And maybe the world is healing..

Nothing less than an hour, usually closer to two. That has become the new normal walking length for Mohali (my puppy) and me on the weekends. It makes him tired and gives me some time to think or listen to a new podcast while enjoying the fresh air. A reason to leave the house in these strange times.

Today as I walked, I decided to take it all in. No music, no podcast, to just be. I watched Mohali look at geese completely puzzled by them. His curiosity is one of my favorite parts of him. Then, I took him to the shore line where the waves were a bit angrier  than usual and I couldn’t help but laugh as he nervously looked at them and then back at me. “Mom, are we safe?” We left the waves; he found a stick he loved and we sat in the sun along a calmer part of the water. He happily chewed his stick and I watched the world around me. 

I began to create stories for each person I saw because I couldn’t help but wonder how this crazy time was affecting them. And maybe I wanted to believe that they were all handling it well; that they were finding their silver linings and healing parts of them they didn’t even know needed healing.

First was the little elderly couple walking ahead of me right before we sat. Both perfectly dressed - him in his jeans and a ball cap, her with her floral pants and her hair perfectly done. Walking slowly and quietly. You could tell there were a lot of years between them and a comfort in their partnership. Words weren’t needed, just each other’s company. They seemed nervous but also like they were taking it in stride. Their eyes smiled at both Mohali and me as we passed and the woman gave a small wave. 

Next was a man down by the dock doing push-ups, walking lunges and jumping rope. I assumed he was likely missing his gym, like me, but doing what he could to stay active. You could tell he came with a plan, a mission to keep himself on track. I respect that. He stopped every now and then peering out over the water. I wondered if he missed his workout community like I did. Their energy, their faces, or maybe just the routine of it all.

A younger couple sat by the water laughing and talking with small bouts of stillness and quiet. Looking out toward the city. Maybe they were talking about their offices and coworkers that they never thought they would actually miss, and their favorite bar they couldn’t wait to sit at again, and that brand new restaurant they had been longing to try. Vowing to stop putting things off and appreciating the daily tasks that had become mundane but they long for now.

Then, I noticed a mom running alongside her son as he rode his scooter. I envisioned her as the mom that works 60 hours a week. Typically too tired to move like this with him. Maybe she’s grateful for this extra time away from her demanding job to watch him grow and laugh. Maybe this is presenting a new beginning, a new importance, a new priority and possibly a new weekly routine. Regardless, I imagine it will be one of his favorite memories.

To my right, a dad watching his son and daughter play a simple game of catch next to the locked park. I’m sure he’s had to have some tough conversations over the last few weeks as to why the slide and swings are off limits, school is closed and they can’t visit their friends, but I applaud him for trying to maintain some normalcy for them. Maybe he’s grateful for the time to watch them grow together, and maybe this creates a bond amongst siblings that wasn’t there before.

Up ahead, an elderly man stopped to take a picture of the family of geese - a mom, dad and two babies.  He took quite a few at all different angles. I thought, “wow he really wants to get this right.” Maybe he’ll send it to his grandchildren that he misses and tell them a story about his walk in the park.

Across from me, a young girl reads a book in the grass. A couple playing frisbee. Lots of runners and so many people walking their dogs. 

Even better than these individual stories were the numerous “hellos” and “good mornings” from strangers and smiles at Mohali. I found this to be my favorite part of the walk. Maybe society is healing as we all begin to realize we are in this together. That, for once, we are all the same as we come together to fight this virus. That at our core, we have similar fears and needs - death and human connection.

As I sit here and watch people find joy and comfort in the simple things like the sunshine, the fresh air, and the ability to move their bodies, appreciate each other and admire nature. To miss their routines they had grown to find redundant. To miss the places they had taken for granted and the people that are more important than they realized. To hold hands and go on long walks. I can’t help but think this has created the pause that we all needed.

To slow down. To be reminded that life is fragile and beautiful. That it can be more simple than we make it and yet still be incredible. That fresh air, sunshine, food, shelter and each other are all we REALLY need. That nature is there for us and we need to do more to be there for it. That long walks, smiles, waves  and good mornings should never be taken for granted. That we are all the same and like Ram Dass said - “We’re all just walking each other home.”

So, while there is a lot of grief and sadness around us, here is how I choose to look at today: The world is healing and so with that, I hope you are too.