“There is no time like Spring,
When life’s alive in everything.”
— Christina Rossetti
When Spring Calls the Heart
I woke this morning to a bright, generous sun over Scotland. The air is still sharp—temperatures have been hovering between zero and eight degrees this past week—but the light carries a promise. Though Christina Rossetti wrote those words more than a century ago, they still ring true. Spring has a way of stirring the soul, reminding us that life is quietly awakening everywhere.
Here in Scotland, the mountains are calling me once again. Last night, while searching for something nourishing to watch, we happened upon a BBC documentary about a walking group called Boots and Beards. It lit a spark in me—a reminder of how deeply I long to be out there, moving through the open land.
Cancer treatment has slowed my heart and required me to accept new limits. I may never again climb the heights of Ben Nevis, Scafell, or Preikestolen—but I have had my day. And for that, I am profoundly grateful to the Creator for the wonder of His creation. This earth is beautiful, filled with invitation, with paths that whisper “come and explore.”
The Scottish Highlands do not need us—but we need them. We really do. Time spent in wild, open places brings a mental, emotional, and physical renewal I find nowhere else. There is something deeply healing about standing beneath a wide sky, letting the land do its quiet work.
Though some peaks have been gently crossed off my bucket list, there is still so much to enjoy. The West Highland Way—at least in parts—still calls to me. I treasure my annual visit to the Isle of Bute’s West Island Way, especially the walk from town to Ettrick Bay and back along the circular route. Another favourite remains Arran’s Lochranza to Sannox walk, rightly celebrated as one of the best in the UK.
Spring reminds me that life is not only about summits reached, but about gratitude, presence, and the simple joy of putting one foot in front of the other. And that, for now, is more than enough.
BBC One - Our Lives, Series 5, Boots and Beards