Yesterday it had been almost two full weeks since I’d taken the dogs for a walk, and my Shiba boy was seeming a bit sad and desperate. He paced a lot, and stood and stared at me until it about made me nuts. So I decided to take the dogs for a walk around the block, just to get them out for a bit. Ten minutes, that was all, so I wouldn’t overstress and prolong my cold.
But once I got outside, it was so beautiful, and it felt so good to be ourdoors, and the dogs were so delighted, that I just kept going. I always think of the walks as an obligation to the dogs, but often realize, once I’m out there, that they’re really for me as much as for them.
Walking is good for the body, but even better for the soul. It comes as close to a spiritual experience as I generally get. I’ve tried meditating–sitting, eyes closed, focus on breathing, etc.–but it just makes me anxious. I was relieved to discover that I’m not just weird or spiritually lazy–some people just respond as I do to meditation, and there are spiritual guides who will come right out and say that there are other methods, such as walking, that may work better for some people. So I walk.
The camera has added something to the process. I focus differently, looking for something to take a picture of, which causes me to actively seek out and focus on beauty. I literally see things I wouldn’t have seen before I had the camera. It comes as close the The Power of Positive Thinking as I’m likely to get.
So altogether it was very restorative. I was a bit tired when we got home, but rested, and today the body seems to be making serious headway against the virus, so no harm done. Here are a few pictures I found along the way.
Part of what made the day so beautiful was that a storm had just passed. I love the backside of a storm–the puffy clouds that trail behind the rainclouds, the clean air, sparkling light, clear colors.
Here are a couple of the Shibas.
In this one you can see where the boy’s leg was shaved for an operation. He had a torn ligament in his knee–it had happened in his other leg a couple of years ago, so now he’s had both of them done. This one isn’t healing as well as the first one, but he can walk and run, and that makes his life worthwhile, as far as he’s concerned.
You can also see his tongue out, reaching for some grass. The dogs were all in full grazing mode.
I tried to get some of the poodle too, but he sticks too close to me, except when he’s tearing off a full speed after real or imagined birds–either way it’s hard to get a picture of him.
Here’s the last one.
I thought about calling this post “Signs of Spring”. These mushrooms spring up early on, and don’t last long–you can see one that is already looking a bit past it on the right of the photo. That’s the boy grazing in the background.
After all these years I’m still not used to the fact that spring comes in February around here. It’s another gift of the walks and the camera that I always notice it anyway, even if it does catch me by surprise.
While reading this post you reminded me of the smell after a cleansing rain comes through. A clean smell, which is uplifting to the spirit. I have had to cut out walking for the past two years as it was too painful. I miss it greatly. Maybe, maybe I can start walking again soon. As always I enjoyed your photos.
LikeLike
Yes, the smell is definitely part of it. Too bad we can’t post smells đŸ™‚
It’s tough not being able to walk. I empathize. A couple of years ago I broke a small bone in my ankle, and couldn’t take my walks for about two months. Gave me a whole new appreciation for my legs and feet in general–even putting away the dishes became a major effort: take two things out of the dishwasher, hop across the kitchen (only a few steps, but nonetheless), put them away, hop back, and do it again. I still think about it every now and then when I’m emptying the dishwasher and effortlessly taking those steps.
Eventually I got sensible and went to a doctor, who put me in a massive boot that allowed me to walk, slowly, without pain for the first time in weeks (I loved that boot!). I was going to wait until the ankle was all healed before resuming walks, but one morning I just couldn’t stand it any more, so I decided to take a short walk (with my boy Shiba, who was at the time recovering from his first leg surgery). I’ll never forget that walk. I hobbled along slowly, keeping him on the leash. The spring flowers were still out (I”d been afraid I’d missed them all). We didn’t go very far, but it felt so good I almost cried. Something loosens up and expands in my chest on a good walk.
So I hope you’re able to get out and about soon.
LikeLike