I passed a favorite yard that always seems to have something in bloom. I stopped and collected my thoughts.
Noticing the trees bending and swaying; birds fluttering and chirping; flowers blooming is one reason I walk, so why, I asked myself, am I so miserable and disgruntled with my concrete surroundings?
The lanky daisies brushed my leg like a gentle fairy's touch, and my mood improved immediately. I smiled and decided to walk a new path to the other side of the hill where I could view the horizon. The weight of wishes that bore me down lifted the faster I walked toward the horizon.
When I came to the place where the sidewalk ended, I laughed. I stopped to give Lucy a drink of water. My eyes scanned the surroundings and I wondered how Shel Silverstein could possibly have written such delightful poems while surrounded by a concrete city (poem). The more I mused on the subject, the more I realized that it's not the concrete that binds me, but my own selfish wishes. 
Suddenly, I relished in relief...a new perspective opened my mind's eyes. The nearly hidden window on a home built on a busy
corner intrigued me. As if the home wished to be elsewhere in time and place, I felt myself drawn to whisperings of the ivy covered lot. I listened.
Lucy had no patience for the secrets of the home. With some effort she led me away down a hill, on a sidewalk where I could cast my eyes out across the horizon.
Slowing my breath, and with the help of my imagination I could see past the homes, visualize the horse farms in the distance, and feel the freedom of space. At last I understood: ignoring the rooftops, the streets, the pavement allowed me to relax.
Thanks to Lucy and Shel Silverstein, I found the place "Where the Sidewalk Ends," and my
imagination begins.
Thank you for thinking of me! I enjoyed it!! It is incredible how a change in the way we think can change our attitudes! db
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this. dnl
ReplyDeleteOMG, what a nice piece. Thank you so much for your wonderful writing. It inspired me to go walk myself today. I just returned to Ft. Smith from California where the sun was bright, the days were warm and the nights were cool. I'm having a very difficult time adjusting to life in Arkansas. I guess I never really adapted here and it's been 30 years. I still miss Oklahoma. Thank you for helping me realize the beauty that surrounds me. Anne
ReplyDeleteLetty, I always enjoy reading your blog. ppa
ReplyDeleteI recently searched the internet for places to hike and walk in and near Tulsa. Like your blog, I ant to take my time and be observant to what is on the walking paths. Your writings always inspire me. asd
ReplyDeleteVery much enjoyed reading this!!! bww
ReplyDeleteI agree, looking at horizons can change your perception of life around you. I like how you have used the sidewalk to show us your new path.
ReplyDelete