I have two beautiful dogs.
Both amazing, but very, very different.

Our morning walks being my favorite start to the day.
One takes long, low, measured strides
The other shorter, quick, almost hop-like steps.

And over the past year I’ve noticed that no matter how they walk,
We always end up in the same place.
Long strides. Short steps.
As long as we keep walking, we reach our destination.

10 combined legs reminding me about positive outcomes.

Like our walks,
If I set an intention, and I’m driven to do it, it doesn’t always matter how big my steps are.
Some days, long and measured, with a little bit of hip dysplasia.
Other days, short and choppy, with an extra bounce for sunny days.
But no matter what, every forward movement counts.

Taking action bridges where we are and where we’re going.
And as long as the steps happen, we’ll arrive.

So, I’ve learned to give us grace.
Some mornings it rains, others a late start from calls.
It’s okay if we didn’t walk as far, or as fast,
Or with the same joy as a snowy Saturday.

What matters is that we walked.

My dogs are good reminders,
Pause to sniff a few flowers,
Wander off to chase a squirrel,
But at the end of the day, keep moving towards where we’re going,
Where we intended to go.

Why worry so much about stride length?
Long strides or short steps, if I know where I’m headed
and I’m committed to getting there, I’ll arrive.