Familiar comforts soothe us souls

the awakening land. A smile and a friendly “Hello” can go a long way to brighten someone’s day.

For others, it may be taking the time for a spa day, getting a new hairstyle or a relaxing massage.

As we roll into February, it’s beneficial for each of us to take time for personal reflection with the holiday season still on our minds.

From shopping, decorating, baking, holiday gatherings, concerts, fund-raising and shovelling the endless snow, our lists may have seemed endless these past few months.

It’s fun to celebrate each special occasion, spend time with loved ones and enjoy the festivities of the holiday season including anticipating what the New Year will bring.

Some folks will hunker down for the remaining winter months; others will search out the sales and dream about the arrival of spring.

Gardeners and farmers will be dreaming about planting seeds in

We all have that one place we visit that feeds our soul and gives us pause from our daily activities to recharge; a place which calms our soul.

We never tire of going there and for those brief moments in time, all is peaceful within our personal universe. As a familiar comfort, it provides an opportunity to reflect upon your life and become a part of your surroundings.

This place could be a comfortable chair around a backyard firepit, a cabin at the lake, a park or taking an annual trip to a tropical beach resort. It could be shopping at a favourite local store or getting lost in a book written by a much-loved author.

Some folks may enjoy a scenic drive with the windows down and the stereo blasting tunes.

Bud Miller All Seasons Park is one of my favourite spots in Lloydminster; it doesn’t matter which time of year.

It is definitely a place to recharge, be a part of nature and enjoy all that this park has to offer. Seeing the sun glisten off the freshly fallen snow, watching the birds hop from branch to branch or just smelling the fresh pinescented air is revitalizing. It’s exciting to see families playing shinny or youth speeding down the length of the ice and landing in a snowbank just for the pure joy of it. Whether it’s playing in the playground, sledding down one of the many hills, snowshoeing on a nature trail or taking a walk around the lake there’s an activity for all ages. This park offers something exciting for each season.

Lloydminster’s first pioneers settled in this area in 1903 which means we now have 120 years of history to be proud of. As we anticipate what the new year of 2023 will bring, my three wishes for Lloydminster folks are really nothing new.

The joy of happiness and fulfillment in all that you do; the blending together of community spirit with the love of friends and family; and the best of good health and wellness.

Each of these works together; without one, it’s a challenge to achieve the others.