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I have recently been put on restriction from running because of a case of runner’s knee. Which, I believe, is really my body’s way of saying I’m getting old and the 35 years of playing soccer and being active has finally caught up with me. I was less than inspired this morning to go walk the hills in my neighborhood; my modified workout since it hurts too much to run. A few minutes into the walk I made a choice to turn my frown upside down and try to find the positive in the workout. I’m lucky to have my health and two legs that even in spite of my current pain, still carry me throughout my journey.

In an attempt to bring more joy to my walk, I decided to seek out the beauty in my neighborhood. This conscious choice brought a new perspective to my environment. I focused on texture, color and design not just pounding the pavement as I trudged up the hills. With Spring just around the corner, color is starting to peek out from every corner. It was hard to find a garden that didn’t have a splash of pink or a grouping of rocks that didn’t shimmer with a hints of blue. I hadn’t paid attention to nature’s canvas on other walks because I was too focused on getting my heart rate up.

I encourage you to devote your next workout to finding the beauty around you. I’m convinced the meditative moment I took to look deeply at the beautiful is just as beneficial as getting my muscles moving.

What do you see during your workout that deserves a second glance? Share your beautiful photos with me in the comments below or tweet me @henleyco.