Mindful Miles

Today, the afternoon felt heavy. My girls noticed it too, and instead of staying indoors, they suggested we swap the slump for a spontaneous Mindful Mile—a deliberate, uphill walk to a spot we’d never explored before. It was a choice to move the mood.

The reward for choosing movement over stagnation came as we paused at the crest. In the compound right across the street stood a tree, stark and completely stripped of most of its leaves and all fruit—except for one. There, clinging resolutely to a branch, was a single, vibrant red apple. It was a tiny, defiant miracle. We stared at its perfect resilience.

We wondered why no one had plucked it. Perhaps it was left because its defiant beauty was simply too inspiring. One of my girls even argued it must be a stuck ball, finding it strange that such a sole piece of goodness could remain when everything else was gone.

That lone apple became a powerful metaphor on our mile: It represents the one beautiful thing that always survives, even when life feels completely stripped bare. No matter the hard situation we face, we can always find that one vibrant, resilient reason to be grateful.

The walk was a reminder that our greatest discoveries often happen when we simply change our perspective and stay present.