A different path

Fresh perspectives on a familiar morning walk

I turned a different way on the walk this morning.

Leaving my still-warm water bottle, layering up in faded wool; a groggy half sleepwalk as we start out on the familiar path. Busy weeks cause January mental jangle, tears threaten as I stumble awake and begin our slow circle of the cold meadows. Grumpiness reigns supreme.

Reaching the end, where we double back along the river passing the heron as she glides softly through the icy air, and with no conscious decision except a wish to interrupt the stasis, we simply keep going forwards.

Unfamiliar stones underfoot, fresh smells for the puppy to explore, a hum from the road as we draw closer to civilisation, crossing the kingdoms of other dog walk territories.

This was from a few weeks ago, but it felt this cold today!

The small glimmer of excitement for a moment of unpredictability.

This morning we went in a different direction, it opened up new paths of thought in my mind. I found myself reaching out for memories unearthed by the unexpected surroundings, thinking back on friends I haven’t yet spoken to this year and looking ahead to making new plans. Zinging with possibilities.

We get home later than usual, having navigated a whole extra loop, to a house warm and familiar with Saturday routine and a mind much less tangled. Shaking off the chill, a hot cup of tea waits. My fingertips tingle as I take the handle, smiling warm thanks.

This week I’ve been…

Reading “The Rachel Incident” by Caroline O’Donoghue. It’s fascinating and so very good, dense with character and that particular phase of life in your early 20’s when nothing is yet quite fully formed and drama is everything.

Substacking no f*cks given by Sarah Knight, and it’s making me laugh like a drain.

Wearing Black, perhaps it’s my gothic phase. Today I’ll order a dress I love in a size up from usual, it came this week and it’s fantastic - a black dress for all occasions - but I’m done with pulling everything in now, this is the year for breathing out.