Five Reasons to Go for a Walk on a Cold, Gray March Day

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…and see if I could learn what it had to teach me…           H.D. Thoreau

Tomorrow is the vernal equinox although you’d be hard pressed to believe it if you looked out your window this morning. It’s an overcast thirtyish-degree bone chilling day, one not particularly inviting for a walk. Shall I stay here in my favorite chair with a good book?  Tempting; although waiting for that perfect day could be a long wait. And so I did go out, in order to see what I could see.  Although my walk was little more than a half hour, I returned having found five things that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

1. I met a stranger. We chatted for a few minutes. Now that stranger is a stranger no more.
2. I walked by the iced-over vernal pool where, each spring, I have heard the wood frogs quacking. Although it was not yet time for them, I did gaze down at the thinly glazed pool and imagine them waiting there under their protective leaf cover.
3. I noticed roots spread on the gray ground that reminded me of a large bird’s foot and also looked like the veins on the back of my hand.
4. I met an absolutely delightful and oh so friendly soon-to -be therapy dog. His owner told me that once he was trained he would visit retirement and assisted living homes, including the one where someday I might well be.
5. I  picked up empty beer cans, plastic bags and candy wrappers; lots of litter that even a week ago was snow-covered.  A small contribution to the town where I live.

I have no pearls of wisdom, no profound insight about any of these five encounters. There is, however, gratitude: gratitude that just a few minutes from my front door I am able to find great joy in small things.

Oh yes; there is one more reason. Number six:  my walk gave me the subject for my blog today : )