MSF - Silence is Golden

When I was a little girl I hated shoes, socks and sitting upright.  Upon arriving home from school I would remove my footwear as I dropped my backpack - much to my mother's dismay, seeing that all would end up in random locations around the house.  The next order of business was to climb up on the sofa and hang upside down for 15 minutes and contemplate the hours of freedom I'd have before going back to school the next day.

Barefoot, I'd wander outside.  The asphalt scorched my feet as I ran from sun to shadow.  The grass was cool and the dirt dusty as I went from pavement to the trails.  I'd wander down to the creek on the paths we'd built through our tiny two acres of wilderness, usually with one of my brothers by my side.  We didn't speak of much, more likely we fought over who would get to check the fish trap and insulted each others ability to carry our catch up to the house without dropping it.

I carry these first memories of the outdoors when I hike today - feet pressing ground, sun to skin, creek water over hands.  I remember the joy of exploring with my siblings.  These memories inspired me to organize a silent hike at Mt. St. Francis.  What would happen if we didn't talk?  How would we feel, what would we experience differently?  I left my boots at home for this one and donned my adult 'bare-feet,' vibram fivefingers.  I wanted to walk between the leaves and leap over the sticks... tiptoeing silently through the woods...

Eight women joined me on this adventure and we hiked in silence for almost two hours.  We shared smiles, muffled laughter, and a bit of lip reading - but no speech.  It was lovely.  I felt like skipping along, loving the lightness of my feet, that wonderful barefoot feeling bringing back the joyful sensations of childhood.  We hiked along dappled trails and through brilliantly sunny meadows.  Our eyes and ears were open to the woodland world around us.

We broke our silence at the end.  I won't deny it, we sat and talked for a long time - had to get all our words out there!  It was a wonderful day.  The joys of childhood exploration can renew and inspire our lives today.  Thanks ladies!  Here is to nine amazing women!