My Morning Walk May 7, 2010

I have a gym membership at Lifetime Fitness, a mega-gym here in my hometown. I like Lifetime, but when the temperatures are in the 70's and low 80's with a low humidity...I have to get my workout done out with good old Mother Nature.

I live in an upscale community in the DFW area which often resembles Stepford. There are many perfectly manicured lawns in lovely neighborhoods, but it is nice to escape to a more natural (and imperfect) area to really get some soul food.

A short mile from my house is a nature trail that I love to escape to in the morning. When I enter the start of the trail, I feel a shift in my mental state. I always have my iPod with me, but each time I find myself turning it off and enjoying the sounds of nature around me. The sounds of the many birds fill the air and there is always a healthy Texas breeze blowing through the tall trees that surround me.

As I do each walk, I take a mental inventory of the sights, sounds and smells that I experience. I decided to take my camera with me on Friday to capture and attempt to share the beauty of my daily communal with Mother Nature. My pictures don't capture everything. Admittedly, the many butterflies and dragonflies were just too quick to photograph!