Elise Blaha, a daily must-read blog for me, sometimes writes a post called “Making Me Happy”. I like that category because it’s wide open, it could be anything, from big to small, but choosing to focus on positive things is so important for getting through a tough time. Yesterday on Instagram I shared a photo of something that was making me happy and today I want to share something else that brings light to me in the November gloom, my morning walk.

It’s definitely not easy to get my shit together in time to walk for 20 minutes in the mornings. I would so much rather go back to bed for any time at all, and just snooze. Seriously. I’ve got some energy in the mornings, and I’m generally happy, but to take that happiness to the next level, and put pants on, and shoes, and a coat, and actually turn the doorknob and leave the house? That takes… I’m not sure what. Stubbornness, I suppose. Just the mental determination of, I’m going to do this, gosh-darnit.

The first few strides are a little like “What am I doing out here?!” Then I ease into it and it actually feels good. And I remember, again, every day, why I do it and why it’s important.

And then you get to see cute ducks waddling across the neighbour’s lawn. Bonus!