Day 26: The stone that wanted to be a shell

Dear traveler, 

Today it's the first time in a few days when we leave the mountains behind. Here, down at the mountain's feet, we find once more the hot weather from last year. At least this is how it feels, given the number layers I still have left on me.

There are some days when it feels like nothing is going on. At least this is how I'm feeling right now.

I hit the road with little to no enthusiasm. 

From the first step, I felt that the trail is the same. We exit a town, on the asphalt, then on the gravel path, then back into a town and on and on. 

I don't know where my enthusiasm is hiding but I'm waiting for it to find me.

-"Come on, marmot, enjoy this forest, this trail, the sound of the steps."

Yes, yes. I understand, you are adults, any simple things will give you joy. Any gust of wind and cloud are friends of mine too. But today, I feel like I'd want something else....like...an unicorn, or...a purple mountain, or...mmm...a forest with swings, or...

Two fluuuffy cats!

I run to pet and play with them. If at the beginning the cats seemed happy I think that now they wished they never came when I called them. 

Ok, soooo, if I want something very much, it shows up. Ooook.

You do realize, traveler, that now my eyes are looking only for cats. And to be honest, I do find them. 

Here is one on a little street.

Here's another one in a forest.

Look, there are two in the front of a store.

Oh, sorry doggies, perhaps your size might have confused me.

We walk and we walk and I already realized that no other cat appears. Maybe today we ran out of cats.

But this is how I met my enthusiasm again. 

I was telling you that we left the mountains behind and while I was looking around for cats, I noticed all sorts of spring flowers. I could only recognize the poppies and the jasmine. 

Today is a beautiful day and it reminds me of familiar places. 

-"What are these, dad?"

-"Marmot, these are wine yards. This time you won't find grapes as you did last autumn."

Aaah, this is why it looked familiar.

I don't know what day is today but we don't really see people on the trail. Just from time to time, we can see one that's walking slowly, like us. With one of them we even meet many times as we take a break or stop for a snack, but we don't talk to each other. Maybe he didn't find his enthusiasm yet too.

In the next town, the enthusiasm finds me again as we stop for a snack and I receive a plate of happiness. This is how happiness looks like:

Not the beer though, that's for my parents.

Well now I'm happy. 

We find our way out of this town too and now I enjoy the little things, as my folks. 

But sometimes, it's ok to want more, right?

In our way out of town, we pass by a house surrounded by a stone fence. Grey and orange stones are sitting in a line. But one of them is somewhat special.

One has a shell on it, painted on a sky blue background.

I wonder who painted it. And why.

I wonder if this stone wanted something else, something more special than the other stones. 

Perhaps this stone wanted to become a shell?

With these thoughts in my mind, I pay less attention to the next part of our trail, which is not that impressive, walking a lot along a road.

In the place we'll be sleeping tonight it seems quite empty, but we couldn't have found a better place. 

In the courtyard, I have a swing and I play until dusk falls. I couldn't need more! Okay, I won't say no to plate of pasta and some orange juice. Yummm!

Tired from all that playing, I lay down in my sleeping bag.

Maybe some days start with less enthusiasm, as today. But maybe, if you wish for something with all your heart, things will change. You can find the joy you were looking for. You could be like the stone that wanted to be a shell. You could really be what you want to be.