“As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer.”

-Black Elk

Working out helps me with stress. Running is like a moving meditation for me. It helps me to focus on what really matters and all the unnecessary shit just sort of fades away. Today during my cool down, while walking on the treadmill, I closed my eyes and held onto the side bars with my hands and walked. While walking, I started to ponder on how doing that felt very much like life. With my eyes closed, I thought about how often, if not almost all the time, we are just walking forward in life not knowing what comes next. Oh, how many times I have wished that I could know what comes next! But, how boring would that be to live and know what your whole life will be already? We humans are brave. We are brave because to walk forward in life and not fully know what comes next is terrifying. Each step we make into the unknown of life is a courageous process. Each day we have to live is a new start where we can love ourselves, others, animals, nature, the earth more fully. There is beauty in taking every moment and being fully present. Even in the midst of hard, sad, moments it is almost a beautiful melancholia to be fully present and to allow yourself to feel whatever emotion you are feeling without judgment. As we step into a new day, a new Spring season, praise yourself for living, for being here at this time on earth to live. It is no accident that you are here living on this earth at this time. Each step we make into that dark abyss of unknown, know that you are courageous for living at this time. Be a little kinder, softer, tender with yourself. Goodness knows we all need to do that. And never ever forget that we are fucking brave in waking up each day not fully knowing what each day brings.

light & love,

jess