I want to share a simple walking practice that I come back to often.
So I use it on my walks and every time I do it just adds another layer to the experience so I notice more,
I feel more and I see more beauty and magic that I may have otherwise missed.
So all you do before you take your walk is simply choose one sense to guide you.
So you can choose sight,
Sound,
Smell or touch.
There's no right choice here,
Just trust the one that jumps out to you today.
Take a moment and choose now.
Then as you go on your walk all you do is let that sense take the lead and see how it changes the way the world meets you.
So for example if you chose sight you can notice how the light hits your environment and become aware of all the colours and shapes and textures,
Small details that might usually pass you by without registering.
Often once you begin noticing and looking more deeply more will appear on its own.
The world feels slightly sharper and more alive.
If you chose sound really let yourself listen without any effort.
So notice the closest sound to you and then the furthest sound you can hear.
Notice the space between sounds,
The silence.
Deep listening has a really nice way of settling the nervous system and helping you to become more present.
If you chose touch then notice the contact of your feet with the ground beneath you.
Feel the air against your skin and its temperature.
You can even touch something nearby so really feeling the bark of a tree or the surface of a wall or a leaf between your fingers.
By choosing touch it often brings a deeper feeling of grounding and being connected to your environment.
And then if you chose smell see if you can let your breath stay easy but just notice what drifts in naturally as you inhale.
Scent often carries memory and feeling so you don't need to analyse anything,
Just notice what's there as you move through your space.
Sometimes even the smallest notice of a scent is enough to bring you fully into the now.
So as you continue walking really stay with your chosen scent and let it guide what you notice.
Every walk like this will quietly strengthen your ability to be here now.
So keep walking,
Keep noticing and bring a bit of this practice back into your day carrying that newfound presence with you.
Feel free to share what scents you chose in the comments below and wishing you the most beautiful walk.
