Looking up.
[ From the REI parking lot where we picked up our 2008 parks parking pass. ]
Awesome weather here yesterday called for a hike + picnic on Mt. Pisgah. Lily was loaded in the back. Water bottles were stuffed into the backpack. Sandwiches were grabbed at a local shop and off we went.
Sometimes when I go hiking I find it way too easy to keep my eyes focused on the ground as I walk rather than looking around and actually taking in all the beauty. I am always watching out for rocks and snags and holes - you know, being practical and safe.
Some of it is also that whole being in a hurry thing. Gotta finish this hike to get on to the next thing. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Whatever it is on my list at home: the laundry that needs moving, the bed that needs making, the emails that need to be returned, the projects that need to be completed, the garage that needs to be totally emptied and put back together again.
Yesterday I decided to make myself look up. Make myself really be present on this hike. Look up and actually see the way the trees reach for the sky; the way some branches are covered with moss like a cozy wool sweater; the way some are sprouting new growth and seem to be waking up right in front of our eyes; the way they create these complicated patterns in the sky twisting this way and that; and the way the clouds change from moment to moment as if playing a game of hide and seek.
I love that I made myself look up. Made myself slow down, be present, and see.
I also love that when we were saying the prayer with Simon tonight he said he was thankful for going on the hike.
Now before you think that our hikes are completely zen and all about being present...really those are just little moments in the overall experience that I carve out as I go along.
In reality our hikes are all about being together. About getting outside and trekking up and then back down again. About having conversations as we talk about what Lily is doing and about whether the other dog we just passed on the trail was "friendly." About comforting Simon after he trips on a rock and skins his knee. About stopping to double-knot Simon's shoes again for the third time. And chatting about what we will do next as we transition into the parking lot area (today we went to the used book store) .
It's all good. All of it. The zen moments, the crying moments, the dog moments, the transition moments, the together moments.
On my next walk, I'll remember my camera and remember to look up. Love your pics and the fact that you have family hikes.
Sue
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Wonderful words, Ali. Thank you for making me remember all of that. :) Togetherness.
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Can you let Iowa know spring is on its way?? I don't think it knows!! :)
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Awesome photos, Ali!
Sending you a TAG (yours in one of my most read blogs!)
More info on mine..
www.scrappinjewlz.blogspot.com
Julie
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Oooh. What a wonderful moment!
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What a great reminder -- to enjoy it all -- you've inspired me (again! thank you!! :) to get the family out for a walk this weekend!
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I love days like that. Just "being" with my husband & kids. Alas, here in northern Illinois there are NO SIGNS OF SPRING!!!!! But, it looks lovely where you are - thanks for sharing!!
Laura
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I'm so glad you took the time to look up and really take in your surroundings. So often I forget to do the same thing as I'm trying to race from one thing to the next trying to cram way too much into a day. Thanks for the reminder.
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For a long time I used to focus on getting to, taking pictures of, getting the pictures printed and getting the pages done of events. Then one day I was looking at my scrapbook and realized I spent so much time worried about the process that I was missing out on the good stuff. The jokes & laughter, the stories, the good times with friends. It's taken me time to get out of the "get 'er done" mode and actually focus on the moments themselves but boy does it feel better.
Thanks so much for all of your inspiration Ali!
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hi sister!
we go on hikes all the time - one of my favorite things to do with the kids:)
Last week we were on one and the BIGGEST FATTEST OWL you have ever seen in your life at any zoo or museum swooped down within 5 ft of Ellie. TOTALLY felt like I was in Narnia. So fun.
LOVE YOU!
Cath
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i just had to comment tonight...thank you for this reminder. that it's about the BEING. i get stuck looking down all the time. love the beauty you found. thanks for sharing.
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I so love living in Oregon. Spring is here! I sent you an email with some links for some great hikes up north here.
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I had a professor in college who used to tell a lot of Zen stories. My favorite was one about washing the dishes to wash the dishes -- instead of rushing through them to get them done to move on to the next task. While you kept forcing yourself to look up and to BE in the moment of your hike, I often have to force myself to wash whatever metaphorical dishes I'm in the middle of simply to wash them.
Your spring photos are enviable. Our recent 17-inch snowfall hasn't yet melted completely. My parents got a fresh dusting of snow the other day and told me that God must be tired of looking at dirty snow. I reminded mom that, if God is tired of looking at snow, He does have other options!
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So fun seeing your trees' pictures... I love trees and leaves (their design is amazing!) and everyplace I go I usually take pictures of trees branches in th same way you did! It's so wonderful, isnt't it? Nature has a "design sense", it's so perfect, so balanced... Have a blessed week!!!
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