#1 - Last year to prepare for my summer in the mountains I started doing Saturday hikes in April and May. I really enjoyed it and thought, "I should do this anyway next year." Today was my first one, not on Saturday, because I'll be at the rally at the state capitol tomorrow. I went straight after work and wasn't sure how long I'd walk but I picked a big loop I hadn't done before (and because of a 15 minute mistake), almost walked for 3 hours.
Afterwards I sat by a pond and ate my dinner. Most of the walk my mind was full of repetitive pointless thoughts, but when the muskrat (I think) came to the edge of the pond without noticing me, I knew I had quieted. "Most people never experience this," I thought.
And then when I was almost home and had a phone call to make I realized it's not just the walk in nature, but also being in a space without access to thinking you should make a phone call or send a message, because it is not an option.
#2 - I was already planning to go to the Hands Off rally tomorrow, but Cory Booker gave me a new level of energy for it. And one of my family members is coming, whom I'm excited to bring to her first protest/rally as #3 well as show her how to use the public transit where she recently moved.
#4 - One of the mothers I work with that has sometimes has been a challenge to get her to participate in the program. When it was time to read a book today, her child that is in the program, ran thru the house to find the older child, who is home on spring break, so she could listen too. The mom read to them both and they were completely engaged and I had the privilege to sit back and do my job - which is nothing when it is done "right".
#5 - The loop I walked today, seemed like a great loop, but I imagine once it's a little warmer, full of mosquitos. It's good to be reminded every season has its gifts.