"You are smiling." The woman's words, spoken as we passed each other on the trail, surprised me.
I was out with Stella, my ever-enthusiastic canine companion. The space around us was alive with the whispers of nature—birds chirping, an owl in the distance, leaves rustling in the breeze. These gifts of the natural world had awakened my senses, painting my face with an unconscious smile that a stranger had to point out.
Despite her eleven years, Stella still approaches the world with puppy-like wonder. Walking her is always an adventure—a trip to my system. She is a social butterfly in fur, oblivious to stranger danger.
To Stella, everyone is a potential friend, a philosophy that ensures I meet new people on every walk. It is amusing how everyone knows Stella's name while I remain the nameless human at the end of her leash.
The Previous Weeks
Life has been busy lately. Aside from work-related busyness, the threat of another cancer diagnosis for Stella has been weighing on my soul. Spending time with her and doing what she loves most is imperative. So, off we go whenever I have a moment between meetings or writings. The tree-covered path we traversed today has become a favorite because it helps keep her body temperature down as we walk.
I have learned to make the best of our moments together. Today, I was in the moment—no thoughts of the upcoming meetings or the two dogs still awaiting their walks. Timelessness belonged to us—and apparently, to the stranger who noticed my joy.
Making Connections
As Stella and I continued down the trail, my thoughts drifted to my dear friend María, who insisted I use her real name and threatened to rescind her permission to tell her story if I didn't.
María and I have shared a friendship spanning four decades, a testament to resilience that has weathered life's fiercest storms and basked in its warmest sunshine. If joy were a person, it would be María. Like Stella, who has courageously faced five cancer-related surgeries, María seems to love life with an intensity that outshines life's love for her.
María threw herself a birthday party at the toll booth where she worked a few years back. Why? Well, why not? She could, so she did. In that simple act, she transformed a mundane workplace into a celebration, spreading happiness to every surprised driver passing through.
The Walk of Mindfulness
Today's walk became a meditation on how joy is at our fingertips. Stella, with her carefree exuberance, and María, with her infectious zest for life, are living tutorials on the art of embracing the present moment.
As we walked, I consciously tuned into the little things: sunlight playing hide-and-seek through the leafy canopy, painting the ground with dappled light; the rich, earthy perfume of the ground; the satisfying crunch of gravel beneath our feet.
Stella, nose to the ground and tail writing happy stories in the air, was fully immersed in her sensory journey. No worries about yesterday's walk or tomorrow's dinner for her. She was here, now, savoring every scent, sound, and sensation.
Guided by Stella's example, prompted by a perceptive stranger, and inspired by María's memory, I reconnected with a fundamental truth: joy is not a distant treasure to be hunted down. It is here, now, in this present moment, patiently waiting for us to notice. Sometimes, all it takes is a pause, a look around, and allowing ourselves to smile—even if we do not realize we are doing it.
So here's to María, Stella, and all the beautiful souls who remind us to find joy in everyday moments. They teach us that happiness is not a far-off destination.
How About You?
How about you, dear sojourner? What stories of presence, mindfulness, and joy define you? What do you value most? Please share them in the comments below or send an email to info@soulfulsojourners.com.
And, as always, stay safe, dear sojourner. May I see you again here or on a discovery call.
Neidy Lozada, MATP, CTTC, CSIC, is a transformational and spiritual integration coach. She brings over twenty years of experience in transpersonal practices, coaching, and business to her work with individuals from all over the globe. Neidy founded Soulful Sojourners following her long-held dream of building a company to provide top-notch coaching services to women, men, and organizations undergoing a profound transformational process. Neidy continues to serve non-profit organizations in the Bay Area through her work as a board member. She is a proud mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and devoted caretaker of furry companions.
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