Just a Bush

Unforced Movement
Moving without trying to improve anything.

I had to go on a walk today because I felt anxious with no real reason why.

I headed out and kept my pace at a less pushed rate.

I saw a lot of walkers and bikers at the start. All were younger and in shape. Then there was me.

For an instant, I felt glad and proud.

I kept walking just to hear my footsteps and keep going.

At the fork in the trail, I saw two runners cross in front of me and head the same direction I was going.

Both were lean, strong, and tall, wearing short shorts, tank tops, and some sort of backpack for water, maybe for the long term.

The runners kept the same pace and the same distance between them.

The only difference I initially noticed was that the front runner had a ponytail while the second runner wore a bun.

Then I noticed something else.

The front runner seemed to run with ease. Light. Free. Gentle.

The second runner seemed to be struggling more somehow. Like it was heavier or harder.

I had no idea why.

Could it be the ponytail swinging back and forth?

I didn’t know.

What struck me was how different the two runs appeared, even though everything else looked the same.

I wondered how many times I have done something that felt light and easy to me while someone else, doing the same thing at the same speed, was struggling to keep up.

And vice versa.

As I approached the hill home, I started climbing as I have done so many times before.

I noticed the "tree" at the top of the hill.

This time I saw it as a big tree, and I was glad to have that tree at the top of the hill near my place.

But when I got to the top and stood next to it, I remembered it is really just a small bush.

Not a tree at all.

Strange thoughts and perceptions on this walk.