How to Make the Obligatory Morning Dog Walk 15 minutes of Zen!

I love exercise, it makes me feel good when I can fit it in... and I have fallen victim to putting everyone else first throughout the day and there is no time left for me. Setting aside time to collect my thoughts and appreciate nature and the simple thing is truly a mandatory for me. Some call it meditation, others just a connection to nature, whatever it's called it grounds me for my day.

So I truly covet that I have a furry child that needs the same thing as me in the morning to make his home alone time manageable, while we are at work and school. Off we go in the morning... this time of year, still in the dark crisp air with a touch of frost on the ground.

We walk, and I get my heart rate up, while he explores every square inch of grass... Sometimes I use this time to pump myself up for the day, others I work on de-stressing and lowering my heart rate. I have become really aware of which I need... but this was a work in progress and this level of self awareness is something I have realized I took for granted for a long time and it was at a significant detriment to me. Sometimes I still regress from this progress, and that is life... but mornings like this morning remind me why I need to get out there to witness nature at its finest!

Its all the motivation I need to get out there breathe and see if the next days sunrise is more breathtaking than the next. People only influence a small portion of your life, it either fills your soul positively or you need to replace the space in your head and heart with something positive... the work in progress! I hope all of you get the same time to be in your own heads.. you all matter and if you don't care to take the time it won't happen.