A Mindful Walk

You pause before entering

Collect your thoughts

Take a deep inhale

And then let it all go

As you enter the forest you focus your attention on just NOTICING.

You slow down your pace… twice as slow as you normally walk.

Now twice as slow as that.

Something amazing begins to happen. Your eyes soften to the colors of the land. Your ears pick up new sounds. Your face relaxes and you start to FEEL the space you are in.

You have just created an opening for your senses to come alive- they have been asking you to do this for so long. Thank you, they say.

At your slow pace, you begin to take in the chirping sounds of a small bird on the tree above. You may even ask- is this bird happy to see me or setting off an alarm to warn the other birds to fly away.

Walk slower…

Your eyes begin to smile as they notice a fairy shaped cloud dancing gently across the blue sky. Then, your gaze is drawn to a small pool of water. A drop from above lands and creates a circular ripple. Did it rain, you ask yourself? Well yes, I guess it did last night. What an unexpected gift it left for me.

Your face relaxes as it feels a gentle breeze wash across your skin. The sun’s rays sweep in right after to offer you a warm embrace.

As you inhale again, you notice a mature oak tree standing alongside you. Hello friend. Have you always been here?

The two of you gaze at each other, exchanges breaths. You take in the view of the forest together. And then it comes. This overwhelming desire to give your new friend a big hug. As you embrace each other you feel a beautiful energy shoot though your body. A connection- human being to tree being. Both Nature. You feel her rough bark against your smooth skin. You hear the melody as the wind flows through her branches. Her lovely green leaves shimmer against the backdrop of the blue sky. You are overcome by a sense of awe as you sit under her majestic canopy- just taking it all in.

A smile washes over your face. And you realize… THIS is all that matters at this particular moment in time.

What a deep and transformative experience- merely by walking at a slower pace.