A Mindful Walk

Recently I have been attempting to take a walk (or ski) each day. A while back I had went to a yoga studio where they had a class to practice Mindfulness. We would eat a berry as slowly as possible admiring the taste and texture, or walk a long the edges of our mat very slowly taking in each step and feeling the different muscles we use and what walking does for mankind each day. Most of these classes began with a few minutes of talking and then the rest was silent. It was great!

So I took it upon myself to get in the habit of mindful walking- (because walking for me doesn't require very much motivation). As I walked down the windy trail I chanted Om Shanti Om with my mala and later moved on to another joyful chant. When I came upon a tree that I could sit on (there is snow still on the ground) I sat and saw snowshoe hare tracks which i didn't know were in this park.

I quieted the mind and began focusing on Niko smiling and laughing, I can tell he is reverting back to his springtime depression-not how it was last year but every once in awhile i can tell it comes quickly and leaves quickly. I don't know how long I sat there, but after i felt it was time to go i stood and took a small side trail and walked as slow as possible feeling each step.
I jotted down these few thoughts that came to mind:

Sometimes its harder to slow down than it is to be quick, but its better to be slow and mindful than it is to rush and forget what your doing in the first place.

The more that you dwell on the annoyances and discomfort the more it will affect you.

Reading these seem like common sense, but for me it may feel and look like common sense but my brain doesn't wrap around these things easily unless i figure it out myself- or if i have some revelation -like on this walk!

I highly recommend getting out there and trying it yourself! Oh ya and when i got home and Niko and I were talking he said he had felt very happy that morning(same time as i went on this walk!)
Below are a few pictures from skiing...The Buddha silhouette was comforting to see, because I didn't expect it!