You may have noticed that I close notes and postings with the phrase – walk in beauty.  This phrase came from a friend, a shaman, who closes her emails with the phrase.  I loved it and use it.

I use it to invite you to walk.  Walking lets you breath fresh air, see distances greater than your screen.  It lets you get away.  Tip: turn off your phone if you really want to get away.

I use the phrase to remind you and me that we have a choice about where we walk.  I use it to remind you and me that we have a choice in how we walk. 

I rely on this last piece to transform my life.  Nearly, all places have their own beauty and life energy.  I walk down litter strewn alleys in industrial areas of Seattle and find them amazing.  Trash can lend spots of color to the dusty ground.  Weeds?  What weeds – life growing in unlikely places.

Over the centuries, artists have transformed the mundane into beauty for us.  Look at some of the homey scenes by the Dutch painters. 

Obviously, you can walk in parks or past residential gardens. I get to do both.

A friend sent me a lovely, poetic posting on walking.  Enjoy it.

Walk in beauty,

William