A Morning Walk
R.L.Stevenson says in his
"Walking Tours" that to enjoy the most, one must go alone on a
walking tour. I believe in this principle and I go alone on a morning walk. While
going alone, I can walk at will in fields, into gardens or take a dip in the stream let or just sit on a stone and watch the rising sun. There is none to
impede the conversion of my whim into concrete reality.
I am an early rising bird.
Immediately on getting up, I thank God for the sound sleep or sweet dreams
overnight and pray to him in my heart of hearts for a happy and useful day that
has started. I take a glass of water, take hold of my walking stick and go out
of the house.
I have to travel about half a kilometer before I reach the outskirts of the town. In the morning twilight I
march on the road towards the fields. The first thing I do is to climb up the
small hillock where I feel greatly thrilled when I see the golden rays of the
early rising sun. Soon I find every object on which the rays of the sun fall,
bathed in molten gold. Perhaps unconsciously I feel my own self on the
threshold of life, getting ready for some wonderous adventure. Be-fore the sun
rises higher in the sky, I discern with inexpressible delight of the dew drops
hanging on the blades of grass. From that height I find men and animals moving
on the road and on the winding paths in the fields. The shepherds are seen
goading their herds and the milk-men are rushing on their bikes towards the
town.
Then I get down the hillock and
have a walk in the fields and the garden which is not far off from that place.
Whereas the softly blowing cool breeze soothes my body, the sweet songs of
the-birds singing in the trees transport me to some land of musical bliss.
In the garden I visit the
flower-beds in particular. The sweet smelling flowers of multifarious hues
remind me of Benedictine Glory of God. I begin to muse upon men. How different
they appear to be and yet what common life they have being the creation of the
one and same God!
Then I proceed on to the tank in
the heart of the garden. There I watch with keen interest the frolicking fishes
of various kinds. I take light exercise there and then have a bath in the tank.
Sometimes, often on Sun-days and holidays when I have ample time at my
disposal, I move on to the rivulet which is some distance away from that
garden. In that case my routine of taking exercise and bath is shifted to the
rivulet.
As I return home, I am brimming
over with life and energy. My mind is cool and fresh. I feel a keen appetite
not only for physical food to sustain and strengthen my body, but also
intellectual food for my mind. Hence I remain cheerful all the day and learn my
lessons with utmost concentration and without the least strain. At night, I
have a sound sleep. Thus a morning walk is a must for the old as well as the
young. The youths who are the assets to the nation must draw from this free
store-house of nature.
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