Kisses from the Sun

_{Artwork is from, and edited through Canva.}

I love walking. Long walks help me clear my mind, appreciate nature, and see beauty in small things. It's also the form of exercise I can handle for now. Oh, I'm not hurt or anything...I'm just too lazy to start a vigorous physical routine. And with our local playground closed again, the kids also need an outlet to pour their energy into. So we do morning walks at least 4 times a week.

_{My eldest, my sister, and my nephew. That's taken near my school during elementary.}

I'm not good at taking pictures. I think it has to be a combination of quality equipment and talent. Unfortunately, I have neither. I still do it anyway. I find joy in being able to take a clear shot, cause most of the pictures I take are blurry.

_{I love how this picture came out. Not sure what plant it is, though. If you know it, please let me know in the comments below.}

In this particular day, my eldest doesn't feel like walking. I had to use the "mom card" to make her join us. And eventually, she enjoyed it. She's more into the adventure of walking...being creative about what she can make out of the clouds in the sky, or planning ahead like making huge slides on the sidewalks so it'll be easier for people to go down a steep hill.

_{I admire this banana tree. It still grew so tall, even if it's planted on a small piece of land.}

"Nanay, when I grow up and become an engineer, I will make a huge slide so I wouldn't have to walk downhill," she said with her big, bright eyes wide open. Yep, creative but lazy...just like her mom.

_{See who's the leader? 😁}

My youngest is the opposite. She loves walking on her own, and gets mad when I reach for her hand. Yes, she's the independent one. Seeing plants excites her. She would always make sure to pick a flower, sometimes grass, and gives it to me. "Nanay, this is for you," with a sweet smile on her face.

_{This is Jasmin, I think? Please correct me if I'm wrong. It's my youngest favorite flower to pick...well, everything's her favorite I suppose.}

_{We used to eat the nectar from this flower when I was a kid. If you're in your 30's now, I'm sure you did that, too.}

It's funny how annoying they can be sometimes, and yet most of their traits are from me anyway. I love my kids, but they can be a handful. I remember my mom saying whenever I get on her nerves, "Pag nagka-anak ka, maiintindihan mo rin ako." (When you have your own kids, you would understand what I'm feeling.) Yes, ma. I know, okay?

My favorite part of our morning walks would be when we're able to catch the sunrise. We live in a tropical country and it can get pretty hot. But when the sun rises around 6:30 to 7:00 am, the sunlight feels like sweet, warm kisses from the sun. It just makes me close my eyes and breathe the fresh air in.

_{Just loving the view here with all the trees and bright blue sky.}

When we get home after every morning walk, the kids are happier. I'm more patient. Everything just seem a little more bearable. We feel calmer after a sincere kiss on the forehead or the cheek from the people we care about. We feel seen. We feel home. I guess it's because of those kisses from the sun.

_{And of course, proof of life 😝}

Which picture did you like best? Any tips on how to take great pictures would be well appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Until my next story!

_{*Pictures are all mine unless stated otherwise.}