My Muse

photo: Cobus Botes

for Sunday Scribblings
Today I had a beautiful Sunday. It was a day of whales. Currently I’m living on the Western cape of South Africa, where in the winter, Southern Right whales frequent these waters for breeding before heading further south for the summer. Today started with a neighbor telling us to come quick and see the whale he spotted near our home. Later, we took a drive to windy Herald’s Bay, and saw more whales from the cliffs above. One dramatically breached a few times for us. Then we took a walk on the beach, and had a nice lunch at a restaurant overlooking the bay. I loved this day. It is exactly how I wanted to spend my day, and yet I never gave a single thought to any of it ahead of time. What I loved even more was that it was my husband that made the decision to take this drive. He so often either knows instinctively or wants as well what I didn’t even know I wanted. It is truly a wonderful thing to be with someone who enjoys doing so many of the things that you like doing.

We both came into this relationship loving nature, and we have been feeding off of each other’s connection to it ever since. This love (actually need) to be outside has become even stronger as the two of us are more and more compelled to breathe fresh air and feel sun on our faces, together. For this, and many other reasons, I love him more each day, even if it sounds like a cliché. 

My husband is a very creative person. He is trained in design and technology, and especially loves working with wood. He has worked on many projects recently, from an Indonesian island style upright base to an archway for our wedding. He’s taught himself to play guitar and records his own songs, built a website, and handles most of life’s little glitches through foresight, observation and contemplation. Partly because of him, recently I am taking the time to teach myself to draw, do a bit of writing and start my own blog. I can finally do this because now I can accept the hiccups along the way and not be preoccupied with perfection. What’s the point if I don’t learn anything new?

My husband has a lot of patience. He treats others respectfully, and recognizes that we can’t fully understand someone else’s perspective, especially when we’ve never been in their shoes. He minds his own business, but takes an active interest in the lives of those around him. He shows compassion to those in need, and most importantly, is considerate of others. He makes me want to be a better person, to be less self-involved, to put the needs of others in front of my own.

He is my muse. My inspiration.