Balance

Some days it's distance, other days it's balance. As in, balancing on slippery rocks at low tide in order to see these beauties up close. When the tide is high, I walk farther, and my gaze is drawn to the breaking waves, boats in the distance, pelicans and gulls, and the far-off meeting of sky and sea. I feel my breath, my beating heart, the path beneath my feet. When the tide is low, my gaze is down, adrenaline pumps when a foot slips, my core muscles and arms are engaged as I carefully make my way as far out as I can.

This morning, I was torn between the longer walk and the careful exploration. You see which won out. Because I don't always have that choice.

There are seasons when we don't have the luxury of slowing down, of exercising more of our muscles as we navigate slippery terrain, of focusing on what we are doing in that moment. In those seasons, it is important to look up and out, to take in the vastness of possibility and choose a path. But when we can, let's explore the nooks and crannies and discover the richness life has to offer.