hiking outside, looking inside
Spring has been slowly revealing itself to us. This weekend my husband and I made our way to one of our favorite hiking spots in West Michigan to enjoy the weather and woods. Hitting this trail for the first time this year, even though we have walked this way more times than I can count, all seemed new and different somehow. The water levels were higher in the lake areas, and lower in the marshy areas. New trees had fallen and above me bare branches were showing off new buds. And more ubiquitous than the visible signs of Spring’s imminent arrival were the audible signs. We could hear bugs, frogs, and birds everywhere loudly heralding the new season.
We walked together, without talking much. There was no need. We were here to escape the sounds of our urban lives. I even attempted to walk with the softest of steps, hoping for a glimpse of some forest resident enjoying this day with me.
We missed our trail turn on the way back and ended up a little lost. We back tracked to the missed turn and laughed at ourselves for missing the markings. We got back into town late, too late to make it to our planned Yoga practice at Seva.
Riding home I was feeling a little pouty about missing my Sunday practice, but I think that the hike was my Yoga today. It was my union with something much larger than myself, and just like an asana practice or meditation, the quieter you are and the greater the stillness of the mind, the more that is revealed to you.
-michele