It's been way too long since I've gotten out on a walk/mini-hike. Today, despite the wind, I took advantage of the nice weather to do just that. I decided to go explore some trails in Garden of the Gods, some new ones that I haven't been on yet.
I stayed on the southeast side of the park, mostly following the Ute Trail.
I did venture over into the Center Gardens for a short while.
I took a slightly different path back to my car, and ended up in a fantastic little crop of trees. I don't know if it was purely my emotions, which have been volatile as of late, or if it actually permeated the air, but the place held an edge of sorrow.
I felt pulled to this spot to do a small mediation session.
In my kung fu training, we've been learning how to focus on different aspects of breathing, and having different focus points for the meditation, depending on what you want out of it. I went with the yin yang breathing pattern (in, hold, out, hold, repeat. I typically go for counts of four for each, especially after a cold). And I decided to use the wind as a focus. It was an interesting experience, and I think the wind made it particularly interesting. I ended the session when the wind died down and the sun came out simultaneously.
And then I paused for a moment by this marker, to remember and honor the past, and offer some small hope for the future.
