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Take a Hike!
by Linda Larsen, CSP
© Copyright 2000

I’m sure you know the feeling. You've been sitting at your computer working for what seems like days. You’re tense, tight and just can't take it anymore. You get up, turn on your heel and walk right out. You know it's true what all those experts say about taking a few minutes to walk, move about and re-energize yourself when you've been sitting too long - so off you go.

This is exactly what happened to me today. I had been working at my desk almost all day, and then about 6:30 p.m., it hit me. I absolutely had to go for a walk. I live in a beautiful, quiet neighborhood with a golf course, a few small lakes and lots of gorgeous trees. There are certain walking paths that are quite familiar to me – so I headed off in my usual direction.

As always is the case, thoughts were flipping in and out of my mind as I walked. I starting thinking about a few chores that I had not yet done, wondering when I could get to them. I was going over the workbook that I had been creating when I left my office. Should I add another section? Would that make the day too long? Oh, did I pack my new overhead pens for my trip to Chicago tomorrow? Mustn't forget to call Kathy.

All of a sudden I smelled the unmistakable aroma of a barbecue. I looked up to see where it was coming from when I noticed an interesting bird walking close to the water. I'd never seen a bird like that before. It was quite unusual. It had a long, slender, yellow neck and a white head. He also had these amazingly intense eyes that followed me closely as I strolled past him.

Then I heard another bird start screeching behind me and I noticed that his voice carried loudly across the water. As I looked around to find that bird I noticed other birds - that, I insist, have never been on that lake before. And it seemed that they were all talking. I wasn't sure if they were speaking to me or each other, but there was a veritable cacophony of sounds reverberating through the neighborhood.

And then - the more I listened to the birds, the more I began to hear other sounds. There were frogs croaking, a dog barking, and crickets...what - chirping? Do cricket's chirp? Well, I'm not sure. But as I became more and more aware of my surroundings, I also became aware of how unaware of my surroundings I am most of the time. I began to realize that MOST of the time - I'm not here! I'm trudging around in the past, or worrying about the future, but I'm not living in the one and only actual time slot that I have. NOW!

So I turned my attention back to each and every moment that surrounded me on that walk. I started noticing how my feet felt as they hit the ground beneath me. Solid and secure. I felt the temperature of the air on my face. It was nice. It felt warm and comforting. I smelled cedar and pine and the lake water. I looked to my right and all of a sudden I felt like I was in that Disney movie, The Sorcerer's Apprentice. There were such vivid, rich colors everywhere. There was a clump of these rich, deep green ferns that seemed to wave at me as I walked by. And right up through the middle of the ferns stood this absolutely exquisite magnolia tree. I almost heard it say, "Oh, you think the ferns are great. Well get a load of me!"

I noticed that as I walked along I actually had a smile on my face. I was feeling so amazingly energized and alert. And then - it happened. I stepped on an uneven place on the path and I twisted my ankle. Only slightly, but it was a definite twinge. And the absolute greatest thing happened in that moment.

My immediate, automatic, reactive thought was, "How blessed I am to have an ankle to twist."

My friend, I did not plan that thought. I don't know where it came from other than that for the preceding 45 minutes I had been absolutely drenching all my senses in the beauty of nature. I had been drinking it in and allowing it to soak in to the very core of my being. And there was such a sense of peace, relaxation, and of all being right with the world. I can only conclude that if I were to live in that place more often, there would be far, far less misery and tragedy. Oh, "stuff" would still occur, it just wouldn't come with the label called "a bad thing."

May I suggest that this week you spend some time each day, really living in the present. A great backdrop for this, of course, is somewhere outside in a natural setting, but you can do it almost anywhere. Just tune in and then go through all of your senses in a relaxed fashion and simply observe what you discover. No one - and I mean no one could have enabled me to have the experience that I had on that walk by telling me about it. After all, I have heard that "live in the now moment" stuff before, you know. I had to do it - in order to really get the meaning for myself.

So do it. Take a hike! You might even meet some great bird-neighbors that you never knew you had!

Word count: 951

Tag line: Linda Larsen, CSP, helps individuals think strategically, communicate effectively, and celebrate success. She is an international keynote speaker, trial consultant and author of the book, True Power, and the best selling audio program, 12 Secrets to High Self-Esteem. She can be reached at www.lindalarsen.com or 941-927-4700.

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