Have you ever tried a wonder walk? by Hannah Sparks
As a former athlete, I used to always be on the move. I used to be a runner so I would spend my mornings running a few miles, then the afternoons recovering. I never thought about my surroundings too much. I was more focused getting the miles and my workouts that I never really took a moment to take in the surroundings. I was always on the move.
Although Ohio weather has been crazy, I used to really enjoy going on walks with my friends when it was warmer out. I decided to brave the cold and go on a walk the other day. I didn't walk a lot, as mentioned above I was a runner. I would spend my days pumping out mile after mile, but with my walks I can slow down and truly notice my surroundings.
It was supposed to be nice and a little bit sunny before becoming cold again with a chance of snow. I wanted to take advantage of the walking trail I used to go on when the weather was better. So after class I stopped by my dorm to drop off my heavy backpack and then I went to head out to the trails. In the fall, you would always see people out or on the walking trails around my campus. It would be hard to not run into someone, but now I was the only one on this path. Without the bustle of people I noticed just how peaceful it was.
Serene.
It felt weird to be alone on this path, but I didn’t feel alone.
There was a slight breeze which aided the cold but without it I wouldn’t have noticed the trees. They swayed back and forth as the wind hit my face, it also hit the trees with the leaves being blown around. Almost the same way the wind was treating me the day earlier. I was able to sit and think on this walk.
I noticed the deer that were still out. My campus had a lot of deer sightings so it wasn’t uncommon to spot one next to academic buildings, or near the residential buildings. One deer darted across the path a few feet in front of me. I watched as it bounded back into the trees.
As I finished my walk, and headed back to my dorm I felt like my mind was clearer. Running and walking had always helped me clear my mind, and I was able to move my energy, physically and mentally. In the recent squad session, we had learned about noticing small things around us “glimmers” to help us stay present and grounded. While my walk was only a small part of my day it helped me to ground myself, and use what I’ve learned to notice my surroundings a little bit more than I had in the past.
Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and take it easy.
What are some ways that you notice “glimmers”
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