Pleasures on the Path

I’ve walked the same path where I live for the past twenty-eight years. After all this time, I still love it. Walking is one of my favorite pastimes, and on surveys I’ve done, I’ve often written “walking” as a favorite activity.

I live on a golf course and across the street from beautiful townhomes. For my path, I head out from my condominium complex and walk down a slight hill along the golf course. Pine trees line the golf course fence, and I love watching the squirrels dart around. They dash up trees, across the street, and show their masterful balance walking across the narrow fence. Sometimes, when a dog spots them, the dog sits posed under the tree, head tilted up, and eyes glued on the squirrels above. The squirrels are smart, though. They stay frozen high up in the branches to keep themselves safe. Their tactic works. I’ve never seen one of them be a casualty to a dog. Eventually, the dog’s owner leads it away on the leash, and the dog looks dejected, since it missed its opportunity to show its hunting prowess and feast on a tiny squirrel.

As I continue on my path, I see people whom I’ve passed on the trail for many years. With some, I exchange “hellos,” and with others, we wave back-and-forth. One of my favorite walkers is a tiny, elderly Asian man. He’s often talking on his Bluetooth, and I don’t recognize the language. We wave and say, Hi” to each other. He has a petite frame, and he raises his delicate hand in one of the kindest waves I’ve ever seen. I love his smile, too. It’s a friendly, childlike “hello,” looking happy to once again see me on the path. I always wonder what this man’s story is. He has such a friendly and gentle spirit that I’m sure his kindness has blessed many people.

The sidewalk where I walk is wide, and many dog walkers pass me with dogs of all sizes. Sometimes I walk early in the day, and other times, I walk late in the afternoon. I’ve seen many of these dog walkers at both times, since they’re taking their dogs out multiple times a day for exercise. Sometimes, a couple dogs meet on the path, and barking ensues. The owners hold the dogs’ leashes firmly so the dogs don’t attack one another or a passerby. I keep my distance because one time on the path, when I woman didn’t have full command of her dog, the large dog knocked me over. That was not a fun time on the path, but it taught me to be extra careful of the dogs. Since then, I’ve always been safe.

Sometimes, I see dogs which look like they could be in shows. I’ve seen large poodles with perfectly manicured coats and beautiful white huskies with thick, pure-white fur. I wonder, too, what those huskies would look like pulling a sled across Alaska. They look so fit on the walking trail that I’m sure they’d be stellar on a snowy trail, too.

Once I get to the bottom of the hill, I turn around and head back up the path. Since the golfers aren’t far away, I’m careful of flying balls. Sometimes, golf balls have whizzed by right over my head. At other times, golfers have hit the balls over the fence into the street, and occasionally, a golfer asks me to get one. Usually, though, since the golfer swung the club far away from where the golf ball went, they don’t know what happened to it, since the pine trees blocked their view. I’ve seen golfers climb over the fence, too, get the ball, and then put it inside the fence before swinging a few more times to get it onto the green. One time, when a golfer’s ball went over the fence and landed on the grass along the sidewalk, I saw him try to hit it onto the green about fifty feet away. Unfortunately, the ball hit a pine tree and ricocheted back to him. He laughed a bit and then hit it again. This time, he was successful. He hit the ball through two trees, and it landed on the green. Another time, I saw a golfer do an elaborate pre-swing, dance-ritual. He swung his hips around a few times, got his club into a perfect position, and then hit with all his might to get the ball onto the distant green.

I mostly see men golfing and occasionally women. I hear the men talking “guy talk,” about a sports game or business matter. They could be a group of friends or people having a business golf meeting. I also see children golfing with their parents. I love to see this bonding through sports. It’s fun to watch the children hold and swing the clubs, which are about their same height. All golfers, tall and small, seem to enjoy themselves, and I like seeing people out for recreation. During the pandemic, the golf course was empty, so seeing the golf course in use assures me that life is in session and that we’ve returned to a safer time.

