Walk this Way (September 2010)

Hello You. It's been some months since I personally have written you a message. My colleagues have supplied your message in the meantime, allowing you access to some fresh perspectives. This month I'm back. As I write this I don't have a clue what this message will contain; only it's title, Walk this Way, which came to me a couple of weeks ago, and has occasionally bounced to the front of my mind as a reminder to write something. It would be twice as helpful if the content had also bounced to the front of my mind, but no such inspiration! So I have decided today to just write and see what drops out.
I am writing this towards the end of a 3 day "retreat" which I am experiencing alone, at a beautiful house on Findhorn beach. Less often than would benefit me, I take off on my own for a few days. This gives me valuable space to just BE instead of DO. To reflect, think, feel, walk in nature, journal, and read (..whole books..for hours..!). I find I get back in touch with who I am and where I'm at with life. I've been to this place, Shambala, before - back in March 2009 when Karina, my yoga teacher took a group of us here for a yoga retreat. I loved it then and I love it now. It's a special place; that is both Findhorn, and this house, Shambala. I grew up close to the sea - I could almost touch it from from bedroom window as a child, so I recognise a "coming home" feeling when I am staying only steps away from the ocean. To add to this, Shambala itself has an energy of serenity and grace about it. You know how some buildings just have that somehow..? You can feel it waft around you as you walk through the door.

I discovered when I booked that Shambala is closing it's doors

as a retreat centre at the end of September, after five years

hosting individual and group retreats. It has been bought by

a family and will be a home. Lucky family!

I wonder if they might adopt me..? :-)

I do hope it has a future life as a retreat centre again;

that way lots of people from all over the world can again share it's special vibe.
So what does any of this have to do with the title of my message,

do I hear you ask?! I don't know, and I'll keep writing all the same...
I am really keen on walking. I have a virtual dog ..well a few of them

actually. What I mean is that I would like to have a dog, and go walking

with it, but haven't yet stepped up to the responsibility of having a real dog.

My husband and I like to travel and we enjoy a spontaneous personal life.

What happens to the dog when we decide to up sticks and go off somewhere?

So for now I just enjoy encounters with other people's dogs whilst on walks. Dog owners are always apologising to me as their dogs come bounding up to me whilst I'm sitting by a river bank journalling or day dreaming, but I love it! The other thing I have noticed about walking is that we all have different "ways" (ah-ha - now I am even using the title). My husband, for example, is a reluctant walking companion. For him, walking has to serve a purpose and have a focus on the destination. So walking around a golf course is fine as it involves playing the challenging game of golf, a worthwhile though often frustrating pursuit. When we take a walk together I notice his energy is purposeful; it can be a bit of a march rather than a walk, with my relatively short legs trying to move awfully fast in their attempts to keep up. It's all about getting from A to B in the most efficient way :-) In fact, his question is "why walk when you could cycle or drive and get there faster?" One of my friends, on the other hand, enjoys a very slowly paced walk, and tends to stop often to make eye contact, gesticulate and bring emphasis to the points of her story. This is fine in a warm climate, but when you are on a beach walk in the north east of Scotland on a November day, you are at risk of hypothermia if you don't keep it pacey! Another friend doesn't like to stick to the well trodden path. For him it's much more about the journey than the destination. He likes to explore, not follow where others have been, but rather find new routes, be surprised by what appears along the path. He soaks in all that his senses can take in, and enjoys the moment, savoring what's around him. So what about me? What's my way when it comes to walking? Well you know I like to borrow dogs. Also I like to vary both where I walk, and my pace, depending on my mood (and how warm I am!). I get bored doing the same walks and so try to find new ones. I mostly stick to paths, preferring natural paths to concrete ones. It always lifts my mood when I walk. It brings me perspective, lightness of spirit and I recognise I am so happy when in nature. I wonder if anyone has researched the healing benefits of a walk in nature? I sometimes bring my camera so I can take photos which I often use as my screen saver. This can help me re-connect with that walk and it's benefits whilst I'm at work. A walk is often a creative experience for me, in writing, reflecting. appreciating the beauty around me, and photography.  It's also a great way to catch up with friends.

Now for some questions for you..

- What does "walking your way" look like, feel like and involve?

   What does that say about you as a person?
- Whose "way" would you most benefit from trying out sometime?
- Who would you most like to walk with and why?
- When will you take that walk?

I'm off to re-treat myself to the last walk of my break now. Bye till next time!

Alison
 write to me at alison@gaincoaching.com

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Previous Messages

  Walk this Way

  Make your Mark

  Your Year

  Relationship Ripples

  Facets of Friendship - Part 2 - Chemistry

  Facets of Friendship - Part 1

  Being your own Coach

  Expand Your Life

  Patterns

  Losses, Gains & Gratitude

  Getting Your Sparkle Back

  Seasons for Change