walking with ease

At the end of 2023, I basked in the glory of printing my mindfulness certificate after completing my last module in The Power of Awareness training. My assignment was a half-day mindfulness session, which included a walking meditation. I eyed a path from my kitchen to my front door for the 30-step, 10 minute assignment.  

The first minute forced me to slow down. As I tripped over my feet, I remembered I wasn’t dashing out the door. My destination was the present moment.

After those initial minutes, my analytical brain calculated how many seconds it took to walk 30 steps in order to determine how many rounds I needed to walk within 10 minutes.

Then, my mind and body settled into the slow motion of putting one foot in front of the other.

I felt how my hips moved with ease and my ankles followed. I felt the texture of the hallway carpet under my heels and then the balls of my feet, bridged by a nice, long stretch in my arches. The sensations made for a welcomed massage.

I lost count of the trips I traversed from the kitchen to the front door. When the timer told me 10 minutes had transpired, I had a newfound appreciation for my body. I usually singled out my body parts when something hurt—my swollen right ankle, my noisy, osteoarthritic knees.

Despite these aches, my body moved from Point A to Point B with ease. I gave thanks for my legs, hips, knees, and feet. I also gave thanks for the awareness my joints needed attention.

I’m taking this gift of awareness into the new year and knowing it applies to much more than walking. My intention for 2024 and beyond is to move through all of my endeavors—my health, relationships, work, and play—with ease.