Zen Hiking

Hiking with a two-year-old requires a different perspective and a constant reminder to one's brain that life should be about the journey, not the destination.

We attempted our first family hike on Sunday. Alex, at five, was ready to charge up the path. Cate, at two, and still learning English, looked at me with dismay when we reached the trailhead and said, "No hiking, Mama. Biking." A thing with wheels and pedals is something she enjoys. A trip up a leafy hill in a pair of sneakers, she wasn't so sure about trying.

We stuck together for awhile before the anxious men took off at my encouragement and went ahead. Cate and I lingered behind, working our way slowly, oh so slowly, up the hill. For awhile she stopped and looked at every leaf. Then it was every blade of grass. Then she had to hug every tree with the blue trail blaze. There are many, many blazes on this path.

I started with a clear mind, calm, ready to let her explore, but quickly realized it would take a bit of zen for me to be so still. So I took a breath and looked around.

It was worth the effort to be in the moment.

In the end, my regular brain took over, and I walked the last quarter mile with Cate on my shoulders.

That was worth the effort too.