Spring Snow Reveals

What a sloppy time of the year! It seems springtime in the Rockies is just one big muddy snowy mess right now. Out on a walk earlier today, I was pondering my desert experience in Tuscon. The landscape and weather could not be more different! Instead of cacti, trees. Instead of heat, cold. Instead of dry sand, puddles of melting snow. While sloshing through the snow-soaked ground, and noticing the patches of path showing through the snow, my images of exposed saguaro cactus bones came to mind.

This Spring snow covers the new tender shoots with an extra layer of protective moisture much like the saguaro "flesh" and spikes protect the beautiful interior of the saguaro, much like my own defensive layers protect the beauty of my inner and vulnerable self from being seen. As a grandmother now, I am experiencing how these protective layers want to extend to shield my adorable, precious grandchildren from any future hurt. My "Lita Bear" (Abuelita Bear) nature wants to sweep them out of harms way, real or imagined.

Lazily reaching for my calendar, I was dismayed to be reminded l was void of walking companionship. I lingered between the covers, struggling between going solo on a lengthy walk or being on standby with some walking buddies.  After a few unanswered texts, I reluctantly chose the former.

Reflecting on the recent past, I was disheartened to have appeased family members by agreeing to never walking alone. Ever.  Little did I realize at that time, how unique my walking ritual was: walking with a partner for eight, and solo walking for a remainder of ten miles. I was blessed to have companionship and the gumption to become my best solo partner.  As time moved forward, our morning walks were earlier in the day.  I would continue solo in the heat, relishing the quiet, reflective moments while swearing at the sweat droplets.  Walking solo was mind-cleansing.  An opportunity to reinvent ideas, projects - me.  

My worldview narrowed after July’s attack.  Walking temporarily stopped.  Thoughts were jumbled.  Safety (Wikipedia - Safety is the state of being “safe” [from French sauf], the condition of being protected from harm or other non-desirable outcomes) was a sudden, constant worry.  Pain, right arm sling, left-hand brace, and a headful of staples further compromised my reality.  Realistically, how far could I walk by myself, let alone walk period?  Who was I kidding?  The promise made in haste, to never walk alone, seemed oh so easy to keep.  

Walk2Connect is the permission and definition to strengthen relationships, solicit ideas, and explore new beginnings without guilt or explanation. While I have practiced these concepts from the time I could walk, I had no name so it was hard to believe that what I was doing was helpful to me or others, yet the end results were the same: stronger relationships, including a deeper understanding of my mom, and she to me; self-reflective thinking, solidifying ideas, strengthening concepts; and always mind-clearing along with the inevitable benefits of exercise and being outdoors.

How has Walk2Connect been a gift to you?

"The most noticeable Walk2Connect gift is the connections I have made. It can be especially hard to meet and get to know new people here in our rural communities. We don't have a lot of activity options or things to do, especially for young people in the summer. I started out as a Caminos del Valle Youth Leader in 2018. At first, I had no idea what I was getting involved in but was excited to learn and give it a try.

What have you learned throughout your involvement with Walk2Connect? 

What would you say to someone wanting to get involved with Walk2Connect? (join socially distanced walks, virtual events, form partnerships, become co-op members)

Picture: Student Sara Main (left) and Professor Greg Lorenz (right) at 2019 Walk2Connect Summit

I am proud to serve as the director of the urban studies program for Wartburg College West – an urban semester program located in Denver, CO. I live and work here in Denver. Undergraduate college students from our main campus in Iowa and from our midwestern partner schools attend our program for summer or a semester to gain professional experience in their fields, clarify their personal and professional goals, and explore the dimensions and challenges of living in an urban environment – which is often quite different than they are used to (many grow up in rural Iowa). My connection with Walk2Connect has allowed me to provide transformational learning experiences for students so they can deepen their understanding of topics like sustainability, mobility, transportation, community, diversity and culture. These are topics that are challenging to “teach” but easier to “experience” with intention and reflection.

When you are gifting to Walk2Connect, you are gifting for educators seeking inspiration to “bring learning to life” for our next generation of students.

Leader: Sean Stampley

Walk2Connect Chapter: New York

Passions: Walking through our natural/built environments and the communities that link them

Sometimes, your to do list gets into your head so much that you end up in a competition ... with yourself. You create bucket lists with places to go, books to read, performances to achieve, but you forget to be YOURSELF. 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F2KyOqAInQ