First Night Walk Without Distress

For most people, stepping outside for a short walk with their dog is a completely ordinary moment. For me, it was something my body had not been able to do on my feet for a very long time.

On this night, something was different.

I stepped outside with Toffee like I do sometimes to give her a potty break. At first I moved slowly, paying attention to how my body felt with each step. Usually there is a moment when my system begins to signal that it cannot tolerate the activity. But this time that moment didn’t come.

We kept walking.

Ten minutes passed.

And my body was still okay, and just communicated that it was reaching its limit, needed me to step back inside. And I did. It was a total of 15 minutes on my feet outside under the sky marveling the stars.

That might sound like a very small amount of time, but for me it represented something meaningful. It meant my body was able to remain regulated during a type of movement that had previously been difficult or unsafe.

Toffee, of course, was simply enjoying her walk, sniffing the grass and exploring the world the way dogs do, knowing her person was with her. In many ways, that normalcy was part of what made the moment feel so special.

Moments like this are the reason I created this Living Gallery. What may appear as ordinary moments often represent layers of safety, care, support, patience, and persistence behind the scenes.