walking in the forest

I am lucky to I live in an area where walking paths are close enough that I can head to the forest in the middle of the day to clear my head. I usually walk for an hour or so. Mid-day on a weekday is always quiet and I often have the forest to myself. I like the solitude. Even better if it is raining or cold as it weeds out the fair-weather walkers. Walking in the forest does so much more for me than walking on the sidewalks. No horns. No stoplights. No heat reflecting off the concrete. Just me, the birds, the chipmunks and the trees. 

The trails aren’t particularly challenging but as I walk I can feel myself relax. I can hear the wind in the trees. My eyes light up against the green of the forest that surrounds me. The occasional droplet of water from a wet leaf brushes against my arm.  I can feel my legs powering forward and my breath quickening with each step. It is just me, my thoughts and the forest.

Sometimes I listen to a podcast or book. Sometimes I listen to music. But mostly I just walk and listen to the crunch of my footsteps and the rhythm of the forest around me. One foot in front of the other. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right.

It is a quick hour. A short break from the day. But a welcome reset. I get in my car and drive home. Back to reality.  

Until the next time my forest friends. 

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