Walking,Talking and Planning

What is it about being outdoors on a beautiful day like today that makes the impossible seem possible?

Today was such a day. My daughter and I took one of our favorite walks along the bay on one side and the marshlands on the other side of the road. As we began our walk, she began talking to me about some of her ideas. If you’ve read some recent posts of mine, you know she is struggling to find a job and some meaning in her life.

As she talked I felt so grateful that we have the kind of relationship which allows her to share her joys and her sorrows so honestly with me. I felt grateful for the beautiful scenery we were walking past that included the sighting (by her) of two dozen or more great blue herons, deep in the marsh, perhaps resting and fishing as they migrate to who knows where.

I felt grateful that I could walk the distance with her; sometimes, these days, I cannot. I felt grateful that we will always have these moments to look back on and for her to store in her memory for when I’m gone.

She talked; I listened. She talked some more; I continued to listen but also made some small comments. She continued talking; I responded. By the end of our walk she (we) had shaped a plan for the next two years (my suggested timeframe) that would allow her to take some small steps toward pursuing a dream she is holding. “I think we have a plan,” I said to her. “One that combines your knowledge, your passion, your limitations and your strengths.”

We walked back to our car and each of us sat silently as I drove home, no doubt thinking about our walk, her plan, and this gorgeous day we shared.