"It's Complicated"

As I sit here on this beautiful morning, sipping coffee and contemplating on the results of just seven days of walking three miles a day, I giggle to myself, and the all too common phrase and FB status, "It's Complicated", pops into my head. I thought, all these years and all these expensive gadgets and diets rendering little if any results and now that I finally listened to myself ~ my intuition ~ which all along was telling me STOP DIETING ~ keep it simple. I hate to admit it but sometimes the opinions and advice of others was louder than the still calm voice in my soul, but this time was different. It was as if everything outside of my soul's advice was failing. I would pull the rudder left and my soul would say, "No, No this way. The waters were always tough to navigate and dangerous in the direction I would often steer us and we would never seem to get anywhere. So, one day I was watching a show that featured the life of Shirley MacLaine and she talked about a journey ~ a Soul Journey ~ she had taken called "The Spanish Trail". It's a long arduous hike from France to Spain where you end up at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas. It was a Soul Journey and she stated that when she got back home she was so used to walking 15 to 20 miles a day that she HAD to walk every day for 3 to 4 hours ~ her body or maybe even her soul required this exercise. She said it showed her how we truly are creatures of habit and a light bulb went off in my head with the thought attached to it ..... what if I just walked?! So .... that day I started walking with the intention directed towards a goal ~ not weight loss but I told myself, "I am training for my hike on "The Spanish Trail". Well, I've only been doing it for the last 7 days and yes I've lost weight but more importantly is what I have gained. I am finding the solitude of nature while walking alone ~ no noise ~ just birds singing. I am finding that these walks clear out the cob

webs that I've strung in my mind. I feel empowered ~ at peace ~ and yes my energy level has increased but honestly I don't think that it's all from a physical level. I think when we slow down and take in all that is around us in nature ~ God's true sanctuary ~ the sun, the birds, the blue sky, the wind and the Earth beneath our feet we are re-energizing our Souls. Each day I look for a stone to pick up and bring home, I guess to signify that I was here and to carry part of 'this' home with me. Most importantly I have learned thus far; It's NOT complicated...listen to that small still voice inside ~ it's the voice of God and Less is More. One day I will hike "The Spanish Trail" but today I will walk MY walk and trust the knowledge of an old Sage Lao Tzu, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step." Namaste', God Bless & Shalom Baby!