Traffic Jam Cabanas’ Style

Life in Cabanas is slower than many places I have ever been in a while. It is really refreshing to live in “Praise of Slowness” (Shout out to Chris Holohan for letting borrow his book in SA) by cooking and heating the place with a wood-burning stove, working in the sunlight with the gatos (cats) and watching sunsets. Portugal is a place where business deals are forged and broken on the basis of the amount strain it generates between parties.

The most stressful thing I have observed in the town has been the afternoon grid-lock captured above. I am staying across the road from a sheep’s milk dairy and the afternoon grazing is about as busy as the roads get near the home. As you can see there is a real pile up around the orange tree that brings the flow to a grinding halt. The other sheep just keep on coming and the cascade of wool just increases around the tree. The sheep in the middle were trapped by the tree but they did not seem to mind it much. In fact I actually watched one sheep use the back of his brother to stand on to claim an orange (my battery died so I could not catch it on film but it made me smile). When life gave him lemons, he decided to make orange-aid out of those who held him captive.

Even though it is a stressful time with Reckoning deadlines, life around me is sending a powerful message to take things as they come and enjoy an unhurried pace of life.

There is something about Nature that just speaks to my heart and soul.

Earlier today, I was on my way to meet my dear friend, Deanne Rollins for one of our energetic walks as we caught up with each other’s lives. The drive is familiar, one taken repeatedly over my many years on the planet - but today as I caught my first glimpse of the water peaking through the mountain tops it took my breathe away.

I had to pullover on Kanan, just to sit and be for a moment. I wanted to inhale the magnitude of what I saw in front of me, while I exhaled awe, praise and thankfulness. I took in the multitude flora while expressing my love for its beauty. In moments like this, I am reaffirmed in my faith in the Creator. We can all argue over how this all came to be, but sometimes just to be still and let it wash over and surround like oxygen, I feel I catch a glimpse of the Creator’s smile. The knowing smile of joy, that an artist experiences when someone appreciated their work.

Before I drove away, I snapped a quick picture; even though I knew that it would never do Nature justice. I just wanted to have a little remembrance of this place of inspiration. A reminder to be still at times, but to also walk with my eyes fully open to the beauty, while constantly taking a stance of gratitude.