On Monday I got out for a walk on one of my favorite local trails that leads up to the Miwok Trail. I just love the view from up there.
The two podcasts I listened to today were very relevant to my current life. One was about people doing something unexpected (This American Life) and the other discussed the value of silence (The Happiness Lab). I am seeing the wonderful benefits of doing something unexpected, the different paths that open up that never would have or I would’ve never even noticed had I stayed where I was. And the gift of silence during this time (spending time on my own, being in nature, less time on screens, not being in an office environment) has been immeasurable, especially coming from a job where I was constantly dealing with other peoples demands and anticipating their needs. I still struggle with letting go of other peoples voices in my head, but I’m feeling more confident in myself, partly because of what I’ve learned and the enjoyment I’ve gained from taking a new path and making space for silence.
On Tuesday, I did some career research work, then drove up Mount Tam and hiked the Cataract Trail. There was evidence of multiple landslides on the roads heading to the trailhead, including one section, where the road was down to a single lane. Because of all the recent rain, the falls were full and gushing for the entire hike. It’s a challenging hike with over 1000 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile and a half. Some of the stone steps are quite steep especially for someone like me with short legs, thank goodness for my hiking poles! On the trail there were some fallen tree trunks and large branches, most had been cut up and hauled to the side, but a few still lay in the middle of the trail. Everyone on the trail was smiling despite the difficult terrain because it was so fantastic to be in a green and lush environment with so much water flowing around us. What an awesome afternoon.
