Morning walk and what I found

In the mornings I look forward to a walk in the woods with my friend.

I acknowledge there are a lot of privileges listed in that sentence.

First, I appreciate having the time to go for a morning walk! That is one of the benefits that resulted from the Coronavirus stay-at-home order. I try to treat this special extra time with enjoyment and fresh air. Second, it’s wonderful to share the walk with a neighbor and friend. And third, how blessed am I to be healthy and able to walk for as long as I wish to!

Sometimes during our walks, we stop, look up in the sky, imagine the universe outside the sky. We see all the trees and other wonders that surround us. Then we become still and the only sounds we hear are the birds singing and our feet touching the ground with each step. And you feel the wind on your skin and you breath the fresh air. It smells so good even through my face mask. My breathing becomes even, deep and slow. And yes, we also laugh.

On another stop I picked up 2 empty plastic bottles from the ground. The question is whether to pick them up or not . Since I carried a hand sanitizer with me, I thought it was safe for me to pick them up, put them in the recycle bin next to the park and sanitize my hands thoroughly. I found two more on the way home, right next to my feet. I could not ignore them, pretending they are not there. So I collected them as well. At home I was able to wash my hands.

I wonder how can people just throw their trash on the ground? It’s a small deed I made for the earth. I don’t know if the world is a better place because of it.

Do four plastic bottles really matter? Who knows! It felt right to me. And that alone counts.