Literally Turning A Corner

I’ve started getting up at 5:15 AM about three times a week to walk around my neighborhood. I’m a morning person, but that close to zero dark thirty is not my preferred time to be up and moving. However, I’m providing summer care and activities for my elementary school aged child. So I’m trying to get up to get in a little Zone 2 cardio before seeing 7AM clients before this kid even wakes up.

I imagine that many of you think that I have my act together by handling my stress well, practicing self care, and all of the other things that people work with me to get better at. But, a few weeks ago, I was feeling particularly stressed and had not yet taken the time to determine what was behind the restless nights, irritability, and feeling of pressure to do…something that had been increasingly building over the last few weeks.

So, in an effort to practice what I preach, I started walking in the mornings. Despite the early wake up call, my mind and body have been thanking me! A few weeks ago, when I started my walk, I decided that I wouldn’t walk with the intention of focusing on my breathing, checking my form, making sure I was sitting in Zone 2 on the heart rate monitor, or engaging in stress relief. I wanted to walk with the intention to just let my mind wander and be (even more aware) of my surroundings. Starting out in the dim morning light, I heard the birds chirping against the background of the exquisite silence that comes from a still slumbering neighborhood. It was about 65 degrees with very little humidity and very pleasant light breeze.

As I rounded my first corner from my street to the cross street, I could see the sky starting to come alive with the colors of impending dawn. More birds had started singing - I could hear the owls hooting, some birds singing, and the crows cawing. I was about 3 minutes into my 5 minute warm up and really starting to get into this walk.

All of a sudden, there was sharp, brisk, intense - I’m honestly at a loss for words to describe it - wind gust that came out of nowhere. It was definitely bigger than the light breezes that I’d been enjoying, but not strong enough to feel overpowering. II can tell you that it took me by surprise as it literally smacked me in the face. As I was getting over the shock of power of the gust, I realized that the air was fresh, cool, and light. And, for the first time in a long time, I felt like I. Could. Breathe.

A single dandelion blowing in the wind

I looked around, as if I’d be able to see where the wind had generated from. I couldn’t, of course, but what I did notice was that I had literally just turned the corner from my street onto another street and felt like I had figuratively turned a corner, mentally. I laughed at out loud at this realization and picked up the pace to get into the walk.

Physically, I did the same things that I usually do on my walks. Mentally, I changed my perspective on the purpose of the walk. This small change truly made all the difference. No, I didn’t set a new PR on my lap times (that has happened recently, but that’s a post for another day). But, I was energized and excited to see what the rest of the day would hold for me. I also couldn’t wait to tell someone about this experience and how I felt.

What day was this, what else happened on that day, you ask…I have no idea! HA! And, honestly, those details don’t matter as much as how that experience and symbolism has remained with me as a reminder to experience better.