Morning Hike

I went hiking this morning and it was exactly what I needed.

Hiking in the Rain

I lace my boots tight
Inaugural outing

Pack loaded up
Ready to buckle on again

Butterflies in my stomach
Excitement and nervousness

What if the woods don’t feel like home anymore either?

But the trees canopy over the trail
Like a big green doorway

And the tree branches wave hello
As the wind rustles their leaves

And Mother Nature welcomes me
As my boots crunch on the trail

My whole body sighs
Tuning in and tuning out

Every exhale
Distractions fade

Every inhale
Senses sharpen

All that is important surrounds me in this moment

The birds singing to each other
Hidden in the safety of the boughs

Little frogs hop on the trail
I’m mindful of each step

A doe startles in the long grass
Flicks her tail in irritation as she bounds off

Delicate flowers blossom on trail’s edge
Small delights to the observant few

It starts to rain
I tilt my face up to the sky

Raindrops mingle with tears
The thirsty earth and I soak up the rain together

And a million eyes witness my baptism
As I spin slowly feeling reborn

This is where I belong