We had about six inches of snow yesterday. With not a cloud in the sky and the sun shining so brilliantly this morning, I felt the call to saunter in the woods.

After doing a reading for a client, I scampered into the house, and layered on all my winter gear. I was excited to meet up with Mr. Walking Stick once again.

As I approached the pine tree on the right at the end of the first leg of the path, I could see my faithful walking stick friend nestled in the branches where I carefully place him after each of my walks.

As I reached out and grabbed him, I silently I said, “Hello, Mr. Walking Stick. Are you ready to go?”

Thinking about the client I had just met with, I was holding her in my heart that she find a sense of direction she is in search of, and the cards revealing that taking time to pause and go inward was being called for.

The gift of pausing has been on my mind much lately too.

My feet happy to be the first ones making tracks in the new fallen snow, but my mind still in a thousand other places, and before I knew it, out went my feet from under me, and I found myself on my back, staring up at the blue sky.

There was ice under the snow and down I went with my head being the last to hit the ground. Luckily, with all my padding of clothing and enough snow, I didn’t really feel hurt anywhere, but was just stunned for a moment.

And it was a reminder for me as I brushed myself off and continued my walk.

Walking in winter is so much different and my favorite quote from author and illustrator, Tasha Tudor echoed in my mind, “I don’t believe in hurry.”

It’s no wonder I love that quote as it is something I continually work on practicing and integrating into my life. Taking that fall was another reminder. There was no need to be in a hurry to get to the woods – they weren’t  going anywhere, after all. But I did have on my mind what was “next” on my schedule when I returned to my writing cottage.

Also, having a passion for much in life, and wanting to experience as much as I can, I can sometimes forget and hurry, instead of just being in the moment of what is. Though I must say I’m much, much better than years ago, and I’m grateful for how far I’ve come.

But as I continued my walk through the woods, I made sure to consciously connect with each step. As I did, I also took time to stop every few feet and look around. With so much gear on, my face mostly covered by my large furry hood, it requires making an effort to look left, right, up and behind.

It was such a perfect metaphor for life, I thought, being in conscious mind, making sure I carefully watched each step I took in the snow, as I wound my way down and up and over the snow covered paths, but also pausing now and then to take in all the beauty around me.

So I’m grateful for the “digger” and even more so, that I didn’t break anything! But even more than that, I am grateful for the reminder of how much beauty there is when we live more in the moment, and not what just was, or what will be.

Last by not least, I recalled this drawing my Facebook friend and artist, Abrah Griggs, recently shared. She’s an amazing artist by the way, and I invite you to check out her fun art that often has birds and spiders wearing galoshes! At any rate, I’m not sure her meaning behind this drawing, but for me it means that whether or not I’d have cleats on, if I’m not in the moment and paying attention…. well, I’m still likely going to fall on my ARS!

P.S. Don’t worry mom, I’m okay. Even at 54 1/2 years old, I know my mama still worries about me, so just need to reassure her I am fine. XO