In the waiting hour of twilight, my grandfather taught me about silence. We fished in a small rowboat on the lake until after the moon rose glistening in the water. He explained the rules of fishing, "Bait your own hook, sit still, and don't talk or you will disturb the fish." Each trip was the same. We left behind the cottage and, as we detached ourselves farther and farther from shore a new peace came to us. One time his voice entered the silence saying, "If you listen really hard, God will tell you stories." I listened, and he was right. My mind envisioned new and exciting "somedays" and I came close to tears in the face of the starry night's beauty.
Walking is a profound tool of healing. When spirits droop and footsteps falter, walking awakens the
healing powers of the human spirit, literally, with chemicals that change the way you feel...Whether the
wound is physical, emotional, professional, or spiritual, a walk can ease the grip of hard times, delivering an
antidote to despair. But each step requires an act of faith...When I catch my
thoughts plowing through fears and doubts or unanswered questions as I walk, I've
developed the habit of responding politely but firmly… Thank you, but not now.
Right now, I am here and I am walking. Then I return to awareness of my breath or
my footsteps. It's a practice that allows me to acknowledge my lively thought
processes and then choose to redirect my focus.