LOVE HER WILD

why do we celebrate milestones? essentially it's just another number on another day of another year reminding us that time is passing... sombre view eh..? typically when reached we use the moment to reflect, look back at what's been, in constant awe of how quickly the years are suddenly ticking by. followed by what's next...? what does the future hold...? how do i make the most of it, more aware that there is less and less of 'it' available...? all big questions to which i have no answer, sorry if you thought i might aim at sharing my personal plethora of life advice

i write this off the back of my own milestone, turning 40. so much has happened and so much is the same, i won't bore you with what's what, we all have our own stories, mine is no more special to share in detail. however i want to muse over the feeling i've had approaching 40, turning 40 and now being 40, and answering the cliche question 'how does it feel being 40?' in truth i have felt inwardly exasperated! some may describe this as anxiety but such is a far more serious disorder, i don't feel my angst ranks to this severity

perhaps best described as an increase in the intensity of feels is what i am experiencing, churning within me, and i haven't worked out how to channel it yet, or managed to find focus through the blissful blur of the last few weeks, due to a trip of a lifetime to South Africa. it was here that i had a moment whilst on a game drive where i closed my eyes and felt utter peace and pleasure and where i poignantly became mindful of a greater meaning to Love Her Wild... for once I'm not referring to me!

her, is everything earthly, what our planet is made of and consists of, never more beautiful than when she is wild! perhaps i've just been starved of nature whilst living in the desert, though i appreciate this landscape as much. However, the experience of being engulfed within the Cape's wild beauty caused a deep sense of being, of being fortunate to be part of her wild

we spent 2 days at Gondwana Game Reserve, which consisted of a sunset and sunrise game drive each day. every drive had its' stand out moments. not only the observing of Africa's prized beasts roaming free, but just as enthralling, was the drive in the open air, fervidly thrown around in the land cruiser as our knowledgeable ranger spliced through the breathtaking terrain. these were the moments i wanted to breathe in and mentally absorb, to remember for an eternity

at every hour the landscape of mountains and valleys, fynbos and forest changes with the light of the southern hemisphere sun, sheathed by a spherical sky you believed curved at the edges in it's enormity. every sunrise, sunset, moonrise was the most beautiful we'd ever seen! yar, her magic totally cast it's spell on us and we believed we were living a dream. euphoria

the fynbos at sunset

the view at dawn from our bush villa

from this experience, it's the feeling of gratitude that i want to highlight, of recognising that we are so fortunate to be aware of the magic and miracle that is the earth. it is something we also felt from all the staff we encountered at Gondwana, this deep sense of protecting the land and our fellow creatures, with so much heart and passion!

this same sense of gratitude is what i am harnessing to work out the inward exasperation of reaching this 'milestone'. appreciating the every day of our limited time on this incredibly crazy pretty planet. so 40 feels good AF in this light! and as deeply imperfect as i am, as long as i wake each day with a perseverance to create beauty, to extend authentic friendship, love unconditionally and live in the now, then my soul is fulfilled and i can continue to love my wild!

images that will never really do the real justice, but here are my favs from Gondwana Game Reserve, including interiors specific pix at the end because they got this so right!