walk

Early Morning Devotional

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Spring has sprung, it’s true. But what isn’t true is that the mornings are any lighter. It feels like a really long winter. Especially when you have to walk the dog BEFORE work. And that translates to 5:30 in the morning. Let me repeat that-5:30 AM! 

Dragging myself out of bed is always difficult. I have never been a morning person. Heck, I even taught my oldest daughter to not wake Mommy up until the clock said 7-0-0. But with this job, I have to open the clinic up and that means that in order to get there to do so, I have to wake up at 5:00 so Remy and I can have our breakfasts before we walk.

Needless to say, the winter mornings are dreary. The cold is bitter and the wind cuts through everything. And with the onset of spring, the mornings aren’t as cold but they are still dark. 

Initially, I hated these walks.

All the reasons I stated above came into play. But then one morning, after we had moved to our new neighborhood, I started appreciating those times.

I noticed that there were plenty of lights on in the houses and townhomes dotting our enclave. It made me feel less alone to see others up and moving. There were cars exiting our neighborhood to go to work-another positive affirmation.


And at some point, I also spotted the shadows on the ground. They were so beautiful in their simplicity. Yin and yang in harmony.


That’s when I took the time to relish the quiet of the early morning hours. I pass a few dog walkers but for the most part it’s just me, Remy and the morning sounds. I still hate getting out of bed but at least I am grateful for what I am given each morning. It gives me a chance to reflect on my day and value what I have. Try it someday. The peace is welcome.

Water, Water Everywhere

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Water is everywhere, obviously. But did you ever REALLY think about it? I’ve been wandering around my new neighborhood and I am suddenly keenly aware that I love water.

The first morning I took my dog on a walk in the new neighborhood, I walked past a creek. As you know, I’m familiar with water around my neighborhoods but this time was different. This creek wasn’t just a creek, it was a babbling brook. There were flat rocks under the stream and so the sound was alive. It wasn’t rushing water but a much more pleasant sound. That sound soothes me.

As I continued on, there was that sound again. But this time there was no creek, no brook, no stream. There was simply a water feature in someone’s backyard. Again, it was a pleasant surprise. I very much like that sound.

That being said, I love water in it’s other forms too. In high school, I converted from soda drinking to water. I didn’t do it for the health benefits but rather because I hated feeling bloated all the time. It was a positive that I wasn’t burping all the time too.

The ocean is my biggest water love of all. The sound of the waves crashing on the beach; the smell of the salty air all combines to make a wonderful sensory experience. I never get enough of it but I crave it all the time. When we first arrived in Europe, my spouse had to go to The Hague for a work trip. The kids and I drove out there at the end and spent a few days at the oceanside. It was September in the northern part of the country and I insisted on getting my feet wet in the ocean. The kids laughed and thought I was crazy but it needed to be done.

I love cruising for that reason too. I enjoy visiting many countries and their beaches. And on the way, I’m on the sea. That’s one time that I fear the water. The ocean is beautiful on shore but scares me a little bit out in the wide space. There are creatures out there that can kill you. I know, I know. There are also dolphins and cute, little sea creatures but those don’t concern me. I don’t want to be like Louis Zamperini and be lost at sea for days on end. That holds NO appeal for me.

And it’s funny that only certain kinds of water make you have to go to the bathroom. That’s another type of water I don’t like. I don’t want overflowing rivers that can sweep you away nor torrential downpours that pelt you. I want controlled water. And my babbling brook will help keep me enjoying my morning walks with the dog. That’s water you can celebrate.