This morning I had the opportunity to lead a trail walk at Akron Falls Park, adding an “off road” element to a series of walks produced by The Wellness Institute and the Erie County Department of Health. It was a short trail but beautiful, leading us to views of the creek and the falls not available from the paved road.

And it reminded me of a passage from the Great American naturalist John Muir:

Keep close to Nature’s heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

It is not about how fast or far you go. It is always about connecting your body to your spirit, about quieting your mind, about finding your way, gently, back to center.