Mindful Miles

The other day, out on my mindful miles with my friend Esther at Upton Park, we had a delightful encounter with a squirrel. Perched on a branch, this little chap was utterly engrossed in his lunch, holding a nut with such focused determination, like a tiny connoisseur savoring a gourmet meal. He even paused, mid-chew, to pose for us – a moment of pure, unscripted joy.

But as I’ve carried that image with me through the week, that little squirrel started to tell me another story, a deeper one, about reflections and dreams.

I imagine him there, perhaps at the close of his foraging day, curled up in his cosy nest. He’d reflect on his efforts: Did I find enough nuts? Were those good hiding spots? Did I outwit that cheeky magpie? Each successful find, each clever maneuver, builds his confidence for the next day. He’s not dwelling on the nut he almost dropped; he’s learning from it. He’s acknowledging his small victories and his near misses, harvesting the wisdom from his busy day.

And as he drifts off, I bet he dreams. He dreams of the taste of juicy berries, of finding the perfect, plumpest nuts, of secret stashes overflowing with winter’s bounty. He dreams of his future needs, not with worry, but with a vivid, hopeful vision. He doesn’t wait for spring to plan; he dreams in the heart of autumn, letting his aspirations guide his tireless preparations.

As we start a new week, just like our tiny tree-dweller, we too need both. We need the moments of reflection to see how far we’ve come, to acknowledge our own triumphs (big and small!), and to learn from the “nuts” we dropped along the way. That’s where we gather our strength and wisdom.

And then, we need the quiet space for dreams. Not just vague wishes, but those clear, delicious visions of what we want to create, experience, or become. The dreams that light up our eyes and give purpose to our steps, just like the squirrel’s dream of a full larder fuels his daily search.

So, this week, let’s be a little more like that nut aficionado. Let’s carve out time to reflect on our journey, celebrating our resilience. And then, let’s dare to dream vividly, letting those beautiful visions guide our next intentional steps.