As I tread softly along the hiking path through a rainforest in Oregon, the drizzling moisture coats my raincoat, dampens my hair and drips off the end of my nose. It is profoundly quiet in this forest, and my feet make no sound as each foot is cushioned by seasons of composting needles from the surrounding fir trees and the majestic cedars. The earthy smell of the composting ground cover is comforting to my senses. Ahead, I can see the path narrowing as it winds along the base of a high cliff face. Even though the drizzle makes the forest appear dark and a bit foreboding, the rocks on the cliff are covered with vibrant green moss, pale green lichens and small ferns, which drip tiny drops of moisture onto each other. Bright little red fruiting bodies of the British soldier lichen poke their heads out of the soft, wet vegetation and ancient liverworts mass in the openings of the moss blanket. The green of the covered rock face seems to come alive beside me, and I cannot help but reach out and lay my hand on its soft, dewy surface. I stand there for awhile overcome by an incredible feeling of the surrounding forest enveloping me in its comforting arms. I truly understand, in that moment, what it means to commune with nature.

Over time, I have experienced many such moments in my life. When my sensory senses envelop my psyche as I stand surrounded by the wonder of life. I have often just reached out and laid my hand on a giant redwood or a sequoia, felt the interior tremors of the tree, the incredible life bubbling below my palm and simply revelling in the memories of all these giants have experienced.

I touch rock walls laid out by the ancient Incan civilizations in Peru and sense the history buried in them. I feel an incredible sense of calm when a butterfly hovers near my shoulder or a hummingbird plays in the sparkling spray of my garden hose.

Lying in a tent listening to a barred owl calling in the night forest or the incredible historical emotion I felt when I first stepped onto the Wall of China. I have had many life experiences and encounters with many people who interacted with me on a soul level along the way. There are so many breath-stealing moments.

Lowering my masked face into the water as I slowly drifted over the Great Barrier Reef in northern Australia. The incredible colours of the many beautiful corals sparkling in the sun’s rays that filtered down through the water. Darting clownfish moving through the waving underwater grass and the lazy path of a tortoise passing underneath my swimming form. Other countless small, colourful fish drifting past just out of reach. Anemones which are forever anchored to the coral structure, slowly opening and closing their mouths to catch passing food carried by the passing currents around the reef.

Sitting in a Spanish cafe at the traditional dining time of nine in the evening and finding myself surrounded by joyous people, laughing and making me feel welcome even though my limited Spanish didn’t allow for fluent conversation. Enjoying the time surrounded by our new found friends. Pulling chairs up to a heavy, dark wooden, carved table and ordering grilled lamb chops and vegetables. Being served a rich Rioja wine in a ceramic jug with two ceramic goblets. Discovering that the wine in the jug is never-ending as I imbibe with everyone else in the restaurant. Laughing and toasting to life along with everyone else, while sitting and embracing a moment of camaraderie thousands of miles away from home.

These are just some of the experiences that drive me to write memoir. I do not want to leave without sharing these life moments with whoever wishes to share them with me.