I read this article recently and it both resonated and made me laugh. It’s about how a lot of us, amidst whatever restrictions Covid has placed on our lives, are “putting a lot of pressure” on our short afternoon walk expecting it to be EVERYTHING – our exercise, fun, escape, moment of normalcy, joy, hope, anxiety release. Written from the perspective of the walk, the walk pleads, “Hey, don’t put so much pressure on me! Let’s just enjoy our time together!”
I have definitely been taking a lot of walks lately – whether or not I’m putting too much pressure on them I don’t know. I do know that I am immensely grateful for them. Yesterday’s walk over delivered as did a friend’s comment where she named me a “beauty spotter.”
Back to the walk. In a span of 45 minutes I saw a rainbow, played with shadows, was in complete aww of the light, marveled at the greenest grass and the cotton candy sky, and had a conversation where I laughed and dreamt about a future trip to Asturias – doesn’t it look AMAZING?
Back to the walk. As I was walking I was thinking about my friend’s comment, “beauty spotter” and then accepted: “I guess she’s right I really am ‘beauty spotter.’” Sometimes in the obvious ways, but I think more often in the less obvious and smaller or subtler ways. Like the green grass, so normal yet so stunning. And in thinking about the “beauty spotting” the dot I connected was how I do this in coaching. I like this about myself and how its so useful in coaching: I have a knack for seeing in others the core of who they are and it’s always beautiful. More importantly my gift is in creating and holding the space so other people can see for themselves their true essence and beauty. Mind you, people often come to coaching when things are going less than swimmingly so holding this space becomes ever more powerful. We get through the tough shit by remembering who we are.
So, here’s to stepping fully into that place in ourselves and living from it – it’s the most powerful beautiful place I know.
And now, back to the walk.
