I was wandering in Gent centrum yesterday, in the Prinsenhof neighbourhood.

Down one street, I saw two glittering walls ahead.  I was drawn to the beauty …

O my God, I love living here!  Sometimes the art around me is ancient, and sometimes from today.  I am blessed.

I sat down at a pink circle of metal seats around a tree.  And gazed down the street:

Far in the distance was a steeple.  I recognized it … and I couldn’t remember where or what it was.  A smile came.  I fell into a far-off loveliness beyond labels.  Any “should” in the space floated away.

Then more meandering, taking me to one of my favourite hometown bridges.  (Hmm … I just said “hometown”)

A tourist boat, with about twenty open-air human beings, was approaching.  I leaned over, smiled and waved at the visitors, and said “Welcome to Gent!”  Ten or so smiled back.

I took the photo you see about five minutes later, as the boat was returning.

***

I have an idea.  And I will turn it into reality.  A huge part of my life is finding ways to contribute to other people.  How about if I regularly do what I did yesterday – wave to aquatic tourists from bridges?

It will make a difference to some of them.  Five seconds of a friendly face passing overhead.

I’ll do it

It will make me happy

And others as well