Doing the same thing a different way
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”
Last week I made the most of the dry weather and went out for a walk. And not just any walk. I went to one of my favourite places, Stourhead. If you haven’t been you really should visit. It’s a National Trust site and whilst the house, which is closed at the moment, is fabulous, the grounds are spectacular. Last summer I nearly completed a Triathlon there. I say nearly because I timed out before the run so I only did two events, but the swim in the glorious lake was an amazing moment, a treasured memory and the catalyst for my newfound love of wild swimming.
The gardens have just reopened as the National Trust is starting to allow visitors again, although obviously with social distancing measures in place. It was this that led to an unexpected benefit and reflection on my walk.
Now, I love Stourhead. I’ve been several times. And I usually walk the same route. I like to see my favourite things and go the same way. But this time? I had to take a set route around the grounds which isn’t the one I’d normally take. This could cause upset for some, this need to follow a set path. But for me it was refreshing. I was forced to take a new path, to see a beloved, familiar spot in a different way. My usual route takes me past the bridge, up to the Temple of Apollo, sometimes round to the grotto, rarely near the house itself. This time I started walking through the walled garden, past the house and then down a zig zagging path to the lake. Along the way I saw a leaf sculpture that encouraged me to pause and notice. So I did. I stopped in a place at the top of the path in a place I rarely go, and I noticed. I noticed the birds singing, the beautiful trees, the peace and quiet and the beautiful view of the lake - don’t worry, I took photos of course! But I also took a mental snapshot too.
Why am I sharing this? It’s not just an ad for the National Trust (although I do love them). This experience got me thinking about mixing up the way you do things. When you do things differently, you see things differently. When you come at things from a different angle or a different route, you experience them with fresh eyes, beginners mind (I mentioned this in the last blog). It was refreshing to experience something familiar in a new way and to see things I normally miss. And it’s beautiful. It left me wondering what it would be like if I took this fresh approach into the rest of my life and approached other things differently. It’s definitely something I’m going to be exploring this month and I encourage you to do so too.
And, if you can, get out and escape for a bit with a walk.
