Rising Above

Rising Above
            Car horns honking, jackhammers pounding, sirens wailing. Buildings so tall they block the sun, jammed intersections, the grayness of sidewalks and building facades. These are some of the less appealing sounds and sights in a city.
            Our mental interiors sometimes feel like downtown on a busy day. A cacophony of thoughts and images can cluster all at once to make us feel anxious and overwhelmed.
            Being told to, “Be less stressed!” can make us feel even more stressed.
            We can’t always choose the circumstances that are handed to us, but we can make choices about how to deal with them.
            The world is not a perfect Eden, trouble-free and filled with beauty, no matter how much we may wish it so. Being able to find a peaceful oasis, in our physical surroundings or within our minds, is an important survival tool.
            In the densely urban area of San Francisco that houses the Transit Center, a park that runs the length of almost four city blocks rises four stories above street level. 
            The harsher city sights fade out of view as visitors walk above the fray past various botanical garden designs. It was designed to be a place both quiet and refreshing.
            When our minds are in a state of tumult, filled with the noise of our worries of the day, we can also find a quiet place, clear the clutter, and spend a moment creating a calm state within our hearts, regardless of what’s happening around us. Our minds can be a place of peace wherever we happen to be physically, with a bit of practice.
            Finding a spot with a bit of greenery, and stopping to focus on one interesting plant until the tangle of noisy thoughts fades to low volume is a good start. It’s a skill that can be honed.
            This week’s Hike Notes, Salesforce Park-San Francisco City Walk, introduces readers to a scenic garden escape in an intense urban environment, a park created to provide city dwellers with a calm space.
            Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area (was Quick View Hike List) page. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact.
            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! Please feel free to share, and follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism
New this week:
Hike Notes 146: Salesforce Park-San Francisco City Walk