REFLECTION: As I write this, it’s mid morning Monday. At 6:30 a.m, I debated with myself whether I could actually spare the time to take my morning walk along the river. When life gets busy, you’ve maybe had similar conversations with yourself from time to time!

The situation for me is that Tuesday I’m headed to Vancouver for a business conference that will take up the rest of this week. I return to Saskatoon in time to attend a friend’s memorial service, empty my suitcase, and repack for a two week fall vacation get-away. A flurry of pre-travel tasks is queued up on the to-do list; and before I leave I need to take care of the final prep for a series of programs I’m booked to deliver on the heels of my return.

In the end, habit won the debate. I laced up my sneakers and headed for the trail. Here’s how things unfolded from there.

As I left the yard, a stunning red maple leaf caught my eye. I picked it up and took it along. I crunched my way through the yellowed poplar leaves strewn across the path.

Mid-walk, I perched on my riverside rock for a moment’s meditation. The sun popped over the crest of the riverbank, flooding the valley with gold as far as the eye could see. Hundreds of geese veed up as they flew south along the river. A beaver nosed his way upstream, trailing twigs in his wake.

Apparently, relocation and dam repairs are underway as summer winds down and winter approaches. I don’t really need a calendar to know that the seasons are changing and time is moving on.

This churning and turning of the seasons was on my mind last weekend as I MC’ed the wedding reception for my niece and her new husband. Two decades ago, much shorter and younger, my niece trundled down the aisle as a flower girl at my youngest sister’s wedding. Saturday, she blazed her own trail to the future.

Yes, time is moving on; and I’m grateful every time I realize I’ve actually been present for another moment along the way. Apparently, looking back, I did have time for a walk along the river!

ACTION: Life and time move quickly. A day, a week, a month, a year can all evaporate before our very eyes.

Reminder note to self: Don’t talk yourself out of making and taking time for what you know to be good for your heart and your health.

Questions to ponder: What habits help you tune in to the moment? What would increase the likelihood you’ll take time for those things that energize your heart, mind and body – despite the never-ending pressures of work at hand?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The best way to get where you’re going is to be where you are.” – Noah Ben Shea

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK: Here’s an upcoming opportunity to dive more deeply into issues of life balance. On Tuesday, November 9th, I will be delivering a Life Balance Leadership seminar here in Saskatoon. This program is offered through the University of Saskatchewan Business & Leadership Programs. We’d love to have you and your colleagues join us for the day. For program and registration details check online at: Life Balance Leadership.

READERS WRITE: If you appreciated last week’s wellness and travel tips, you might also enjoy travel suggestions contributed by a handful of Pause readers. You’ll find them posted to the Pause Blog at: Travel Tips From Pause Readers.