Today I met a new friend at Starved Rock to talk about a Health Coach Training Program we are both enrolled in through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I haven’t been to the state park for a couple years. People travel from all over to hike, explore nature, and check out this historical landmark but like most people who live near popular gems, we just don’t get there much (in all fairness we used to go before we had 3 kids in 5.5 year span)
Circa 2007
I took the day off work because I was to drive my Dad to the VA hospital in Chicago for some appointments, but first I had the meeting at the Starved Rock Visitors Center, which ended a little early. I don’t usually find myself with a spare hour to kill but there I was at the park, in Birkenstock sandals and feeling the pull to explore. Usually my workouts are fast, purposeful, and I have the look on my face that says “I’m on a mission”. I like to have the essential workout gear (sneakers, hair tie, water, headphones, fit bit set to the appropriate setting). This time, though, I just carried my urge to explore and adventure, on my own.
I walked quickly but not my normal fast paced, fat-burn heart rate pace. I was so intentional about every step. I paid attention to my body…I opened my heart, relaxed my shoulders, grounded my feet, and smiled. I said hi to every passerby. I took in the smells, read the plaques.
This was my fave because I love that quote by Lincoln “With malice toward none, with charity for all”
I was an observer in the truest form. I watched humans, birds, native prairie plants blowing, water trickling downstream from the French Canyon, bugs crawling and dangling in the wind. I listened to logs falling in the distance and cicadas chirping. I was in awe of the size of Eastern White Pine trees and the live oaks. I looked at twisted trunks on maples, berries on cedar trees and acorns on pin oaks. I was in a canopy of green with light filtering in and it was glorious!
I wondered at the beauty of the French Canyon.
I felt so alive, free (I wasn’t holding a tiny human and no one was whining), grateful and present. I also marveled at this planet that God made for us to steward. It felt refreshing, though the humidity level said otherwise. It was spiritual, soulful and blissful.
Sometimes you just have to go wander and wonder!
mpoweredstate 