Walking to clear the mind

The new year has just not gone smoothly.  I have been sick since right after Christmas.  Some days I was forced by my family to stay in the bed and some days I had to power on.  The cold lingers.  I seriously had the first ever migraine and it was perhaps the single most terrible day I can remember.  I chose to stay in a dark closet under a blanket on the floor.  For the entire day in excruciating pain.  But most days I get all my tasks complete and move on.

Currently stress is most likely wearing my system down.  That stress of being a federal family in the midst of a government shut down is hindering my bodies ability to relax and recuperate.  Managing the stress matters for my health and my family.

So, true to my new year goal, I have been walking the dogs.  I mentioned the water calls me.  Yesterday I took the 2 big boys to a nearby lake and we walked in the sun around the lake.  One of

the boys can run off the leash and he sure did chase a few geese, eat a dead fish and stick his feet in that cold water.  Pure abandoned joy.  It made me smile.  The water calls him too.  My other big boy is just lazy... he will walk but would rather just lean on me.

Walking helps manage the stress.  Breathing in the air.  Feeling the sun.  Watching birds fly.  Acknowledging the tug of a big dog on a lead.  Nodding a friendly hello at a passerby.  Clearing the mind and being in that moment.

It is incredibly hard to stay in that moment. I know.  My mind wanders to all sorts of “what if” and “need to” and “maybe”.  But I kept bringing it back to the RIGHT NOW.  And walking is a way to just be in the right now.  Taking a walk is less taxing on my body than sitting here with worry on my mind and fret in my soul.  And so off I go....  Find the thing... do the thing...