A Walk Fit for a Queen…

Or how letting go of perfection lead to a perfect walk.

So this morning I knew it was supposed to be nice out. Around 34 degrees, and bright sun, not too much wind.

I though of taking a drive to the beach with Chica.

I thought how good that would be for both of us.

Then I immediately also started the sabotaging self talk, the crazy woman inner dialogue…

“It will be colder at the beach…”

“It is a 30 minute drive and gas prices are so high, especially for my boot-around town Jeep Grand Cherokee…”

“Just get dressed and go”, the voice said.

Started to get dressed…

Feel like a icky frump in puffy layers…

Wondered about what footwear would be best… Maybe I don’t have the right footwear…

Feel the anger that a parka was probably still needed at the beach…and GLOVEs!

“Argh, I just won’t go then !”

“But you really should go…You will feel like crap if you don’t go. I already feel like crap…”

Got dressed in a couple of layers, being followed around by the dog who just knew something was up…

Walked back to the computer instead of to the door…

Dog lies down beside me with a sigh…

Feel guilty about not walking her enough this winter…

“Will surf blogs for awhile then maybe, maybe go…”

Read Cinner’s blog…all about letting go of perfection and how we should stop beating ourselves up about not doing everything “right”, progress instead of perfection…

Write a comment to Cinner, letting her know how inspiring she is, and then decide to just go for a walk.

Not at the scenic beach, but right here, around the neighborhood.

Right Now.

Get bundled up, grab point and shoot camera, some rocks and put the excited pooch on her leash.

Head out. Walk in the street because there are no sidewalks because the city doesn’t bother to clean them off,  and there is a lot of ice around.

It was cold.

It was windy.

My legs felt like lead for the first block.

Then, it suddenly got a bit better.

Get to the only park that is cleared for dog walking about three blocks from home.

See a perfectly clear bench waiting for some rocking…

  

Chica was so happy, sniffing out the news from gossip left behind by the other neighborhood dogs.

After the park, the wind is to my back. I decide to add in a few more blocks.

As Chica is sniffing, I look up.

I see this roof peak against the extreme blue of the sky.

Gorgeous architectural detail on this white house, including two of these stained glass windows. Imagine what the inside looks like ?

I love the sun beam detail on the very top peak…

Keep walking while Chica kept sniffing…

About one block from home, I heard a new sound on the quiet street.

“Tock, tock, tock, tock…”

I looked around, listening and finally located him in this tree that is looking a little worse for wear…

A wood pecker, having breakie.

I was so thrilled to have heard it, found it and then, even capture it on my camera.

I said thanks, and we walked on home.

As I walked up the steps, I remembered the words I had read on Cinner’s blog.

By thinking that the walk had to be “perfect”, ie: at the beach, out of the ordinary, whatever, I almost gave myself enough excuses to not walk at all !

By letting go of the perfection idea, I ended up having 25 minutes of perfect walking,

seeing beauty all around me, giving my somewhat neglected pooch some exercise and doing something good for myself in the process.

Now, that is progress…

for this day, anyway !

Speaking of progress, here is the page I am working on in my journal..

It is turning out so well, I may just have to do it on a canvas instead.

The heart is cut out of a bristol board blotter that I had on my desk for months.

I used it to protect the desk when painting rocks.

Doodles and stuff got added to it…

This morning, I added some TwinklingH20’s to it and cut out this shape.

I like where this is going…

Happy Wednesday, Beautiful Ones !