My father golfed on this course about thirty years before he passed away. He was such an avid golfer that family and friends bought a bench in his honor that is behind one of holes. A few years after my father passed away, one of his golf buddies passed away, and he has a bench next to my dad’s. It’s a wonderful serendipity that I live on the course where my father golfed. Sometimes, when he was alive, I saw him and his friends golfing. My dad was an expert golfer, and I feel proud walking by the course knowing that my dad was a good shot on it.

I don’t always think about my dad when I walk, but my heart knows that his spirit is there. Sometimes, I see golfers sitting on his bench. My dad had a giving spirit, and his bench gives golfers a place to sit, pause, and re-energize themselves before taking on the rest of the course. I’ve sat on the bench, too, and it’s a cozy feeling knowing that my father’s joyful spirit is here.

After I pass the golf course, I walk up a steeper hill next to the townhomes. The street corners along the complex are filled with flowers. The flowers change a lot, too, and I love to see the gardens of bright, tiny beauties. Sometimes, when I’ve had my phone with me, I’ve stopped to take photos. The flowers are so pretty, I want to preserve their beauty on film. This spring, there are some beautiful daises with yellow petals and purple middles for the crowning stigma. I’ve never seen flowers with that color scheme, and I smile when I see this unique floral gift.

Sometimes, I walk up one of the small streets amidst the townhomes, for during spring, some of the trees are full with pastel-pink leaves. Their leaves are so pretty, I take photos of them, too.

I never know what I’ll see on the path. That’s part of the fun. Sometimes, I see toddlers in three-wheelers going a small distance with an encouraging parent standing close-by. I need to be extra careful, too, because bikers or skateboarders might zoom by. I try to walk in a straight path, so if they approach, they’ll see me and steer around me. I’ve always been safe on my walks, so this plan has worked.

Sometimes, I’ve seen people pushing strollers with a tiny dog in them instead of a child. I’ve never understood this. Why would someone take the dog in a stroller? The dog’s not getting exercise, which I think would be more enjoyable and healthy for the dog than sitting in a stroller. Sometimes, I’ve seen a stroller filled with two dogs. It’s a two-seater dog stroller instead of a resting place for two babies or toddlers.

Eventually, I reach the top of the hill, turn around and go down. My walk is easier going downhill. I feel like that’s my prize after making the mini-climb uphill. I then reach the mid-point where I cross the street and head back to my complex. I’ve never regretted taking a walk. I always come back energized and renewed. I walk as much for my mind and mental well-being as I do for my physical health. When I walk, I get outside the world of my home and head. I see life around me and get a wider perspective of me and my life. I’ve had many ideas come to me on the path from solutions or guidance for issues to writing and other creative ideas. Walking is a feast for my creativity because I’m face-to-face with the fruits of the great creator’s labor. Between the lush, green grass along the sidewalk, to the trees and flowers, I’m faced with the abundance of beauty and variety in the world. That vision assures me that the powerful maker of that beauty could also help bring more color, variety, and abundance in my life.

When I moved to this neighborhood twenty-eight years ago, I never knew that one of its greatest gifts would be my walk. It’s a free gift, too. I just need to show up, wear good walking tennis shoes, and head out. I walked today, and I plan to walk tomorrow. I walk as much as I can. Occasionally, the rain or wind are too strong, and I bow out, but as soon as the weather gets walking–worthy, I head out again. I’ll keep walking, waving to passersby, watching the flitting squirrels and loyal golfers, and smiling at the bright flower beds. I never imagined that such a simple thing as a walk could be filled with so many delights. I love my walk now, and I’m sure I’ll love it for years to come. As long as I can walk, I’ll be out on the trail. Its pleasures pull me forth, and the good feelings it brings, assure me that I’m doing the right thing for my mind, body, and spirit. It’s like a daily multi-vitamin, filled with many nutrients, not just one. Thus, I’ll keep walking and enjoying this life-giving treat.

Image photo taken by Jennifer Jordan.