Kimberlee K.

The last goal on my list is almost always a creative one.

It’s my way of assigning myself something to make, notice, or document—to remember the year and all its little wonders.

This year, I wanted to try “color walks” which I’d seen trending on social media.

I love walking around my neighborhood, and constantly find value in the moments I can get outside, so this seemed like an easy addition to my routine.

The hope was to help me better connect to my surroundings, which would help make walks even more of an escape—either from the stress of a hard day, the chaos of a crowded head, or just the pile of chores waiting for me at home.

But I’ll admit, it came with an unexpected embarrassment factor.

While I’m not one to shy away from taking picture of things I find interesting or beautiful, the colors walks encouraged in me a kind of scavenger hunt energy. When I found something in what I deemed “the color of the month” I hustled towards it as if it might disappear. I never knew how much of a color I would find, so I always wanted to capture it when I could. And sometimes that meant leaning at strange angles, squatting in the middle of the sidewalk, or awkwardly pausing in the middle of the street.

Sometimes if there was a person out watering their lawn, or on their own walk with a spouse or a dog, I’d chicken out, not wanting an audience while I propped one leg against a tree so I could get a picture of a leaf on a high branch.

But oftentimes, especially farther into the year, I just let myself be weird.

And after I’d gone through the whole rainbow, I started choosing “themes” rather than colors. For example, one month I took pictures of shadows, and more than a few times I stopped when the sun was at just the right angle so I could get a picture of my silhouette. It was unexpectedly one of my favorite months, as I felt reminded, constantly, oh, there I am!

This was easily one of my favorite goals that I set this year, and one that I will no doubt carry forward. I already have new themes written down, new ideas of plants, flowers, textures, and wonders to look for. It makes every walk feel bigger and brighter and in turn makes the miles feel shorter and easier. And whenever I think I might be getting tired of walking the same routes over and over, I’ll find something for my little scavenger hunt and it makes me look at the streets I’ve memorized in an entirely new way.

So I’m thankful for this goal, and for the sun, and for my cute little neighborhood, and for the fact that stop signs are red, and mailboxes are blue, and everything in the spring is green and pink and purple and yellow. I’m grateful that after it rains everything is covered in tiny little water droplets and sometimes the sky is so full of clouds it reminds you how big it is and how small we are and somehow that makes me feel tucked in right where I belong in the world.

So I will keep walking, and I will keep looking. I will keep my head up and keep marveling at everything there is to find around me. And if I have to stop in the middle of the sidewalk to hunch over a bush every once in a while, so be it.