This photo was taken yesterday on a long hike at Gunpowder Falls. This hike was an amazing exercise in meditation for me because my knee got pulled out of place. It was a gradual dislocation, and by the time I realized what was happening, it was just as far of a walk to go forward as to turn back. To be completely honest, I did not want to turn back anyway because we were having quality family time and the woods were so peaceful. We had the 4 dogs with us and two were leashed around my waist, which ended up being more than my legs could handle and keep my balance going up and especially down all the hills (hence the knee dislocation).
We hiked through gorgeous pine forests where the forest floor was blanketed with a soft carpet of pine needles, sandy shores by the river where the water was clear and cold, and rocky paths where we had to scrabble hands-and-knees up the hills. The dogs swam in the river and I gathered some healing stones for use in my practice. When the pain in my knee grew almost unbearable near the end, I took deep breaths and re-focused on the beauty of my surroundings. I am not going to pretend like I was not largely miserable at the end of this hike. But underneath all the pain in my left leg, there was the memory of all the beauty I had seen and the satisfaction of making it through to the end. The best part of all was that I got to share the experience of being in nature with my family, which for all of us is a very spiritual experience. And the dogs were so happy, trotting along smiling with tails held high. Would I have given up all that to avoid the pain? No way.
We hiked through gorgeous pine forests where the forest floor was blanketed with a soft carpet of pine needles, sandy shores by the river where the water was clear and cold, and rocky paths where we had to scrabble hands-and-knees up the hills. The dogs swam in the river and I gathered some healing stones for use in my practice. When the pain in my knee grew almost unbearable near the end, I took deep breaths and re-focused on the beauty of my surroundings. I am not going to pretend like I was not largely miserable at the end of this hike. But underneath all the pain in my left leg, there was the memory of all the beauty I had seen and the satisfaction of making it through to the end. The best part of all was that I got to share the experience of being in nature with my family, which for all of us is a very spiritual experience. And the dogs were so happy, trotting along smiling with tails held high. Would I have given up all that to avoid the pain? No way.