After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, I incorporated a lot of things into my life that would make me healthier, both mentally and physically, as I believe strongly in the mind/body connection.
One of the things that makes me stronger in both mind and body are my walks outside in nature. I love to walk, it’s my favorite form of exercise and is like meditation for me, as any time I’m out in nature it fills my soul with joy and brings me peace.
There’s a particular walk in our little town called The Landsdown Trail. It’s about 3 miles round-trip and is close to my home so I can do the entire trail on my lunch break during a busy day, and I walk this particular path often throughout the year.
Since I’m there so often, I get to experience it during every season, with each seasons respective beauty. I must have walked it a hundred times but every visit feels brand new to me, as I see new things, with more focus on different areas as I note the seasonal changes that occur due to weather and more or less sun or rain.
It feels like my own personal Groundhog Day’s experience (like the Bill Murray movie of the same name which is a personal fave of mine), as on every walk, the trail seems brand new to me and I learn new things both about the trail, and about myself. It forces me to pay attention, to be more in the moment, as I see the walkway with new eyes each time I’m there.
These are some of the pictures that I took on a recent visit. This summer has been wet and rainy so the foliage on the pathway is very lush and full, unlike the end of most summers where things are dried out and losing their color. I’ll miss the warm days but am already looking forward to the bright colors and foliage I know I’ll soon see in the Fall.
The sounds of the birds, the water and the secluded silence are very peaceful. When I’m faced with inner turmoil, a walk on the Landsdown Trail will always bring me back to my inner core and allow me to break out of the anxiety and back to my soul. I hope you find your own path to keep you focused on inner peace and the beauty of the moment.
Great post. I feel more serene — something I desperately needed this morning — just from reading your words. You paint such a vivid picture, not just with your photos but with your words as well. Thanks so much for sharing.
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that, Jeffrey. Wishing you peace and joy.