Yesterday I went with a friend for a lovely walk in a nearby park. I've been to this park before and had thought I'd seen it all, but because I asked her to choose which paths to follow, which turns to make, I learned that there were parts of the park I had missed.
Usually when I walk, I keep up a brisk pace in order to get my heart pumping and to get lots of steps. But my friend is in her 80's so we walked more slowly, which meant that I was seeing and hearing and smelling my surroundings in a way I often miss.
So today while I was walking the 2 miles home after dropping my car off at the mechanic, I chose a different way than usual and walked more slowly so that I could truly be present to my surroundings. There's a part of me that rebels at slowing down because my self-image demands I keep up with my younger self. But when I choose a slower walk, it doesn't feel so much as though I'm making a concession to age but am rather giving myself a time of more meditative, reflective exercise. I can't help but wonder what sweet sights or luscious fragrances I might have missed when I was pushing along at my usual pace.
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