Having dogs has many benefits, perhaps too may to count. Our family is made up of three dogs and two humans. Thats Minnie a 10 year old West Highland Terrier, Malcolm a 5 year old WHT and Maurice a three year old Scottish Terrier. Then there is Paul my husband and me. The dogs are not our children or our fur babies, a concept I despise but they are none the less part of our family.
Getting out with them first thing in the morning is now so much part of my daily routine. Hail, sun, snow rain we are up and out, usually just before nine in the winter months and as early as 7 in the Summer. This past year in particular the daily routine has taken on more significance and has become a vital part of life and I somtimes spend up to two hours walking with them. The rout I now favour most is chosen for several reasons. Firstly there are less people which currently is essential. Secondly there are less dogs as this can be way too distracting for my lot especially if they are on the lead. Thirdly it syncs me with the minute daily changes in season and has brought me closer to the natural cycles and passages of time.
Early morning walks benefit from hearing plentiful birdsong and I love to tune in to the daily sounds. Male thrushes are currently sounding out their mating territories and in doing so are singing through their entire repertoire. This has stopped me in my tracks on more than one occasion.
This can also be a time for uninterrupted rumination and visualisation. For pondering ideas and wondering at outcomes. Daydreaming with intent really. A magical focus and meditation on possibilities.
It also gives me time tune into the plants and their constant changing details. Winters dormant state will soon be stirred and the growth cycle will begin again.