Spirit Lifters

Spirit Lifters
            Not a mystical entity. Not a traditional sacred object.
            A spirit lifter is any simple thing that brightens the moment.
            In this destabilizing time of the pandemic, we all need to lift our spirits.
            Trading chalk sidewalk drawings from a distance with kids next door. Accepting extra household items from a neighbor when all you find is empty store shelves. Adding their shopping list to yours for your next grocery trip.
            Other people-related “spirit lifters” might be surprising someone sheltering alone with a call, or doing family activities you hadn’t thought possible under normally hectic schedules.
            But sometimes we’re alone, and just need to lift our own spirits.
            Though our family walks familiar paths for our daily fresh air and exercise, things are different every time. Cherry blossom petals like confetti on the ground. Wildflowers in every color along trails. A songbird singing from a nearby branch. A beautifully colored duck. Unusual cloud patterns.
            At home, it could be the color of a sunset shadow, the sound of birds you can’t see, watching a spider build a web from your window.
            Nature offers an ever-changing array of spirit lifters. Take a deep breath, and keep eyes and ears open to things that offer a mental break from the cacophony of the news.
            This week’s Hike Notes, Stow Lake Outer Loop, takes readers on a walk along the outer path around San Francisco’s popular Stow Lake, a place our family has walked countless times, but where we always find something new to appreciate.
            The long list of Hikes can be found on the Quick View Hike List and on the main Hikes page. All past Insights posts can also be viewed in the Insights/Hike Update News archives.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Please feel free to share.
New this week:
Hike Notes 105: Stow Lake Outer Loop