Days 6 & 7: I SeeTrails Everywhere

 

Days 6 & 7: Hiking Everywhere

Since I started this Hiking Meditation, my eyes have shifted to see trails everywhere. Driving down side streets or dirt roads, I now notice trail markers that I had passed by before. I get really excited when I see these signs. Maybe how some people feel about a certain model of car or the one they own. I see trails everywhere. On Day 6 I found a trail that I have driven by probably over a hundred times. You have to pass it if you are taking State Highway 179 from Sedona to Interstate 17. I was on my way to Phoenix and stopped by the Ranger station on a whim. To my surprise I was greeted by a beautiful Datura bush. I said to myself "there must be a trail here." I took a deep breath and meditated on gratitude. Gratitude for the beauty of the Datura, gratitude for the cool of the morning, gratitude for the peaceful blue sky above. Then I saw it. It was facing the opposite direction, so I couldn't read it, but I knew it was a trail marker.

I took a convoluted path through some scratchy grass and saw the "Woods Canyon Trail" etched in rusted metal. Can you say "kid in a candy store?" I was so happy. I took a little walk and saw how it was leading through this deep green canyon. Full of Pinion and Juniper. Unfortunately, I had an appointment in Phoenix, so I could not stay on the trail very long. I made up my mind to come back soon.

While in Phoenix on the way to my appointment, I spied a couple of trails. I was happy to know that I will not run out of places to hike in Arizona. So, for Day 7 I got up early, around 5, and set out for an Urban Hike. Driving around we miss so much. I had never really taken this kind of time to see Phoenix. Actually, its sister cities Gilbert and Mesa were the site of my morning hike. I saw many beautiful flowers and fruits on trees. Some of the citrus were still there. I saw a very wide trail along the way with a lone runner filling the space. The air was surprising. We spend so much time in air conditioned environments, I hadn't really thought about the air in this city. At this time of day, there were few cars, so it smelled fresh. I could actually smell the flowers.

Later in the day, I came back to Sedona. Very happy to be here with these red rocks, beautful sky with the moon peaking through. I noticed even more trails along the way. That's how life's gifts work, they are always there waiting for us to recognize them.