Today was one of those days – “it just sucked.” It sounded good when I said those words out loud, and I could almost taste them through my lips. They were better than any combination of swear words, or a litany of complaints. “Today just sucked.” I said the words again, slowly and loudly, with a little more relish.
Yep, I was feeling better already. I wanted to continue in that direction so I decided to go for a walk, because walking always works, even when it’s hard to get started. In all the thousands of times I have gone walking, I have never, ever, not felt better when I got home than when I left. I can’t say the same for watching tv or going to the bar.
I grabbed my buddy Baloo, and we were off to Drumbeg Park, where the sky and ocean were the most clear clear blue and the evening sun was warm and gentle on my skin. I breathed the sweet scent of the trees, then the salt air along the beach and felt my shoulders start to lower, all by themselves. I took some deep breaths, and Baloo jumped in the salt chuck for a splashy cool down dip.
Walking and breathing – all my conflicted thoughts lost their content and turned into what they really were, empty air.
All I could think of was how lucky I was to be present, in such a beautiful place, on such a perfect day.
Janice Henshaw
Photo © Janice Henshaw 2015 Drumbeg Park