A Day at the Park.
It wasn’t a special day, by any means. It was a random Tuesday, or it could have been Wednesday, or Thursday, for all the more that the day mattered. It was early in the morning, and the sun was barely above the horizon. It was still summer, mid August, but the temperature felt more like that of a brisk fall day in October. The sky was blue, the air was cool, and a few stray leaves blew across the street.
Not very many people were awake at this hour, but we were. It’s my favorite time of day. The time of day before the world wakes up, before the bustle of life begins, before the cars rumble down the roads and people honk impatiently at each other.
We clipped our puppy’s leash on and headed down to the garage. We started the Jeep, put the windows down, and turned the music on. The roads were quiet; my favorite. As we drove by the beautiful houses in the neighborhood, I loved to pick out which ones I would choose to live in (if, of course, I ever won the lottery). The cool wind felt so refreshing and clear in my lungs, and life felt good.
We pulled into the park. It was less empty than the streets, but still quite lonely.
Deer passed through the forest, almost unheard, but not unseen. They seemed unbothered by our presence, and continued on with their little lives. Birds sang up in the trees, responding to one another with different varieties of chirps and whistles, some of which I have never heard before. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t always paid enough attention.
We walked along the gravel path, the rocks crunching and rolling beneath our feet now and again. The wind rustled the plants and trees, and the sunlight danced around on the forest floor. Cars could be heard in the far distance, but not close enough to drown out nature.
As we drove home, I couldn’t help but feel more alive. I felt grateful that such a simple thing as a hike in the woods could bring so much peace and joy.
It was a hike just like any other, but I felt the need to write about it to hopefully capture how beautiful the simple things in life can be. I hope that you too can go for a walk and feel the same.
<3 Kenn
