Today was a beautiful day in Seattle! Running the creek trail in Des Moines was the perfect way to spend my lunch hour. Many people were out on the trail today as most every nice day and it occurred to me, I say hello to all of them. Now, many would say I am outgoing, but I don’t think I am a natural, nor have I always been that way. 
To me, saying “hello” is a simple gesture and connecting with others is what life is about. So many of us spend the day plugged in to our cool gadgets anymore, tuned out, that we forget the basic joy that comes from connecting with a perfect stranger.
By saying hi, I am focused on the present and fully experiencing my run. I love running to music as much as the next person, but in doing so, you water down your running experience. It numbs us to our breath, to how our body feels, to the sound of the birds chirping or the creek babbling – and if you run our trail, the lovely smell of the sewage treatment facility.
Today, it would have tuned out this evasive woodpecker that I have heard numerous times on this trail and finally today caught a glimpse of! Can you spot him?
Can you see him? Smack dab in the middle shadow.
He looked a lot like this guy…SO neat!
by David Kelch
The next time you are out walking or running, try saying hello to everyone you pass. It will not only make their day, but yours as well! How do you feel about this? Do you say hi to strangers when out and about?
Dare to Recreate 