- these are the little guideposts on the footpaths to peace.

TL Alton