Around the Corner

Around the Corner
            Intriguing, mysterious, a little scary. A turn in the trail lies ahead, and we can’t see what’s around the corner.
            Even familiar turf—a favorite park or hiking trail, the well-worn path from our living room to the kitchen—can hold surprises around a blind turn. Time and the changing nature of the world guarantee that nothing stays exactly the same, even in our most familiar settings.
            For an autistic person like our son—who desperately clings to familiarity in terms of sight, sound, timing and place—not knowing what’s around the corner can be panic-inducing. And yet he walks around new corners in some way every day.
            Spending time in nature gradually adjusted his sensory panic switch. Now our severely autistic son enjoys walking in new places and exploring, even if it’s a little bit scary.
            Any of us can feel overwhelmed at not knowing what’s coming up around the next bend. We can’t control the changing, unpredictable nature of the world, so we walk onward with appropriate caution. The next turn may just as well reveal something calm and neutral as it does an uplifting adventure or something dark and ominous.
            This week’s Hike Notes, Sutro Heights, takes visitors to a historic city park at the very western edge of San Francisco, with it’s own surprising visual treasures at every turn, including views of Ocean Beach, Seal Rocks, the Sutro Bath ruins, and the Marin Headlands.
            The long list of Hikes can be found on the Quick View Hike List and on the main Hikes page. All past Insights posts can also be viewed in the Insights/Hike Update News archives.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Please feel free to share.
New this week:
Hike Notes 125: Sutro Heights