Small Town Self-Lovin’ Summer

When I was living in Canal Flats with my mom, summers were spent doing something, actually anything, outside. She worked full time so as we got older, (but not quite old enough to drive) we mostly had free range of the town. Anywhere we wanted to go, we had to get to on our own.

We lived in a subdivision on the north side of the town that was bordered by trees, trails, and green space. We drove quads and dirt biked on every single trail possible, which gave us quite a bit of entertainment. We were always exploring and finding things to do.

One particular summer stands out to me over the rest. Maybe because it was the last one before I had a car. Once I was able to purchase my first vehicle out of high school, I worked during the summers and saved to go to college (it was very exciting to own my own vehicle: a copper red Chevy Cavalier and I loved it!)

But, this summer was one of my favourites. My best friend and I went on a walk every single day, whether it was to the store for a coffee, or to the bakery for a screamer (pepsi slush mixed with soft ice cream). We had a few favourite spots, including the beach. We would walk up to the store, grab a treat and a coffee, and walk to the beach to enjoy the lake, while laying in the grass. Our walks were always spent talking, laughing, and reminiscing about the funny moments that happened at school that year.

Another spot we enjoyed was the river. It was covered by a bridge that allowed the highway to cross. We would climb up on to the beams underneath and sit there. Now that I think about it, I would never allow my kids to climb that high, especially over a river! I’m pretty sure we covered the entire inside with sharpie marker, drawing hearts with initials inside, and doodling.

Wherever we went, we went by foot. Life was simpler then. There was no reason to rush or get overwhelmed, it was literally one step at a time. It was easy to just wake up and decide where we were going to go that day. Maybe that’s why I absolutely love my daily walks so much. It’s not so much about the destination, but more about enjoying the journey.

Written by: Krystle Rhea; Just Breathe Mama