What is normally an overused metaphor, the expression, "Putting one foot in front of the other," has significant meaning for me over the past few months. Regardless of my mind's relentless, usually unproductive chatter, it isn't long into a walk before this noise calms way down to a pathetic whimper. Life, once again, makes sense. One step at a time, I can start to breathe, with my mind, body and spirit.
There are many expressions that describe the zen-like results of walking - "One step at a time," "Easy Does It," and "First Things First" are but a few. These are all things we all know - but knowing does us no good if we can't use it. I've found that walking, simple walking, every day without fail, produces instant peace of mind that I can usually take with me for at least part of the day before my mind takes over.
My new mantra is "No Matter What." There is incredible strength and power in a personal commitment, especially one that comes from disgust. As Sonny Carrol expresses in her amazing composition "The Awakening" ...
"A time comes in your life when you finally get it... When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere, the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!"
"No Matter What," each day, regardless of weather or what my mind or body is telling me, I get dressed, grab my walking stick and drag my butt up the driveway and around my wonderful waterfront village of Langley (WA). It's those first 10 steps - walking out the door that is the hardest - the rest, is a piece of cake (most of the time).
While walking across the country, I made, what I call "My deal with God." It was a simple deal really - that regardless of conditions (external and internal), my job, each day, was to strap up my boots and take at least 3 steps - just 3 steps! If I couldn't manage any more, then that's OK. Most of the time, I would complete the 15 miles I usually walked each day. There were a few days, I turned back after those 3 steps - but not many. And one step at a time, day in and day out, 2 years later, I completed a 5200 mile solo walk from Miami to Seattle. For more info about the walk, Click ... Walk Across America.
You know, some days suck! And I've found that on those days, it's more important than ever to do whatever I must do to get myself out that door, no matter what! The alternative sucks even more. It's almost like a different, more disciplined 'self' steps in to assist me once I've decided to get out of my own way. It's getting to that place of commitment that's challenging - that dark place that we must reach before we declare, as Sonny Carrol stated, "ENOUGH!!!" I know that place and I'm tired of being there and have made that personal commitment, to change - no matter what.
So, if you are ever on the quiet island of Whidbey, near the quaint seaside village of Langley, you just might see me, walking around, one step at a time, smile, or not - no matter what!
For more info about what makes Louie tick, click bio
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