Day Six "Go a Different Way"

Go a different way than the way you came. This is the challenge for today. This could mean walking on the opposite side of the sidewalk, take a back road, or weave your way back. This morning I went on a run along the trails of the Intervale. It was challenging to do this exercise on the way back because usually there is only one paved way back. I decided to take my run back through the forest and fields. Its amazing what it opens your eyes up too. I noticed a small track in the mud, im guessing possibly a fox? This only encouraged me more and more to learn about tracks. The rest of my day was spent in downtown Burlington. It was a maze and I found myself weaving in and out of back alleys that I had never been down before. On Thursday on of my mentors at Crows Path named Zac introduced the idea of dead space. Dead space is essential space that is all around us but we rarely shift our eyes to notice it. He challenged us to look at the dead space and increase our awareness. As I walked through out Burlington I tried to find all of the places that I often over look.

Evening Session: giving thanks to the trees.

Trees offer me so much in life. A placed to hide, a place to relax away from the sun, provider of fresh air and make this world such a beautiful place. Today I am most grateful for White Pines. I recently found the perfect sit spot in which a reside under a great White Pine shaded from the sun. As I look up the trunk I am reminded of all the history of the land and wonder what types of things this trees has seen throughout its long life. Looking up at its trunk to the peak, I feel a sense of smallness wash over me. Trees also provide a home for so many animals. In a sense they really are staples of life and beauty.

Evening Reflection on the program thus far

I can't believe I have almost completed a week of this program. So far it has taught my to slow down, notice, and take note. Tonight I find myself a little discourage. I wonder why these things have not been taught to me as a staple of growing up? Why have we lost the connection to the land in our culture? Why is it not seen as a staple in life? I feel as though this last week has taught me so much. To start, it challenged me to look for the details. To notice the small green bug crawling up my coffee cup, to notice the ground in which I walk, to take a different way back. It has taught me to orientate myself with the directions at all times (something I have always struggled with). It has also taught me how to switch gears and view things in the birds eye view, the broader prospective. I am really enjoying this program but I am also feeling very challenged. I know I can't get down on myself for not knowing all the answers or how to exactly do a challenge of the day, I think this is the greatest lesson of all. If I already feel I have learned so much in this past week, I can only imagine how I will feel at the end. I feel as though something is shifting and clicking inside of me, and I feel more and more connected to myself and those around me. I am simply not just going through the motions of life, but living them, with intent.