On Sunday I decided I needed to go out for a stroll. I’ve walked the Fynn Valley before and had every confidence I’d find my way around the 7-mile circular walk. I set off at a pace carrying my phone, earplugs, debit card and lippy in a jacket pocket.

I was keen to see plants, trees and wildlife. I heard plenty of birds in the hedgerows, I even saw a hawk circling in the sky and as I inhaled deeply I feel a surge of excitement. Times are strange right now with the news full of warnings about the serious Corona-virus pandemic. So I thought I could escape from the worries of crowded places full of germs by walking in the countryside. And then I came across 3 kissing gates with latches!

In the middle of the Suffolk countryside, I had to open these gates with my hands! My next thought was don’t touch your face. Apparently, it’s a built-in human response to touch our faces, it comforts us. There’s evidence to suggest we may touch our faces 16 times every hour.

I considered the likelihood of infected people going out for a long walk and leaving traces of the Corona-virus on kissing gates. Slim, I thought. I had more pressing concerns, I’d been out for 2 hours and realised that I’d walked passed the same white land-rover and a couple walking 5 dogs twice. I must have walked around in circles and not even realised I'd strayed from the main route.

Now I pondered whether it was best to plot a course and stick to it or enjoy the thrill of meandering around. I remembered as a child I was terrified of getting lost, straying off the path. But for the last few years, I’ve been doing just that, gravitating towards new experiences coming my way.

This inspiring video came to mind, recorded on prom seats at the Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Show of Hands singing acapella “Keep Hauling”.

Once I realised I was lost, I pulled out my phone and checked Google. Now I knew which direction I needed to take, I was hoping my feet would hold up as I had a blister forming. This was the first time that afternoon I’d used my phone. I'd decided to concentrate on the sounds of nature rather than feed my podcast addiction.

I was on the home straight, it was a windy day, my eyes were streaming from the weather. I must have looked a mess. In the distance, I could see 2 men walking together, maybe a father and son. As they came nearer, the younger man gave me the biggest smile and wave. That smile turned my afternoon around, it was like someone had given me a precious gift, I was determined to pass it on to the next person I met.

Coming up close, I saw a man with a teenage girl, I’d recognised them from another stretch of the path. As we got closer the man was holding a debit card, are you Elene Marsden? Did you drop your debit card? I had no idea I’d dropped it. I must have dropped my card when I’d taken out my phone to check my location.

I really couldn’t believe it, I’d got lost, I’d changed directions, what were the chances of having this second encounter with this couple? Some kind of ecstatic charge poured through my body. I bowed to them, of course, I couldn’t shake hands and thanked them profusely.

And that was my afternoon walk around the valley, so much had happened mild anxiety about being lost, tiredness from physical exercise and a renewed faith in humanity. As the world battles with the Corona-virus I know that there will much kindness to behold and with my glass completely full mentality that’s how I chose to see to view the next few months.
#MyPrelovedLife : 16/3/20