Backtracking
Saturday, on Schooner Head Trail, we did what we often have to do: we backtracked.
We saw a man coming toward us with his dog. We had our three—Jack, Mr. Murphy, and Pogie. Two of them are basically saints wrapped in fur. Jack and Mr. Murphy have the vibe of uncles who nap in recliners and say things like “no rush, honey.”
And then there’s Pogie.
She is full of love, and she is reactive.
The two qualities live in her like fire and water. We are working on it. But in the meantime, when we see another dog, we practice the art of retreat.
So we turned around, slightly embarrassed, slightly flustered, trying to keep things calm.
But then the man did something remarkable in its simplicity. He waved, smiled, and said, “You’re good. We’re heading around the mountain. You’re safe.”
There was no judgment in his voice. No sigh of inconvenience. Just kindness. Permission to keep walking forward.
And I realized that’s all most of us really need, right? Someone to wave us on when we feel like we’re failing. Someone to tell us, you’re safe. Someone to remind us that even when we have our Pogies—our reactive, complicated parts—we still belong on the trail.
This week’s soup: Super Simple Roasted Carrot and Ginger
2 pounds carrots, chopped
1 onion, quartered
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
4 cups vegetable broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Toss carrots, onion, and garlic with olive oil. Roast at 400°F for 25 minutes. Transfer to a pot, add ginger, broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. Blend until smooth. Add a swirl of yogurt or coconut milk if you’re feeling fancy. Hint: Feel fancy.
This week’s poem:
Trail Kindness
The mountain holds us,
dogs tugging at our leashes,
hearts tugging between shame and love.
And then a stranger
raises his hand—
not to stop us,
not to warn us—
but to wave us forward.
You are safe,
he says,
and for one golden moment,
we believe him.
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